At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide legal advice on investment management and trading issues for a diverse client base.
- Company: Join PIMCO, a global leader in active fixed-income investing with an inclusive culture.
- Benefits: Collaborative environment, exposure to global markets, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Ideal for those seeking a dynamic role in a leading global asset manager.
- Why this job: Deepen your expertise at the intersection of law, investing, and trading.
- Qualifications: Qualified lawyer with investment-management experience and strong analytical skills.
The predicted salary is between 100000 - 150000 £ per year.
Location: London, United Kingdom
Job Type: Full time
PIMCO is a global leader in active fixed‑income investing, bringing deep expertise across public and private markets. Since 1971 the firm has built a high‑performance, inclusive culture, celebrating diverse thinking and underpinning the CORE values of Collaboration, Openness, Responsibility and Excellence.
Position Overview
We are seeking an exceptional investment‑management attorney to join our EMEA Legal team. The role requires a technically strong, commercially minded lawyer who can provide hands‑on legal advice across key business functions—trade floor / portfolio management, client facing, product management and compliance—for a diverse institutional client base including UCITS, AIFs and sub‑advised fund clients. Based in London, you will work closely with other lawyers in PIMCO’s European Legal team, supporting all aspects of business in EMEA and the global distribution of PIMCO’s European funds.
Key Responsibilities
- Act as a key legal adviser on portfolio management and trading‑related issues, providing advice on investment guideline interpretation, compliance, and liaising with portfolio managers, compliance and risk.
- Advise trade floor, client‑facing teams, product teams and compliance on eligibility and guideline questions for UCITS, AIFMD funds and sub‑advised client funds, including complex or novel matters.
- Offer counsel on legal issues from institutional client mandates, fund investment arrangements and complex account structures intersecting with investment activity or trading constraints.
- Provide guidance on investment requirements across different client/product types and jurisdictions.
- Contribute to updates of investment rule coding, guideline frameworks and governance or investment‑related forums, covering regulatory change or evolving market practice.
- Provide advice on regulations relevant to the trade floor—including UCITS/AIFMD, MiFID, Benchmarks Regulation, Securitisation Regulation, regulatory reporting regimes such as SFTR/EMIR and short‑selling rules—monitoring areas of regulatory divergence.
- Advise on day‑to‑day transactions, trading issues and real‑time wall crossing, MNPI and market‑sounding matters.
- Support transactional activities on the trade floor, including private placements and structured investments, advising on documentation, constraints and key execution risks.
- Assist with investment‑related elements of fund documentation, ensuring alignment between strategy, guidelines and legal restrictions.
- Support fund restructurings, investment strategy changes and trading activity that raise legal or regulatory interpretation questions.
- Advise portfolio management, product, client‑facing teams and compliance on ESG regulatory requirements—including ESG investment restrictions, PAI reporting, ESG disclosures and fund classifications—and the impact of evolving ESG guidance on portfolios and trading activity.
Experience Required
- Qualified lawyer with strong investment‑management experience, ideally within an asset manager or leading law firm.
- Good understanding of global fixed‑income management, securitisations, credit, equities, derivatives, public and private funds, commodities and real estate.
- Demonstrated experience advising on trade floor/investment‑related legal and regulatory issues, including investment restrictions, eligibility analysis and real‑time trading questions.
- Strong technical knowledge of UCITS/AIFMD investment powers, restrictions and guidelines.
- Experience instructing and working efficiently with external counsel across multiple disciplines/jurisdictions.
- Ability to provide clear, practical, timely and commercially focused advice to investment professionals.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Desirable Attributes
- Approximately 5+ years post‑qualification experience in investment‑management or financial‑services law.
- Prior experience supporting portfolio managers, traders or investment product teams.
- Strong analytical skills and attention to detail, particularly with complex regulatory or guideline‑driven matters.
- Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high‑quality advice under time pressure.
- Collaborative working style and strong professional judgment.
Additional Information
PIMCO offers a highly collaborative, intellectually rigorous environment with exposure to complex investment products and global markets. This role provides a strong platform for an attorney seeking to deepen technical expertise at the intersection of law, investing and trading within a leading global asset manager.
VP Counsel in London employer: Job Search Place Limited
PIMCO is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and inclusive work culture in the heart of London. With a strong emphasis on collaboration and professional growth, employees benefit from exposure to complex investment products and global markets, while receiving hands-on legal experience that enhances their expertise in investment management. The firm’s commitment to diversity and excellence ensures a rewarding environment for those looking to make a meaningful impact in the financial services sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land VP Counsel in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the investment management field, especially those who might know someone at PIMCO. A friendly chat can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of UCITS and AIFMD regulations. We want you to show off your expertise and how it aligns with PIMCO's needs. Practice common interview questions and have your own ready!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t forget to showcase your collaborative spirit! PIMCO values teamwork, so be ready to share examples of how you've worked effectively with others in high-pressure situations.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace VP Counsel in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the VP Counsel role. Highlight your investment-management experience and any relevant legal expertise that aligns with what we’re looking for at PIMCO.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should tell us why you’re the perfect fit for this position. Share specific examples of how your skills and experiences match the key responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Showcase Your Communication Skills:Since excellent written communication is crucial for this role, ensure your application is clear, concise, and free of errors. This is your chance to demonstrate your ability to provide practical and commercially focused advice.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at PIMCO.
How to prepare for a job interview at Job Search Place Limited
✨Know Your Legal Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your investment-management law knowledge, especially around UCITS and AIFMD regulations. Be ready to discuss how these laws impact trading and portfolio management, as this will show your technical expertise.
✨Showcase Your Commercial Mindset
During the interview, highlight your ability to provide practical, commercially focused advice. Use examples from your past experience where you successfully navigated complex legal issues while keeping business objectives in mind.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that put you in real-world scenarios related to trading issues or compliance challenges. Think through how you would advise teams on eligibility questions or regulatory changes, and be ready to articulate your thought process.
✨Demonstrate Collaboration Skills
PIMCO values collaboration, so be prepared to discuss how you've worked with cross-functional teams in the past. Share specific examples of how you’ve partnered with portfolio managers, compliance, or product teams to achieve successful outcomes.
