Legal Counsel

Job Description

Job Description

Company Description

As part of the Wilshire family, you can rest assured that every day you are contributing to an organization that is helping investors improve their financial outcomes. For more than 50 years, Wilshire has been dedicated to providing customized portfolio solutions grounded in research and powered by next generation technologies.

Wilshire advises on over $1 trillion in assets for some of the world’s largest and most sophisticated institutional investors and is headquartered in the United States with offices worldwide.

Job Description

Wilshire is seeking an experienced Legal Counsel to join our in-house legal team. This is an exciting role for a lawyer who understands private funds and wants to build an in-house career in alternatives. This role will provide comprehensive legal support across the firm’s asset management business, focusing on corporate, fund-related, and regulatory matters. The successful candidate will play a hands-on role in supporting the firm’s growth by partnering with business, compliance, and operational teams to support product development, fund structuring, and global distribution initiatives - while also advising on corporate initiatives and new business opportunities.

What you’ll do :

Provide legal advice on corporate, regulatory, and fund-related matters, with a focus on private funds and alternative strategies (including, private equity, private credit, hedge funds, or hybrid strategies).

Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of legal documents, including fund offering documents, investment management agreements, limited partnership agreements, side letters, and vendor / service provider agreements.

Advise on investor negotiations, including co-investment arrangements and strategic partnerships.

Advise on U.S. and cross-border marketing and distribution issues relating to private funds and other investment products.

Collaborate with compliance, structuring, sales, finance, and operations teams to ensure smooth execution of business initiatives.

Help the business navigate key legal considerations, including ERISA, tax, data privacy, and regulatory requirements.

Work closely with external counsel while developing strong internal capabilities.

Qualifications

Juris Doctor (JD) degree and admission to practice in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.

3+ years’ relevant legal experience, with exposure to corporate law and private funds (law firm or in-house).

Strong understanding of securities laws, investment fund structures, and asset management regulatory frameworks.

Bonus points for familiarity with ERISA, tax, data privacy, or cross-border sales / marketing.

Excellent drafting, negotiation, and analytical skills.

Effective organizational skills and ability to manage across multiple priorities.

A practical, business-oriented approach to problem solving.

Ability to balance legal risk with business objectives and communicate effectively with both legal and non-legal colleagues.

Collaborative team player with the confidence to provide practical, business-oriented advice.

Additional Information

• This position will work on a hybrid model out of our Santa Monica or New York office
• We offer a comprehensive benefits package including a collaborative work environment, generous PTO, 401(k) match, affordable & comprehensive medical / dental / vision insurance, CFA and other professional membership reimbursement, and more.

The pay range for this position is $200,000. However, base pay will be determined on an individual basis considering various factors, including location, qualifications, skills, and experience. The total compensation package includes eligibility for an annual discretionary bonus and a full range of health and financial benefit offerings, which will be provided in conjunction with an offer of employment.

Visit www.wilshire.com for additional company information.

Wilshire is an SEC registered investment adviser and required to track certain political contributions under Rule 206(4)-5.  As such, you may be required to disclose your prior political contributions.

We are an equal opportunity employer, which means we afford equal employment opportunity to all individuals regardless of race / ethnicity, creed, color, religion, sex (including gender and gender identity), national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, veteran status, citizenship status, disability, medical condition (as defined by California Government Code section 12926), or sexual orientation.  Our employees, as well as applicants and others with whom we do business, will not be subjected to sexual, racial, religious, ethnic, or any other form of unlawful harassment.  In addition, Wilshire adheres to the equal employment opportunity requirements of all states and localities in which it does business.  We are completely committed to these principles not only because of the various laws which address these subjects, but because it is the right thing to do for our employees and clients to thrive.

If you have a disability, and require reasonable accommodations in the application process, contact Human Resources at ApplicantAccessibility@wilshire.com or 310-584-6011.

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