Reporting directly to the Chief Counsel, Investments Law, the SVP & Associate General Counsel for Investments Products, Distribution, & Operations (PDO) is a strategic business counsel and talent management role with oversight of a team of 5-8 lawyers.
This leader plays a key advisory role to the executive management of MIM, serving a global investor base.
The successful candidate will be an integral part of growing and evolving a dynamic investment management business.
The PDO unit provides legal services and strategic advice across the breadth of MIM’s offerings, including private funds, separately managed accounts in various asset classes, investment advisory and related services.
The team supports the build out and growth of the business and investor base, including global regulatory counsel, new product and fund development, managed account and guidelines drafting and negotiation, sales and marketing support, and oversight and expansion of the global operations platform organically and inorganically.
This leader will join a senior legal leadership team passionate about talent development and committed to best-in-class service delivery and integrated, efficient operation.
This is a key leadership role in advancing the enterprise’s goals and strategic initiatives, requiring deep technical acumen, collaborative business partnership, a commitment to people management, and focus on delivering on MetLife’s commitment to its institutional investment management business and clients.
Key Relationships: Reports to: SVP & Chief Counsel, Investments Law Direct reports/team: 5-8 Key Stakeholders: Investments COO, CIO, Global Head of Distribution, Head of Marketing, Head of Strategy, Asset Sector Leaders; peers within Legal Affairs, e.g.
Regional and Business Line Counsel; functional partners supporting Investments in Risk, Compliance, HR, Finance, Government Relations, etc; Insurance Business Heads, e.g.
Retirement & Income Solutions, served by Investments Key Responsibilities: Investments advisory Lead and manage the legal work related to products, distribution, and operations for the MIM platform, including: Provide regulatory counsel for US and global investment entities and a US broker-dealer, including matters related to licensing and registration, operational and compliance requirements, policies, procedures, reporting, and record-keeping Support existing portfolios and advise on structuring new products and funds Draft and negotiate investment management agreements and guidelines for a variety of US and international investor types and Investments affiliates Advise and support global MIM marketing and distribution efforts, including cross-border services and transactions, online and social media marketing, disclosures, GIPS, etc Advise and support the global operations platform Draft and negotiate relevant third-party agreements, e.g.
placement agents, fund administration and custody providers, etc Provide thought leadership and strategic counsel to senior business partners; assess and make recommendations on legal developments, risks, and potential impacts related to existing operations and new initiatives Establish and nurture strong and trusted relationships with business partners Represent MetLife Investments Law in industry and professional organizations and events as appropriate Talent management and development Provide leadership and professional guidance to a team of approximately 5-8 lawyers, including attracting, retaining and advancing top talent Manage internal and external resources to ensure delivery of consistently strong work product; empower team members to drive engagement and high performance Partner with Chief Counsel and Investments Law peers to set and achieve departmental objectives Lead and develop internal talent at all levels within the team; champion an inclusive and positive work culture across Legal Affairs in collaboration with other Unit Managers and Practice Group Leads Contribute to Legal Affairs thought leadership on enterprise strategy priorities, especially talent strategy, customer-centric service delivery and efficiency initiatives Candidate Qualifications: Essential Business Experience and Technical Skills: 10 years relevant experience, ideally in house with a dynamic, global institutional asset manager Legal expertise relevant to asset management, e.g.
fund structuring, managed accounts guidelines, investor onboarding, marketing, ERISA, subadvisory agreements, fund service provider or other third-party agreements, policies & procedures, suitability, etc.
Knowledge of US state and federal asset management regulatory governance and laws, e.g.
Investment Advisers Act, Investment Company Act, Securities Act, Securities Exchange Act, ERISA, MFN, and equivalent in international jurisdictions where MIM operates, e.g.
UK, Ireland, Chile, Mexico, Japan, Hong Kong Investment management expertise, with specific focus on private and public fixed income products and solutions, including real estate and agricultural investments; knowledge of insurance investment needs helpful Demonstrated record of excellence in counseling and advising senior management and business leaders on complex relevant legal and regulatory matters Proven leadership and people management skills, combined with a strong commitment to diversity, team empowerment, and motivation; ability to attract, develop, mentor, and coach top talent A highly collaborative team player capable of building and maintaining strong, trusted relationships throughout the organization, upholding and demonstrating MetLife Success Principles Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to build effective partnerships across the highest levels of the organization and with key external stakeholders, including outside counsel and regulators Intellectual curiosity about changing business priorities and circumstances, legal climate, and asset management dynamics around the globe, and how these impact MetLife and the financial services industry Impeccable integrity and ethical behavior with a strong commitment to transparency; an excellent listener with high sensitivity to different cultures and backgrounds, sound judgment, and a strong moral compass JD and state bar admission required (NJ admission or in-house counsel certification required to be maintained) MetLife Success Principles In Legal Affairs, we strive to attract, develop, and retain diverse talent with the potential to be future leaders of our department and of MetLife as a whole.
We seek legal professionals who demonstrate high intellectual capacity to understand complex matters facing our company, combined with strong leadership competencies to motivate and inspire higher performance by all our professionals.
We take an active role in developing the skills of our talent and guiding their professional growth.
By promoting skill development and career advancement for our professionals, we are better positioned to serve our internal business partners and to help achieve MetLife’s vision of becoming a world-class leader in the insurance, retirement savings, investments, and employee benefits industries.
Experiment with Confidence – Courageously learn and test new ideas without fear of failure Act with Urgency – Demonstrate speed to action with agility and determination Seek Diverse Perspectives – Source ideas and feedback to expand thinking and make informed decisions Seize Opportunity – Drive responsible growth and identify areas for continuous improvement Champion Inclusion – Foster an environment where everyone is valued, heard, and can speak up Create Alignment – Partner with others across the organization with candor and transparency Take Responsibility – Be accountable and act in pursuit of the right outcomes Enable Solutions – Anticipate and address obstacles while managing risk Deliver What Matters – Execute meaningful priorities and follow through on commitments