Summary
Manning & Napier is seeking a Senior Corporate Counsel to serve as the firm’s primary in-house legal advisor. This role supports the firm and its affiliated entities across corporate, regulatory, commercial, and risk matters, partnering closely with executive leadership and key stakeholders.
This is a stand-alone position with broad autonomy and responsibility. The role is ideal for a senior attorney who exercises sound judgment, operates independently, and provides practical, business-oriented legal counsel.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the firm’s principal legal advisor, managing day-to-day legal matters across corporate, regulatory, commercial, and risk areas.
- Provide practical legal guidance to senior leadership, identifying and managing legal risk and engaging outside counsel as appropriate.
- Advise on corporate governance matters, including fiduciary duties, director and officer obligations, and governance best practices.
- Support board and committee activities, including preparation of resolutions, consents, minutes, and governance documentation.
- Lead legal support for corporate transactions and strategic initiatives, including minority investments, asset sales, restructurings, and internal reorganizations.
- Draft, review, and negotiate transaction and commercial agreements; oversee legal due diligence and coordinate external counsel.
- Analyze change-of-control, consent, and notice provisions across advisory, credit, and commercial agreements.
- Advise on legal and regulatory matters applicable to a registered investment adviser, broker dealer, mutual fund, trust company, including securities regulation, privacy, and employment-related compliance.
- Partner with Compliance and HR on policies, employee handbook updates, and firm-wide initiatives.
- Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of commercial and vendor contracts.
- Oversee litigation, subpoenas, and third-party inquiries; advise on indemnification, insurance coverage, and contingent liabilities.
Qualifications
Required
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school; active member in good standing of the New York State Bar Association
- 10+ years of legal experience, including senior in-house or equivalent experience operating independently.
- Strong background in corporate governance, commercial contracts, and complex legal issue analysis.
- Excellent drafting, communication, prioritization, and judgment skills.
Preferred
- Experience as sole or lead in-house counsel in a lean legal environment.
- Background in financial services, investment management, or another regulated industry.
- Comfort advising executive leadership and interacting with boards of directors
- Health, dental & vision insurance
- Employer HSA contribution
- Opt out credit
- 401k employer match
- Paid volunteer days
- Gym reimbursement
Compensation: $145-165k base salary; additional incentive compensation expected.
What We Do
Manning & Napier provides a broad range of investment solutions through separately managed accounts, mutual funds, and collective investment trust funds, as well as a variety of consultative services that complement our investment process. Founded in 1970, we offer a wide variety of U.S. and non-U.S. equity, fixed income, ETF-based, and multi-asset class strategies. We serve a diversified client base of high-net-worth individuals and institutions, including 401(k) plans, pension plans, Taft-Hartley plans, endowments and foundations, as well as third party Advisors. For many of these partners, our relationship goes beyond investment management and includes customized solutions that address key issues and solve client-specific problems. We are headquartered in Fairport, NY.
