Legal Counsel, South East Asia

About Schroders

As a global investment manager, we help institutions, intermediaries and individuals meet their goals, fulfil their ambitions, and prepare for the future. But as the world changes, so do our clients’ needs. That’s why we have a long history of adapting to suit the times and keeping our focus on what matters most to our clients.

Doing this takes experience and expertise. We bring together people and data to spot the trends that will shape the future. This provides a unique perspective which allows us to always invest with conviction. We are responsible for $956.9 billion (£750.6 billion / €866.2 billion)* of assets for our clients who trust us to deliver sustainable returns. We remain determined to build future prosperity for them, and for all of society. Today, we have 6194 people based in 38 locations who focus on doing just this.

We are a global business that’s managed locally. This allows us to always keep our clients’ needs at the heart of everything we do. For over 200 years and more than seven generations we’ve grown and developed our expertise in tandem with our clients’ needs and interests.

*as at 31 Dec 2023

APAC and Global Legal Team

The APAC Legal Team includes legal and governance professionals who serve Schroders’ business across the Investment, Distribution, Product and Infrastructure divisions of the firm. The Schroders legal team operates as a trusted partner, proactively facilitating the sustainable growth of the business. The successful candidate will become a member of the Schroders Asia-Pacific legal team and will work in close collaboration with the wider Schroder’s Group legal team of over 120 lawyers and closely with our South East Asian business.

Reporting lines and location

The role will report locally and functionally to the General Counsel, APAC, based in Singapore, and work with various senior stakeholders within SEA and beyond. As Legal Counsel, you will be part of the Schroders’ South East Asian Legal team, as well as the wider APAC CLG team, that handles a broad variety of legal and regulatory based matters primarily in connection with the firm’s South East Asian businesses. You will be responsible for matters which also stem from the APAC infrastructure hub located in Singapore (Trading, Trade Processing, IT, Finance and Tax Services).

What you’ll do

Regulatory Advisory

• Advising on legal and regulatory issues related to new and existing regulation impacting South East Asia
• Supporting the General Counsel, APAC, in the provision of general commercial legal and regulatory advice across South East Asia.
• Analysing and advising on new markets and investment products in which Schroders is considering to invest on behalf of its clients.
• Using and critically evaluating external counsel efficiently and other in-house legal resources.
• Establishing and maintaining procedures for evaluating the quality of services of external counsel.
• Attending/joining appropriate local industry bodies and reporting back on key issues arising. 

General Commercial

• General advisory work on outsourcing, data protection, privacy and intellectual property matters and other related areas of local law, in close collaboration with the wider Schroders’ legal teams across all asset classes including private assets (Schroders Capital).
• Draft, review and negotiate a variety of commercial agreements with external vendors/outsourcing partners, such as engagement letters, subscription agreements, platform agreements, digital related contracts, AI related agreements, IT contracts and other legal documentation in connection with the APAC infrastructure hub.
• Draft and review intra-group agreements between group affiliates, such as delegation and service level agreements.
• Outsourcing agreement review
• Data privacy document and matter review, including and analysis of matters connected with the Singapore Personal Data Protection Act
• Facilitating innovative use of IT platforms and know-how databases including implementation of AI use cases
• Pro-active know-how development and liaison with internal Schroder functions (e.g IT and Operations) in the area AI and other general commercial matters. 

Projects

• Leading implementation of Group and Group Legal projects within South East Asia 
• Complete transactions and projects alongside Compliance, Risk and other functions which comprise solutions and advice to our internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Assisting to advice upon and manage the local elements of a corporate transactions including acquisitions, closures and other related corporate activity. 
• Innovative use of IT platforms and know-how databases

The knowledge, experience and qualifications you need 

• Qualified lawyer with at least 12 years of PQE in a major law firm(s), financial institution(s), or both 
• Track record demonstrating an ability to partner with and provide strategic and proactive legal advice to local boards/senior management alongside other functions such as Compliance, Risk and Governance
• Corporate commercial background, experience in IP / IT and digital related contracts
• Experience working on cross-border matters and working across different cultures
• Familiar with the Singapore outsourcing framework
• Excellent command of written English with demonstratable experience in legal drafting  

What you’ll be like

• Excellent drafting, negotiation and communication skills
• Excellent time management and prioritisation skills
• High level of awareness of the commercial implications of legal issues
• Ability to explain relatively complex concepts in a clear and concise manner
• Willingness to learn (particularly within the areas of AI, digital and private assets), coupled with a keenness to take a holistic view of issues, priorities, reputational and regulatory risks, cultural nuances and efficient solutions with an independent mind-set
• Team player, able to collaborate naturally across legal and other teams, globally and with our business colleagues
• Ability to develop strong working relationships with colleagues in all functions/departments and at all levels in many jurisdictions across the firm’s global footprint
• Ability to work under one’s own initiative as well as in a team to achieve common business goals for our clients 

We recognise potential, whoever you are

Our purpose is to provide excellent investment performance to clients through active management. Diversity of thought facilitated by an inclusive culture will allow us to make better decisions and better achieve our purpose. This is why inclusion and diversity are a strategic priority for us and why we are an equal opportunities employer: you are welcome here regardless of your age, disability, gender identity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, socio-economic background or any other protected characteristics.