Legal Counsel
When you join USS, the size and scale of our pension scheme means you will have numerous opportunities to learn and develop your career. Given our size you'll have real autonomy and influence as you collaborate closely with a wide-ranging team of experts. Our office is a vibrant place to work, and we offer flexibility of office/homeworking due to our hybrid model.
About the role
In your role as Legal Counsel you will make a meaningful and valued contribution from the outset. This role will provide a great opportunity to manage legal risk within USSL and USSIM through the provision of legal advice (including obtaining external legal advice where appropriate) in relation to private markets investment transactions.
Responsibilities
- Delivering Results – Provide advice, guidance and support to the Private Markets Group (“PMG”) team in relation to investment transactions and asset management (managed by the PMG Asset Management & Oversight team (“AM&O”)), including the review of supply agreements, engagement letters with advisers, side letters and other agreements.
- Focus on fund investments, fund re-ups and co-investments across Infrastructure, PE Funds and Co-Investments, Real Estate and Private Credit; and Some experience advisable for covering Direct Equity / Infrastructure transactions, Private Credit (finance and lending transactions) and oversight of Real Estate matters.
- Draft and review investment transaction related documents and agreements.
- Manage legal risk in accordance with the board mandated legal risk appetite statements and the legal key processes and controls.
- Provide general legal advice, guidance and support to USSL and USSIM.
- Provide legal advice to relevant internal committees and working groups.
- Provide advice and guidance on internal constitutional, corporate governance and regulatory issues as well as communications and press releases and other formal notices to external parties.
- Instruct and manage external counsel and transpose in business‑suitable format.
- Manage cost incurred by external counsel on transaction related matters and in accordance with internal policy.
- Assist with the development of formal training sessions for business colleagues on relevant topics; and Knowledge development within the wider legal team.
- Support members of Group Legal, where necessary, on transactions relating to PMG and any asset management related matters.
- Support the Chief Legal Officer, the Head of Investment Legal and the rest of Group Legal in developing the profile of the Legal Department.
- Assist in the development of Group Legal by reviewing and drafting legal process documents (including template documents and checklists) and other control initiatives.
- Support the Chief Legal Officer and rest of Group Legal in establishing and maintaining key relationships.
- Support the Chief Legal Officer, the Head of Investment Legal and rest of Group Legal in managing external counsel.
- Keep updated with changes to relevant areas of law and provide updates to Group Legal and relevant business teams in USSL and USSIM.
About you
To be successful in the role you will have:
- Solicitor/Barrister qualified to practise in England & Wales or appropriate foreign equivalent. PQE.
- Experience of working in a law firm/in‑house.
- Experience of reviewing and negotiating relevant documentation relating to general corporate law, M&A, direct equity investments, private funds and banking and finance.
- Experience of instructing and managing external counsel preferred.
- Experience of FSMA and other relevant law and regulations.
Why join us?
How we will reward you:
- Great starting salary
- Generous annual leave package
- Access to a high quality pension scheme provided through Universities Superannuation Scheme
- Supportive people policies (including enhanced occupational sickness pay and family friendly pay)
- Financial contributions towards your personal development to help you maintain your physical and mental wellbeing
- Access to a range of health and wellbeing services i.e., private healthcare, discounted gym membership
- Learning and development opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and talent
- Employee Volunteer Day’s to support the communities where you work and live
- Cycle to Work Scheme
Our culture
Our people are what makes us different. We work together to create a diverse and inclusive culture that embraces individuality, where people are welcomed and feel comfortable in the knowledge that they can be themselves. We are active members of:
- Social Mobility Pledge
- Menopause Workplace Pledge
- Actively support Women in Tech
- Annual Intern programme supporting individuals to gain work experience
About us
Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) was established in 1974 as the principal pension scheme for universities and higher education institutions in the UK. We work with around 330 employers to help build a secure financial future for more than 500,000 members and their families. We are one of the largest pension schemes in the UK, with total assets of around £90.8bn (at 31 March 2022). To find out more, please visit https://www.uss.co.uk
USSL is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We strive to ensure our recruitment process is as flexible and inclusive as possible so we can attract diverse candidates and recruit the best talent. We want all candidates to perform at their best during the recruitment process, so if you need any reasonable adjustments or if there is anything we can do to help support you through your recruitment journey please let us know by contacting resourcing@uss.co.uk.
