Legal Counsel

As a Junior Legal Counsel in the AWAM legal team, you will support senior lawyers in advising on legal and regulatory matters across Asia. You will assist in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a wide range of legal agreements and help ensure compliance with local and international regulations.

Overview

Role: Junior Legal Counsel in the AWAM legal team, supporting senior lawyers on legal and regulatory matters across Asia. Responsibility includes drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a broad range of agreements and ensuring regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

Retail and Private Funds

• Draft, review, negotiate and advise on fund-related documentation including (i) for retail funds - trust deeds, prospectuses, information memorandums, investor notices, product highlight sheets for Manulife’s onshore and offshore fund products sold in Singapore etc, and (ii) for private funds – LPAs, shareholders’ agreements, joint venture agreements, investment management/advisory agreements, placement agreements etc.
• Draft, review, negotiate and advise on intermediary agreements in connection with primarily the firm’s Singapore distribution business and with secondary mandate to assist other Asia businesses.
• Provision of legal advice on distribution issues in connection with the firm’s South East Asian business (with a primary focus on Singapore).
• Draft, review and negotiate agreements with service providers, such as transfer agents and fund administrators.

Institutional Business

• Advise on legal and regulatory issues relating to institutional funds and separate accounts and other matters like marketing of such funds in connection with the institutional business.
• Draft, review, negotiate and advise on legal agreements including investment management agreements and advisory agreements.
• Advise on, and draft and review agreements relating to, the establishment and maintenance of institutional funds.

Corporate and Operational Legal Matters

• Draft, review and negotiate a variety of commercial agreements with external vendors/outsourcing partners, such as engagement letters, subscription agreements, platform agreements, digital related contracts, IT contracts and other legal documentation in connection with the APAC infrastructure hub.
• Draft and review intra-group agreements between group affiliates, such as delegation agreements and service level agreements.
• Advise on data protection, privacy and intellectual property matters and other related areas of local law, in close collaboration with other legal teams within Manulife.
• Reviewing and negotiating NDAs and general corporate related agreements.

Ad-hoc Projects

• Complete transactions and projects alongside Compliance, Risk and other functions which comprise solutions and advice to our internal stakeholders and external partners.

Required Qualifications

• Qualified as a lawyer in Singapore
• At least 2-3 years of PQE in a major law firm, financial institution or both with a background in fund management
• Excellent command of written English with good drafting skills
• Read and write another Asian language is a plus
• Majority experience in funds work (retail or private) is strongly preferred, some experience in labour, IP / IT and digital related contracts is a plus
• Some experience working on cross-border matters and working across different cultures
• Familiar with the Singapore outsourcing framework.

Preference

• Excellent drafting, negotiation and communication skills
• Excellent time management and prioritisation skills
• Awareness of the commercial implications of legal issues
• Ability to explain relatively complex concepts in a clear and concise manner
• Willingness to learn/sense of curiosity with respect to the business coupled with a keenness to take a holistic view of issues, priorities, reputational and regulatory risks, cultural nuances and efficient solutions
• Team player, able to collaborate and work with key functions (eg Products, Compliance, Operations, Finance, Sales), Legal teams in other offices, and with global colleagues
• Ability to work under one’s own initiative as well as in a team to achieve common business goals
• Creative and able to work under pressure
• Need to embrace understanding of the “whole issue” and not operate in silo thinking

When You Join Our Team

• We’ll empower you to learn and grow the career you want.
• We’ll recognize and support you in a flexible environment where well-being and inclusion are more than just words.
• As part of our global team, we’ll support you in shaping the future you want to see.

About Manulife And John Hancock

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. To learn more about us, visit

Manulife is an Equal Opportunity Employer. At Manulife/John Hancock, we embrace our diversity. We strive to attract, develop and retain a workforce that is as diverse as the customers we serve and to foster an inclusive work environment that embraces the strength of cultures and individuals. We are committed to fair recruitment, retention, advancement and compensation, and we administer all of our practices and programs without discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion or religious beliefs, creed, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, genetic characteristics, veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status, disability, or any other ground protected by applicable law. It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. A Human Resources representative will work with applicants who request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. All information shared during the accommodation request process will be stored and used in a manner that is consistent with applicable laws and Manulife/John Hancock policies. To request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact

Working Arrangement

Hybrid

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Legal

Industries

• Insurance

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