Legal Counsel

Working in a team of three, we have an exciting opportunity for a motivated lawyer with a solid background in corporate and commercial law to join our Puma Capital Group Legal team. You will support and report to our General Counsel on a broad range of matters, and will also be expected to take the lead on certain projects and workstreams. You will have transactional and advisory experience, and you will be keen to work within a fast-moving entrepreneurial environment, taking on a business facing role.

You should be a self-motivated and resourceful team player with strong communication skills and able to work under pressure. We have a reputation for excellence and you will be required to protect and enhance this reputation.

You will likely be around 3-6 years’ PQE range, with training gained at a leading firm. In addition to private practice experience, in-house experience would be advantageous but not essential.

Key Responsibilities

Puma Capital Group

· Support our General Counsel on a range of ad hoc Group projects, including, for example, equity ownership structures across the Group, major corporate transactions (e.g. M&A, equity/debt investment in the Group) and litigation. In many cases, external specialist legal advisers are appointed, so this role will typically involve project management, engagement of advisers and oversight of the legal aspects of such transactions, including taking ownership of various workstreams as applicable.

· Responsibility for the review and negotiation of commercial contracts with support of external counsel where appropriate. This will typically include reviewing and negotiating contracts relating to technology and IT services and other miscellaneous commercial contracts with suppliers for services required by various departments including People, Marketing, Operations and Compliance. This role will also involve maintaining our database of commercial contracts to track renewal provisions and other key commercial terms.

· Assisting with maintaining accurate and up to date company books for the Group’s legal entities.

· Where required, attending board meetings for the various entities across the Puma Capital Group, providing legal guidance to such Boards and taking minutes.

Puma Investments

· Advising on legal matters that arise in respect of our existing retail products (Puma VCTs, Puma Alpha EIS, Puma Heritage Estate Planning Service and Puma AIM Inheritance Tax Service) and inputting into offering documentation and marketing material / other communications where appropriate.

· Supporting our General Counsel and other individuals from across the Puma Group on the legal aspects of creating and operating new retail investment products which will typically involve appointing external counsel. We are ambitious and seek opportunities to enhance and increase our retail investment products across the Group’s business.

Puma Growth Partners

· Support General Counsel with the legal aspects of fundraise launches for VCTs, including the production of an FCA approved prospectus, working with retained external legal counsel and reviewing principal transaction documents and other ancillary documents connected with the fundraises requiring collaboration across the Group.

· Where required, attending VCT board meetings, minuting the meetings and providing input into the board packs circulated ahead of meetings.

· Working with the finance team on the annual report and accounts and notice of annual general meeting for the VCTs.

· It is envisaged that PGP may in due course seek to attract institutional capital alongside its retail capital. This role will play a key part in supporting key stakeholders in the legal aspects of structuring such funding lines and the ongoing operation of the same.

· Puma Growth Partners already has a dedicated internal legal team providing full legal support with respect to the portfolio of companies, including deployment of capital and exits.

Puma Property Finance

· Supporting General Counsel and the Puma Property Finance legal team with both the legal and administrative aspects of our institutional funding lines. In addition, you will be involved in the legal aspects of fundraising, engaging external legal counsel in the UK, Guernsey and Luxembourg where applicable and other jurisdictions into which the fund is / may be marketed.

· This role will also involve providing support on key strategic projects which may include new funding lines or other products for deployment by the Puma Property Finance business.

· Puma Property Finance already has a dedicated internal legal team providing full legal support through the transaction life-cycle of loans.

Experience and Skills required

· Minimum 3 years’ post qualification experience (PQE)

· Training and private practice experience gained at a leading law firm, with in-house experience being advantageous

· Demonstrable evidence of a broad range of corporate transactional and advisory experience, with listed company experience being advantageous

· Demonstrable experience in reviewing and negotiating commercial contracts

· Commercially minded lawyer who maintains high standards and attention to detail, makes clear decisions and commercial recommendations

· Ability to translate and deploy legal skills and experience in a commercially minded organisation

· Proven ability to provide guidance and share ideas clearly and succinctly in jargon free language to colleagues

· Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to develop practical solutions to legal issues

· Proven experience working within in a fast-paced environment and managing multiple priorities and deadlines

· Commitment to continuous professional development, staying informed about changes in laws that may impact the Group

· Knowledge of and experience using AI

Personal Attributes

· Kind

· Values-driven

· Excellent communicator, with ability to collaborate effectively and to build rapport across a range of stakeholders

· Adaptable and willing to get stuck into whatever needs doing

· Depth of character and gravitas but operating with humility

· The drive and attitude to excel in a high performing environment whilst maintaining high levels of integrity

· Energy, dynamism, and passion for complex business challenge

· Organised, rigorous and disciplined, whilst being resilient and flexible

· Pragmatic and practical