Director/Vice President, Counsel, Institutional

Job Title: Director/Vice President, Counsel, Institutional

Department: Legal & Compliance

Reports To: Senior Vice President, Head of Institutional Legal & Associate General Counsel

FLSA Code: Exempt

Estimated Salary: $200,000 - $260,000

Job Summary:

This role will be an integral member of the legal team that advises the global institutional client business and supports the firm's capital markets investment activities. Cohen & Steers, Inc. is a NYSE-listed global asset management company. This role requires a collaborative, business-minded attorney with existing in-house experience. The successful candidate should be able to understand and address stakeholder concerns.

The primary responsibilities include assisting with and supporting the establishment and maintenance of institutional separate accounts and sub-advisory relationships; developing and supporting vehicles designed for institutional investors; preparing trading documentation; assisting with portfolio securities activity; and providing guidance to the internal groups that support these functions. The candidate will join a small team that is collaborative and maintains a strong culture of ongoing learning and development. Cohen & Steers is committed to an inclusive culture, valuing diversity in support of our people and clients.

Major Responsibilities/Activities:

• Negotiate investment management agreements and amendments. Facilitate in-person internal investment management agreement reviews to incorporate firm-wide feedback.
• Organize and maintain U.S. institutional collective investment vehicles, including providing on-the-ground support to the internal teams that support the funds. Provide guidance on the engagement and ongoing oversight of third-party service providers.
• Review offering documents and elective corporate actions for investment eligibility.  Negotiate securities transactions on behalf of the investment team, including cornerstone terms, PIPEs, and primary and secondary offerings.
• Assist and advise the Compliance Department on regulatory matters, investment transactions, and investment guideline interpretation and implementation.
• Take ownership of legal aspects of projects advanced by the global institutional business and investment teams.
• Provide commercially minded guidance to internal stakeholders.

Minimum Requirements: 

• J.D. required; must be admitted to the Bar and registered in the State of New York.
• Minimum of 6 to 8 years of experience, a portion of which must be as a lawyer at an asset manager or private fund.
• Demonstrated experience leading initiatives within an investment adviser or private fund relating to client onboarding, product launches, and/or securities transactions.
• Experience working directly with clients, outside counsel, and other advisors.
• Experience or familiarity with the following is beneficial:
  • Investment Management Agreements
  • Drafting investment objectives and guidelines;
  • Private fund and/or collective investment trust issues.
  • The life cycle of investments and related operations;
  • Private placements and other buy-side capital markets issues;
  • ISDAs and other derivative investment documentation; and
  • General familiarity with non-U.S. regulatory concepts and structures, including institutional products and services.
• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to quickly assess a situation and generate new insights, usable ideas, and practical solutions.
• Independent, entrepreneurial self-starter with the ability to multitask effectively.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Team player with the ability to work well within a matrix organization and develop others, including early-career team members.
• Demonstrates inclusive behaviors in support of a culture that values diverse perspectives
• Agrees to comply with the firm’s hybrid work policy (“work from home policy,” as aligned with the Company’s employee handbook), which currently requires reporting to the Company’s New York City office four (4) days per week, with one (1) remote workday permitted.

Note: This job description reflects management's assignment of essential functions; it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. The job title or duties and responsibilities may be changed by the Company at any time.