Job Description
Global Special Situations ('GSS) is a stand‑alone business within the Private Markets division of JPMorgan Asset Management. Since 2018, GSS has been leading the build‑out of private credit investing and fundraising across its event‑driven, stressed, distressed, special‑situations and complex‑performing strategies that target investment opportunities in North America and EMEA across the capital structure, including restructures, bespoke lending and opportunistic market dislocations. The business has centres in London and New York. GSS investment strategies are offered to international clients through a range of fund structures, SMAs and specialist investment vehicles. The GSS business legal team can utilize significant internal and external resources and are also expected to be personally hands‑on in a fast‑moving and intellectually interesting investment team.
Opportunity
The opportunity is for an Executive Director lawyer in London to join the situational investment team as a desk lawyer jointly reporting to the Head of Research and the COO of the business.
Key Responsibilities And Attributes
* Lead EMEA Special Situations / Private Credit deal legal work through the deal lifecycle (sourcing, due diligence, structuring, negotiation, execution, monitoring, restructuring and exit).
* Subject to suitable prior experience, ideally take the lead on fund formation / investment vehicle work (and ancillary client due‑diligence / negotiations / side‑letters).
* Support other legal matters across the GSS business, for example in regards fund financing, ISDA/TRS, service provider contracts, BHCA/Volcker/SEC/AIFMD/FCA regulatory matters.
* Ability to work closely with the investment team and COO to provide legal analysis in a fast‑moving business setting.
* Expected to work with the investment team, COO and Head of Operations on all legal matters throughout the course of an investment, including negotiation and drafting of confidentiality agreements, term sheets, and final deal documentation.
* Expected to become familiar and provide guidance on key legal documentation including credit agreements, and bond indentures, and on proposed changes to key legal documentation, including amendments and waivers.
* Support the COO to drive the management and strategic growth of the GSS business and private credit more broadly; tasks may include legal, regulatory, tax, compliance, client and control environment matters as may be required from time to time.
* Build and maintain a strong network among the legal community, which will help support sourcing of investment opportunities.
* Ensure that all activities are conducted in adherence with the relevant JPMAM / GSS policies and procedures as well as with all applicable legal, tax, risk and regulatory requirements.
Additional Responsibilities (Day One or Over Time)
* Advise on all aspects of alternative investment offerings for institutional and HNW clients, including cross‑JPM products.
* Manage outside counsel in all aspects of private‑fund offering documents, including formation documents, operating agreements, and side letters with underlying funds.
* Lead legal calls with clients and their counsel on legal due diligence and side‑letter negotiations.
* Lead analysis of new business initiatives from a legal and regulatory perspective.
* Ensure fund work and initiatives are ‘fit‑for‑purpose’, proactively managed and hit challenging milestones.
* Maintain industry knowledge through conference attendance and general internal/external networking.
* Coordinate with JPM Legal, Compliance, Conflicts, Distribution, Product Development and Tax Departments in a positive and commercial manner with close coordination with the GSS leadership team.
Requirements
Extensive special situations legal experience is mandatory.
* UK (London) based lawyer with a strong understanding of trade documentation, and with direct experience drafting and negotiating credit documentation.
* Self‑starter who can work independently and also be comfortable being part of a larger investment team.
* Experience working with members of the investment and business teams in London and in NY, especially when covering the NY lawyer.
* Strong legal analysis and experience across a broad range of financing, credit and equity‑related instruments, including new issuance, major modifications, secondary transactions and securitizations.
* Strong communication and collaboration skills; energy and hunger to drive the business forwards.
* European languages are advantageous but not a requirement.
Timings
* The role is for an immediate hire in London and onboarding/starting is ideally expected within the next 90 days.
Further Comments On The Role
* Experience with drafting and negotiating credit documentation, including trade documentation.
* Strong verbal and written skills, along with outstanding interpersonal skills.
* Proven ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines.
* Intellectual curiosity and a heightened willingness to learn new skills and new elements of law and regulation across multiple jurisdictions.
* Prepare and refine transaction documents using GSS templates and precedents.
* Support execution of NDAs, engagement letters, commitment papers, intercreditor agreements, amendments, and ancillary documentation.
* Lead first‑line negotiations on documentation, escalating to internal approvers as required.
* Develop commercial judgment and stakeholder management to drive timely, market‑aligned outcomes.
* Legal and Regulatory Research: Conduct targeted legal research across relevant jurisdictions and maintain awareness of evolving legal, regulatory, and market developments affecting private credit.
* Partner with CIOs, analysts, operations/COO, and internal Legal & Compliance in New York and London on transaction workflows, closing checklists, conditions precedent/subsequent, and post‑closing portfolio updates.
* Assist with fund level legal, regulatory, and governance tasks, including policy implementation and oversight support.
* External Counsel Management: Assist in instructing, managing, and benchmarking external counsel; review advice for practical, risk‑aligned implementation.
* Maintain accurate document and precedent repositories; support matter tracking and knowledge capture.
* Identify and implement process improvements, automation opportunities, and playbook enhancements to increase efficiency and deal velocity.
About Us
J.P. Morgan is a global leader in financial services, providing strategic advice and products to the world’s most prominent corporations, governments, wealthy individuals and institutional investors. Our first‑class business in a first‑class way approach to serving clients drives everything we do. We strive to build trusted, long‑term partnerships to help our clients achieve their business objectives.
We recognize that our people are our strength and the diverse talents they bring to our global workforce are directly linked to our success. We are an equal opportunity employer and place a high value on diversity and inclusion at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute, including race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital or veteran status, pregnancy or disability, or any other basis protected under applicable law. We also make reasonable accommodations for applicants’ and employees’ religious practices and beliefs, as well as mental health or physical disability needs. Visit our FAQs for more information about requesting an accommodation.
About The Team
J.P. Morgan Asset & Wealth Management delivers industry‑leading investment management and private banking solutions. Asset Management provides individuals, advisors and institutions with strategies and expertise that span the full spectrum of asset classes through our global network of investment professionals. Wealth Management helps individuals, families and foundations take a more intentional approach to their wealth or finances to better define, focus and realize their goals.
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