Head of Investment Management - Lawyer

Cleveland & Co is a dynamic outsourced in-house legal team, delivering innovative, strategic legal solutions to clients across the investment management industry. We deliver high-calibre advice across asset owners, asset allocators, industry associations and industry service providers. Our clients trust us not only for our technical excellence, but for our commercial mindset and ability to operate as a true extension of their internal team.

The Head of Investment Management role is a defining senior hire for the firm. It’s built for someone who combines deep investment management and funds expertise with the ambition to own a market segment, not just deliver work within it. This person is technically exceptional, commercially sharp, and able to credibly partner with key business stakeholders. They can lead complex negotiations, manage delivery across multiple transactions, and run and build a team. But they also want more than execution. They want to shape the offering, own client relationships, and be accountable for growth.

At Cleveland & Co, they will do exactly that. This is an opportunity to build a platform: to lead the institutional investor practice, win clients, grow the team, and play a meaningful role in scaling a firm that is redefining what great in-house legal support looks like.

We are seeking an excellent Head of Investment Management to lead and grow our Investment Management advisory capability across the firm. This is a senior, high-impact role advising fund managers and investment firms across the full lifecycle of asset management activity, including:

• Fund launches across all asset classes, fund types and jurisdictions
• Ongoing fund operations and governance
• Investment Management Agreements (IMAs) and delegated management arrangements
• Marketing and distribution documentation and platform agreements
• Negotiation of key third-party arrangements including custody, fund administration, and depositary/trustee arrangements (where relevant)

This role is ideal for a senior lawyer who can combine technical excellence, commercial judgement, and strong leadership, while also owning client relationships and contributing meaningfully to the firm’s growth. In addition to leading delivery, you will play a central role in client acquisition and revenue growth, helping expand Cleveland & Co’s investment management client base and market presence.

Key Responsibilities

• Fund Launches (End-to-End Execution)
  • Lead and project manage fund launches from inception through to launch, including structuring, product design, timelines and execution planning
  • Drafting and negotiating fund documentation relevant to the fund type and strategy
  • Coordination with tax, regulatory, operational and distribution workstreams
  • Advise across a wide range of fund types and asset classes, including retail funds, private equity, private credit, hedge funds, real estate, infrastructure, renewables funds, hybrid funds, and bespoke structures
  • Alternative fund vehicles and managed account structures
• Investment Management & Delegation Arrangements
  • Draft, negotiate and advise on Investment Management Agreements (IMAs) including delegation and sub-advisory arrangements
  • Investment advisory and management fee structures
  • Termination, liability, indemnities and risk allocation
  • Governance, reporting, oversight and operational obligations
  • Advise on related platform arrangements (including where applicable): managed accounts, white-label/hosted fund structures, AIFM/ManCo arrangements and service models
• Marketing, Distribution & Investor Communications
  • Advise on marketing and distribution approaches, including investor-facing disclosures and marketing materials
  • Distribution models and intermediary arrangements
  • Ongoing updates, reporting and investor communications
  • Provide commercially pragmatic support to clients navigating cross-border distribution considerations, institutional investor expectations and market practice, ESG-related disclosures and messaging (where relevant)
• Operational & Service Provider Contracting
  • Lead negotiation and execution of key operational agreements including custody agreements, fund administration agreements, transfer agency agreements (where applicable)
  • Advise clients on operational risk and vendor strategy, including service levels, liability caps, business continuity and termination rights
  • Reporting obligations, oversight frameworks and dispute management
  • Practical contract negotiation that protects the manager without creating friction
• Leadership, Team Management & Practice Building
  • Lead the development of Cleveland & Co’s Investment Management practice
  • Manage and develop the team supporting this area of practice, including allocating workstreams and ensuring delivery quality and consistency
  • Coaching, mentoring and reviewing team output
  • Supporting training, development plans and performance feedback
  • Hiring and scaling the capability as demand grows
  • Drive internal knowledge-sharing, template development, precedent building and process improvement to deliver at scale
• Client Acquisition & Growth
  • Take ownership of client acquisition within the Investment Management segment, including building and converting a pipeline of high-quality fund manager opportunities
  • Leading pitches, proposals and early-stage commercial conversations
  • Developing trusted long-term relationships with senior stakeholders (CIOs, COOs, Heads of Legal, Heads of Product, Heads of Distribution)
  • Collaborate with the senior leadership team on go-to-market strategy, positioning and growth priorities
  • Represent Cleveland & Co externally through networking, events and market engagement

Key Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer in England & Wales (or common law jurisdiction) with strong UK investment management experience
• Significant experience advising asset managers on fund launches and investment management arrangements
• Strong working knowledge across fund structuring and launch execution, IMAs/delegation structures, marketing and distribution documentation and strategy, operational service provider agreements including custody and administration
• Ability to lead complex matters end-to-end with strong project management capability
• Demonstrated ability to win work and grow client relationships, including leading commercial discussions and converting opportunities
• Proven people leadership experience (or clear readiness to step into management responsibility)
• Excellent drafting, negotiation and communication skills
• Comfortable operating at pace with autonomy, accountability and senior stakeholder exposure

Why Join Cleveland & Co?

• A Leadership Role With Real Ownership: This is not a narrow advisory role. You will lead a core growth area of the firm, shaping strategy, driving delivery, building the team, and owning outcomes.
• Front-Row Seat to the Market: You will advise a range of investment management clients from boutiques to global houses on a broad range of legal issues matters.
• Build the Platform and Your Own Trajectory: You will have the opportunity to grow Cleveland & Co’s investment management client base and strengthen our market presence.
• Move Faster, With Less Friction: You’ll operate in a high-performance environment that values momentum, accountability, and smart judgement.
• Work That Stays Interesting: Your work will span funds, investment management agreements and distribution, with the variety and complexity that keeps exceptional lawyers engaged and growing.
• A Team Worth Joining: You’ll work alongside people who are ambitious, sharp, and genuinely collaborative.

LOCATION

This is a full-time, in-office role based at our London Bridge office (Monday–Thursday in-office, Friday remote). Please note: Cleveland & Co is not a legal placement agency. We are a fully integrated, outsourced in-house legal team. You will be working as part of our core team, alongside colleagues, not deployed onsite at client offices. We operate as a collaborative, high-performing legal function, serving multiple clients from within our own firm.

Application Process

To apply, please send your CV to hr@cleveland-co.com, outlining your relevant experience and what excites you about this opportunity. We’re reviewing applications on a rolling basis and encourage early submissions. If you’re a strategic legal leader ready to take the next bold step in your career, we’d love to hear from you. Cleveland & Co is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.