Legal Counsel, Pensions
When you join USS, the size and scale of our pension scheme means you will have numerous opportunities to learn and develop your career. Given our size you'll have real autonomy and influence as you collaborate closely with a wide-ranging team of experts. Our office is a vibrant place to work, and we offer flexibility of office/homeworking due to our hybrid model.
About the role
This role will provide a great opportunity to manage pensions legal risk within USS and USSIM and through the provision of legal advice (including obtaining external legal advice where appropriate) and management of internal disputes (IDRs) and the Pensions Ombudsman Complaint process. Unique opportunity to work in‑house with various stakeholders (ranging from the Trustee directors to the administration teams), on a diverse range of complaint and member dispute matters.
Responsibilities
- Primary responsibility for overseeing the following types of advice:
- To draft responses to internal dispute resolution procedure complaints (IDRS) and to manage the Pensions Ombudsman complaint process.
- To advise the Operations teams on all aspects of pensions law relevant to members / beneficiaries’ benefit complaints.
- To present and advise at relevant Board and Committee meetings involving IDRs and other member complaints.
- Further responsibility for the following types of advice and business as usual queries:
- To provide advice on the range of pension law matters relevant to members / beneficiaries benefits, including death benefit cases, divorce implementation queries, transfer cases and retirement cases, including on relevant pensions legal documents such as deeds of amendment to the Scheme Rules, deeds of accession (for employers) and section 75 debt arrangements.
- To advise the business on non‑compliance with the USS Scheme Rules / relevant legislation and assist with any remediation that may be required.
- To review and comment on member and employer communications to ensure they are compliant with the USS Scheme Rules and relevant legislation.
- To liaise and discuss matters with third parties such as the Pensions Ombudsman, Pensions Regulator, external legal counsel and the scheme’s actuarial advisers.
- To keep updated with changes to relevant areas of law and provide updates to the legal team and relevant business teams in USS and USSIM.
- To support Head of Pensions Legal and the Group General Counsel in developing the Legal Department strategy and processes, establishing and maintaining key relationships, developing the profile of the legal department and to assist in the selection and managing of external counsel.
- To assist in the development of the Legal Department by reviewing and drafting legal process documents (including template documents and checklists).
About you
- General:
- Strong analytical skills.
- Experienced Negotiator.
- Communication (verbal and written): in particular to communicate complex pensions law in a digestible way adapting to the needs / level of understanding of different stakeholders.
- Ability to prioritise effectively.
- Interpersonal skills.
- Self‑starter.
- Role Specific:
- Experience of drafting member complaint and IDR responses and managing the Pensions Ombudsman complaint process.
- Excellent knowledge of all key legislation and law including trust law, Pensions Schemes Act 1993, Finance Acts and Pensions Acts.
- Self‑starter who has the ability to manage a full and varied workload.
- The ability to prioritise and work under tight timescales and manage multiple deadlines.
- Experience:
- Solicitor qualified to practise in England & Wales or appropriate foreign equivalent.
- Post qualification experience of working in a law firm/in house in dedicated pensions team.
- Advising trustee clients in relation to a wide‑range of pensions matters.
Why join us?
How we will reward you:
- Great starting salary
- Generous annual leave package
- Access to a high quality pension scheme provided through Universities Superannuation Scheme
- Supportive people policies (including enhanced occupational sickness pay and family friendly pay)
- Financial contributions towards your personal development to help you maintain your physical and mental wellbeing
- Access to a range of health and wellbeing services i.e., private healthcare, discounted gym membership
- Learning and development opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and talent
- Employee Volunteer Day’s to support the communities where you work and live
- Cycle to Work Scheme
Our culture
- Social Mobility Pledge
- Menopause Workplace Pledge
- Actively support Women in Tech
- Annual Intern programme supporting individuals to gain work experience
About us
Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) was established in 1974 as the principal pension scheme for universities and higher education institutions in the UK. We work with around 330 employers to help build a secure financial future for more than 500,000 members and their families. We are one of the largest pension schemes in the UK, with total assets of around £90.8bn (at 31 March 2022). To find out more, please visit https://www.uss.co.uk
USSL is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We strive to ensure our recruitment process is as flexible and inclusive as possible so we can attract diverse candidates and recruit the best talent. We want all candidates to perform at their best during the recruitment process, so if you need any reasonable adjustments or if there is anything we can do to help support you through your recruitment journey please let us know by contacting resourcing@uss.co.uk.
Group General Counsel 12/02/2026 London
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