Adams Street Partners (“Adams Street”) is a global private markets investment manager that has nearly $76 billion* in assets under management. The firm is 100% employee-owned, which fosters a positive and unique culture of collaboration, intellectual rigor, integrity, and a commitment to professional development. For the eighth year in a row, Adams Street was named one of Pension & Investments’ Best Places to Work in Money Management in 2025.
Employees operate as a single global team, integrating the expertise of the firm’s investment professionals across five strategies: primary investments, secondary investments, growth equity, private credit, and co-investments. Adams Street is considered a private markets pioneer and was inducted into the Private Equity Hall of Fame in 2000.
The firm was founded more than 50 years ago, and clients include leading public and corporate pension plans, foundations, endowments, insurance companies, registered investment advisors, and high net worth individuals worldwide.
Adams Street has offices in Abu Dhabi, Austin, Beijing, Boston, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, Munich, Menlo Park, New York, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo and Toronto.
*As of June 30, 2026. Adams Street Partners’ methodology to calculate Assets Under Management (AUM) is based on fund net asset value (NAV), plus unfunded commitments, plus leverage, but excluding the effect of subscription lines of credit. The prior AUM methodology was based on investor commitments minus commitments to fully liquidated underlying partnerships. Such change in methodology was effective July 2026; however, for periods shown prior to December 31, 2025, Adams Street continues to use the previous methodology. This updated methodology more closely aligns with (i) the amount of assets managed on behalf of investors and (ii) the amount of capital available to make direct and/or partnership investments. Amounts stated by investment advisers in regulatory filings (“regulatory AUM”) have a prescribed methodology, which may, in some circumstances, differ from the methodology such adviser uses for other purposes, including marketing efforts. Additional information is available upon request.
Overview
Adams Street Partners is seeking a Legal Counsel to join its Legal team. The Legal Counsel will be responsible for the coordination, structuring, formation and negotiation of private equity/credit investment regulated funds. Responsibilities will also include assisting with the management of corporate documentation, corporate contracting and other general legal matters related to the firm. This individual will work in the 24-member Legal & Compliance team, which oversees Adams Street’s global legal and compliance functions.
Responsibilities:
Specifically, the individual will be involved with and responsible for:
- Coordinate with outside counsel on the drafting, review and negotiation of fund documentation, including LPAs, subscription agreements, prospectuses and ancillary documents, for EMEA evergreen commingled funds, managing the process through completion.
- Advise on the structuring, launch and closing of new funds and investment products, working closely with various internal stakeholders.
- Manage day-to-day legal matters relating to existing evergreen products, including amendments, product developments and other ongoing matters.
- Draft and negotiate distribution agreements, platform agreements, fund management agreements and other commercial arrangements relating to EMEA products.
- Provide practical, risk-adjusted legal advice to internal stakeholders and senior leadership, translating complex issues into clear, actionable guidance.
- Support the development and maintenance of internal frameworks addressing regulatory, operational and legal risks under AIFMD II, FCA rules, the Luxembourg UCI Part II regime, the ELTIF Regulation and other applicable regimes as Adams Street expands into other jurisdictions.
- Oversee and coordinate regulatory filings, disclosures and service-provider reporting for EMEA regulated funds, including prospectuses, PRIIPs KIDs, and regulatory filings, ensuring that disclosures are accurate and consistent.
- Coordinate the preparation of board materials for EMEA regulated products, liaising with external counsel, service providers and internal stakeholders.
- Develop and maintain regulatory compliance calendars covering filing deadlines, annual reporting timelines, contractual disclosure requirements and other key obligations.
- Periodically review and update precedent agreements, internal processes and outside counsel guidelines.
- Identify and drive process improvements, coordinating with internal and external stakeholders to implement changes.
- Undertake special projects as required.
Candidate Requirements:
We seek an individual who is self-disciplined, demonstrates creative thinking and has the following characteristics:
- Bachelors of Law (LLB) or equivalent required.
- 4-6 years of fund formation experience at a reputable law firm and/or reputable asset manager.
- Deep intellectual curiosity and excitement for learning interesting regulatory and compliance issues and mature judgement on novel questions.
- Exceptional written communication skills.
- Excellent interpersonal skills (including the ability to build relationships with the business teams) and the ability to interact effectively at all levels of the firm.
- Exceptional attention to detail, highly organized and able to prioritize and meet competing deadlines.
- Self-confidence, open-mindedness and willingness to work as a team member.
- Pride in all aspects of the individual’s work.
Skills Required
- Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or equivalent
- 4–6 years of fund formation experience at a reputable law firm or reputable asset manager
- Deep intellectual curiosity and willingness to learn regulatory and compliance issues
- Mature judgment on novel legal and regulatory questions
- Exceptional written communication skills
- Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills with business teams
- Ability to interact effectively at all levels of the firm
- Exceptional attention to detail
- Highly organized and able to prioritize competing deadlines
- Self-confidence, open-mindedness, and willingness to work as a team member
What We Do
Adams Street Partners is a global private markets investment manager with investments in more than thirty countries across five continents. Drawing on over 50 years of private markets experience, proprietary intelligence, and trusted relationships, Adams Street strives to generate actionable investment insights across market cycles. Adams Street is 100% employee-owned and manages $58 billion in assets under management. Adams Street has offices in Austin, Beijing, Boston, Chicago, London, Menlo Park, Munich, New York, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, and Tokyo
