Assistant Legal Counsel

Role Purpose

Better Society Capital (BSC) is the UK’s leading social impact-led investor. Our mission is to grow the amount of money invested in tackling social issues and inequalities in the UK; we do this by investing ourselves and enabling others to invest for impact too. Since 2011, we have helped the social impact investment market grow twelve-fold to over £10 billion. This capital has financed social purpose organisations tackling everything from homelessness to mental health and fuel poverty. BSC manages £634m of its own investments as well as acting as portfolio manager for the Schroder BSC Social Impact Investment Trust (SBSI) managing its £83m portfolio. BSC also has a strategic goal of managing third party monies, as reflected in its role as delegated portfolio manager for the Schroders BSC Social Impact Trust PLC.

As a key member of BSC’s Legal & Compliance team, this role would suit a lawyer with transactional experience, ideally with knowledge of funds, but who is also who is willing and able to support the wide variety of work covered by an in-house legal team. It will be a varied and exciting role with the ability to become involved and play an essential role in transactions at the forefront of social impact investing as well as supporting the growth and success of Better Society Capital as an organisation.

The role will give the successful candidate broad exposure to all areas of BSC’s work supporting the Investment Group on investment activity but across the business on corporate, commercial, regulatory and governance matters alongside colleagues in the Legal & Compliance team.

The role is offered full time on a fixed term contract for 12 months.

Better Society Capital core values are:

• Purposeful – We are passionate and energetic in our work to bring about our long-term vision of a thriving social investment market that enables positive social impact.
• Pioneering Spirit – We give our team the autonomy and flexibility to be entrepreneurial and creative. We have the courage to push boundaries and a restless drive for change.
• Openness – We listen, learn, experiment and collaborate. And we are adaptive and flexible in responding to what we learn.
• Rigorous – We take a rigorous approach in all we do. We expect the highest standards and continually strive for excellence.
• Respectful – We are genuine in both our approach and aspiration. We value each member of our team and our partners for what they bring.

Key Responsibilities

New Investments

• Participate in the due diligence process to ensure legal and regulatory issues around the structure of investments are understood and addressed.
• Support the Investment Group with term sheet discussions.
• Negotiation of legal documentation, working with different team members across BSC, co-investors and external counsel, and assist with the completion and onboarding process for investments.

Existing Investments

• Maintain a knowledge of BSC’s legal and regulatory obligations relating to its investments and make sure BSC has all necessary legal investment documentation in place and properly recorded/stored.
• Participate in the management of investments over their lifetime, including any amendments or waivers.
• Advise on the process to restructure or exit investments.
• Ongoing support for the investment monitoring process with regard to any legal and regulatory issues that arise.

Corporate, Governance and Regulatory

• Support colleagues across the office with legal, governance and regulatory queries.
• Support client investment initiatives, such as the firm’s role as portfolio manager for the listed investment trust, Schroders BSC Social Impact Trust plc.
• Review legislation and regulatory changes and support the implementation of consequential policies, procedures and training.
• Draft and negotiate commercial contracts (including NDAs).
• Work with colleagues in the Legal & Compliance team to build and share know-how and best practice across BSC and its portfolio companies, including training and templates.
• Manage the relationships, including costs, with external counsel.
• Generally, take a proactive and enthusiastic role in helping to develop the Legal & Compliance team, including continually looking to improve our working practices and embracing technological improvements (including adoption of AI), all with the goal of providing top quality support for all of BSC and thereby helping to deliver on BSC’s mandate.

Other

• Participate in at least one ‘BSC Citizenship’ activity, helping to make BSC a great place to work. This could be helping to organise our summer or winter social, joining the Staff Council or helping with health and safety.

Skills and Experience

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• Solicitor qualified in England and Wales.
• Legal related project management.

Desirable Qualifications & Experience

• Knowledge and experience of transactional finance.
• Knowledge and experience of private and/or public market investment funds.
• Knowledge and experience of financial services regulation.
• Knowledge and experience of data protection.
• Engagement with the third sector in some capacity (e.g., trustee of a charity).

Skills, Abilities and Attributes

• Confident, effective communicator who is approachable and flexible.
• Can deal effectively with senior management.
• Systematic approach to work with high attention to detail.
• Strong research and analytical skills.
• Enthusiastic proponent of technical development of legal operations (including AI).
• Approachable and strong team player but able to work self-sufficiently.
• Flexible and willing to take on different tasks as required.
• Enthusiastic and proactive with the confidence to influence at all levels.
• Resilient and can cope with ambiguity and change.
• Well organised and able to prioritise.
• Good at finding innovative solutions to problems.
• Ability to identify risk with sound commercial awareness.
• Commitment to continuous learning and development.

How to Apply

Please send your CV and Cover Letter (up to one A4 page) to Careers4Change – see below

Right to Work: Candidates need to have the existing right to work in the UK.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: Better Society Capital is committed to being a diverse organisation that is truly representative of the communities we serve. We therefore welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, particularly those under-represented in the social impact investment sector (e.g. people from LGBTQIA+, racialised, disabled, or under-served communities)

Better Society Capital are an equal opportunities employer with an inclusive environment where all employees can contribute to their fullest potential. We want every colleague to be able to deliver their work with dignity, equality, comfort and independence. Our office is fully accessible with step-free access and an open-plan set up. We are open to accommodation requests regarding assistive technologies, accessibility tools, flexible working or any other reasonable adjustments that will make working or visiting here more accessible for you.