Job Opportunities at Ninety One

• There is a need to find a senior candidate with a good legal background, with a strong level of knowledge and experience in negotiation of derivative documentation and the changing environment in the derivatives space globally. The role will also provide some exposure to other areas of Ninety One’s business as a result of the fact that the global legal team provides support to Ninety One’s entire business.

In this role you will:

• Work across the global Ninety One business with respect to OTC derivatives and exchange traded derivatives investments, in particular through the negotiation of ISDAs, CSAs, GMRAs, CDEAs, GMSLAs, trade confirmations and master confirmation agreements.
• Keep up to date with derivative-based regulatory change and rules in the various markets in which Ninety One operates globally, in particular regulations in EU, UK, US and SA.
• Oversee, manage and develop the derivatives function within the Ninety One Legal Team globally
• Prioritise and allocate derivatives-related work globally.
• Liaise internally with teams throughout derivative negotiation process to ensure that terms are within agreed parameters.
• Draft and advise on derivatives working in segregated mandate investment management agreements and fund documentation.
• Onboard new funds/clients to derivative trading documentation, including assistance with legal issues relating to regulatory classification of counterparties.
• Assist the business with post-trade issues and discrepancies arising from trade confirmations, market events and collateral disputes with derivative counterparties.
• Attend internal cross-departmental OTC derivatives related project meetings.
• Instruct local counsel in different jurisdictions, managing costs.
• Assist other members of the internal legal team as required on broader contracts such as Ninety One’s commercial agreements

You should consider applying if you have:

• 5 years+ post qualification experience as a Qualified lawyer
• Gained experience working within a private practice financial services team, asset management firm or similar financial institution.
• Strong experience of negotiating derivative documentation.
• Working knowledge of the asset management industry and fund structures is beneficial.
• A good understanding of regulation pertaining to all aspects of OTC trading with an ability to review, interpret and apply existing and new regulation in respect thereof, in particular the UK, SA, US and EU rules pertaining to margin and clearing.
• Experience in identifying and understanding required authorisation language pertaining to all aspects of OTC trading as required by OTC derivatives rules applicable in SA, the US, the EU, the UK as well as the relevant client’s jurisdiction and drafting such language into segregate mandate investment management agreements.
• A good understanding of ISDA related material currently affecting global markets such as IBOR, overnight rate changes, benchmark changes, in addition to open ISDA Protocols.
• High-level knowledge of key legislation applicable to certain institutional client types (eg. ERISA) and fund range product structures (e.g. OEIC, SICAV, LLC, CIS/Unit Trusts etc)..
• Strong research and opinion writing skills, particularly an ability to convey complex legal principles to other areas of the business in a manner that is clear and easy to understand

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In this role you will:

Investment Monitoring:

• Act as contact point for all waivers, consents and amendments on relevant Private Market portfolio companies.
• Provide analysis of requests, synthesise relevant information and co-ordinate internal approvals/response to portfolio companies, keeping a record for audit/reporting purposes.
• Source, aggregate and present relevant reportable information in format required by fund committees/boards, investors and management.
• Monitor performance of portfolio companies against tracked covenants and obligations to provide financial/other information, flagging risks as appropriate.
• Review key information provided by portfolio companies to assess any material change in circumstances.
• Manage completion of conditions precedent in advance of disbursement of funds.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with the Investment, Legal, ESG, Compliance, Fund Accounting & other internal teams, facility agents and portfolio companies.

Investment AML/KYC due diligence:

• Complete initial KYC due diligence on relevant Private Market portfolio companies (covers Infrastructure and Credit).
• Liaise with the Investment Team and portfolio companies/facility agents to understand the relevant corporate structure and retrieve outstanding documentation.
• Manage all internal communication/coordination on KYC as well as quarterly external KYC reporting across Private Markets.
• Responsible for annual KYC refreshes, PEP approval process and outgoing KYC requests across Private Markets.
• Ensure funds are appropriately onboarded with facility agents in advance of investment

You should consider applying if you have:

• BCom LLB, CA(SA) or similar degree
• 2-3 years relevant work experience at a financial institution, bank, asset manager, development finance institution or professional services firm, law, accounting, consulting firm