The Investments division of Mercer seeks an experienced financial services lawyer with expertise across Asian jurisdictions.  The role reports to the Asia Chief Investments Counsel and the successful candidate will assist in advising and setting policy for one of the world’s leading institutional investment advisors.  Contract review and management will form a key responsibility of the role.  The firm has related activities in a significant number of Asian markets, to include India.

What can you expect:

• You will be a member of the Mercer Legal Department in Asia, working closely with stakeholders to provide high quality, effective legal expertise on contract review and management.
• A broad role for a mid-level lawyer focusing on complex financial services regulatory matters as well as commercial matters.
• You will manage a dedicated caseload of both transactional and contentious matters relating to the firm’s diversified and growing financial services business in the Asia market, including India.
• You will be joining a team of friendly, highly skilled, collaborative professionals and have the opportunity for excellent long term career development

What is in it for you?

• Be challenged to deliver impactful solutions for a large organization and have a direct impact on all colleagues
• A company with a strong Brand and strong results to match
• Be part of a truly global team that actively embraces diversity by ever-transforming the way we work to be inclusive of all
• Employee Resource Groups, which provide access to leaders, relevant volunteer and mentoring opportunities and interactions with counterparts in industry groups and client organizations

We will count on you to:

• Provide practical, business-oriented advice on Mercer’s engagements with institutional clients and third party asset managers, as well as Mercer’s new service offerings, regulation impacting Mercer’s products, applicable governance requirements and on emerging issues.
• Helping to oversee critical governance programs, including the firm’s third party provider and new product reviews
• Supporting the negotiation of new client contracts which cover a range of financial services and products, such as investment research and tools (where the role will take on contracting for an exciting new Asia-wide research offering), investment advisory and asset management
• Responsibility for maintaining a comprehensive set of guidelines to serve as rules of the road in Asia
• Being a lead lawyer on major financial services projects, like RFPs, fund formations and licensing and registration in new markets
• Manage key internal stakeholders such as Sales, Business Development, Client Services, Strategy, Investment Consulting, Fund Design.
• Work closely with external legal counsel in relation to the above, where appropriate, to include negotiation and management of costs of outside counsel.

What do you need to have:

• Qualification as an attorney/solicitor in a common law jurisdiction
• At least three years’ experience as a lawyer dealing with financial services matters, whether in a law firm or in-house setting, with consideration given to regulator experience
• Understanding of legal and regulatory risks associated with the investments business and legal options required to manage these risks.
• Experience of participating in board meetings and governance committees.
• Excellent prioritsing, multitasking and time management skills
• Ability to take the initiative; identify areas for enhanced efficiency and issues that go beyond the specific project requested by the internal client.
• Strong communication skills in English with the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and educate colleagues on key legal and regulatory issues and developments and manage expectations regarding timeframes and project completions. Other regional languages a plus.

What makes you stand out:

• Mastery of the financial services laws of at least one of Singapore, Hong Kong, India, UAE or Mainland China
• Knowledge of the financial services laws of other Asian markets
• Unimpeachable integrity and a positive, team-oriented attitude with the ability to work effectively within a small team.”