Legal Counsel

Established in 1985, Valu-Trac provides ACD and ancillary services to the UK fund industry, with a current portfolio of approximately 110 funds and around £15 billion of assets under administration as of 31st December 2025.

As part of its role as ACD, Valu-Trac provides accounting and administrative services for funds supported by the Fund Operations team. The Fund Operations team is responsible for the pricing of funds and supporting shareholders through transfer agency activities.

Valu-Trac Investment Management provides a “one-stop shop” for UK regulated funds, including Authorised Corporate Director (ACD) services, fund administration, and investment management. The legal team, led by the ACD Director & Head of Legal, typically covers Legal Services for the ACD function and also the wider business, such as:

• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a wide range of commercial agreements, including Investment Management Agreements, Distribution Agreements, Outsourcing and Service Provider Contracts, Technology and Data Processing Agreements.
• Advising on UK and international regulatory frameworks (FCA rules such as COLL, COBS, Consumer Duty, as well as AIFMD, UCITS, MiFID II, GDPR, and other relevant regulations).
• Supporting fund launches, prospectus updates, regulatory filings, and the formation and ongoing management of a variety of fund structures (regulated and unregulated).
• Providing legal support for board governance, oversight committees, regulatory reporting, and company secretarial matters, including statutory filings and maintenance of corporate records.
• Managing conflicts of interest, ensuring operational integrity, and implementing governance best practices across the business.

Valu-Trac operates as a host ACD for multiple fund sponsors, so the legal team plays a central role in structuring funds, managing regulatory risk, and ensuring investor protection.

As a Legal Counsel within our Legal Team, you’ll play a key role in supporting the business in delivering legal and technical advice, guidance, and recommendations that enable informed decision-making and help the Company achieve its strategic objectives across proposition, legislative, and technical matters.

To thrive in this role, you’ll need to hold a UK legal qualification and a law degree. You’ll be confident in providing clear, effective advice and capable of managing aspects of your workload independently, while also collaborating closely with others. Although initial supervision will be provided, you’ll be supported with ongoing training and development to deepen your expertise in financial services.

Team-based: Work closely with the ACD Director & Head of Legal and a collaborative legal/product/compliance team.

Onboarding: Benefit from a structured induction, shadowing opportunities, and a gradual increase in responsibility.

Ongoing training: Access regular CPD, legal resources, and support for developing new skills.

External counsel: Clear escalation routes for complex or unfamiliar matters.

Their main responsibilities for the role include:

• Provide legal and technical advice on propositions, legislation, and technical matters to support the Company’s strategic aims.
• Advise on a broad range of legal and project matters in a risk-aware, solution-focused manner, reducing reliance on external counsel.
• Provide legal advice on structuring, marketing, and ongoing management of a variety of fund structures (including AIFs, UCITS, and, where relevant, unregulated or alternative vehicles).
• Draft, review, and negotiate fund documentation (IMAs, side letters) and a wide range of commercial agreements (services, data, trading, supplier, technology).
• Advise on UK and international regulatory frameworks (AIFMD, UCITS, MiFID II, and other relevant regulations).
• Oversee the formation of new funds and updates to existing structures, including cross-border considerations where applicable.
• Support board governance, oversight committees, regulatory reporting, and company secretarial matters as required.
• Support wider ACD function, including product governance activities and regulatory change projects.
• Build strong internal relationships to influence decision-making and deliver legal opinions that align with business objectives.
• Support regulatory change projects and business transformation initiatives, ensuring legal and regulatory compliance throughout periods of change.

Desirable skills, knowledge, and experience:

• UK-qualified solicitor (Scotland or England & Wales or an equivalent), 2-5+ years’ PQE in funds/asset management or financial services contracts.
• Strong knowledge of UK regulated funds (AIFs, UCITS, OEICs), FCA rules (COLL, COBS), and Consumer Duty.
• Experience drafting and negotiating fund and commercial agreements.
• Ability to advise on regulatory frameworks (AIFMD, UCITS, MiFID II).
• Excellent drafting, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Able to manage multiple priorities and deliver practical, commercial advice.
• Willingness to support regulatory change projects and business transformation.
• Experience with unregulated/alternative funds, cross-border structures, or broader financial products.
• Familiarity with GDPR, outsourcing, operational resilience, or international regimes.
• Exposure to company secretarial work and board/committee support.
• Experience leading projects or process improvements.

We welcome applicants who meet most, but not all, of the criteria and are keen to develop further. Demonstrate behaviours in line with our diversity and inclusion aim, which is to create and promote a diverse and inclusive culture at Valu-Trac where ideas, differences, and views are respected and where all employees are encouraged to create their own personal legacy.