Senior Legal Counsel - Commercial (Maternity cover)

Position: Senior Legal Counsel - Pension Funds & Institutional Investors Company: Reports To: Head of Pension Funds & Institutional Investors Cleveland & Co is a dynamic outsourced in-house legal team, delivering innovative, strategic legal solutions to clients across the investment management industry. We deliver high-calibre advice across asset owners, asset allocators, industry associations and industry service providers. Our clients trust us not only for our technical excellence, but for our commercial mindset and ability to operate as a true extension of their internal team. The Senior Legal Counsel - Pension Funds & Institutional Investors role is a defining senior hire for the firm. It’s built for someone who combines deep institutional private markets expertise with the ambition to own a market segment, not just deliver work within it. This is an opportunity to build a platform: to lead the institutional investor practice, win clients, grow the team, and play a meaningful role in scaling a firm that is redefining what great in-house legal support looks like. We are seeking an excellent Pension Funds & Institutional Investors lawyer support our institutional investor advisory capability across the firm. This is a high-impact role advising pension funds, insurers, endowments, sovereigns, foundations, not for profits, family offices and other institutional allocators on complex private markets transactions and investment programmes. You will advise across a wide range of asset classes and structures, including: Commitments into private equity, private credit, renewables, infrastructure and real estate funds; Joint ventures, strategic partnerships, and bespoke private capital arrangements; This role is ideal for someone with institutional investor experience who can combine technical excellence with commercial judgement, and who wants to play a meaningful leadership role inside a fast-scaling firm. In addition to leading delivery, you will play a supportive role in client acquisition and revenue growth , helping expand Cleveland & Co’s institutional investor client base and market presence. Provide legal advice to institutional investors on commitments into private funds, including: Private equity buyout, growth and venture funds Private credit and private debt strategies Provide legal advice on corporate transactional work relating to institutional investments into companies, including: Coordinate with tax, regulatory and sector specialists (internal and external) where required to deliver a seamless execution for clients Structuring, Governance & Risk Coordination with external advisers such as tax where needed Advise on joint ventures and bespoke private market arrangements including: Provide pragmatic input on institutional policy constraints including: Investment restrictions, regulatory limitations and internal approval processes ESG frameworks, responsible investment policies and reporting expectations Commercial Contribution Work closely Head of Pension Funds and Institutional Investors on growth priorities and strategic initiatives Be a part of client acquisition for the pension fund and institutional investor segment, including: Building and converting a pipeline of high-quality institutional clients and allocator relationships Leading pitches, proposals and early-stage commercial conversations Developing long-term relationships with key decision makers (CIOs, Heads of Private Markets, GC/Legal, Investment Committee stakeholders) Represent Cleveland & Co externally through networking, events, and market engagement Law Degree ~ Qualified lawyer in England & Wales (or common law jurisdiction) with strong UK institutional private markets experience ~Strong track record advising pension funds and/or institutional investors (in-house or from a leading law firm) ~ Experience in advising across private markets investments including: ~ LPAs, side letters, subscription agreements, investor negotiation points and commercial risk allocation ~ Good to have: ability to win work and grow client relationships, including leading commercial discussions and converting opportunities ~ Good commercial instincts, with the ability to advise beyond pure legal risk ~ Front-Row Seat to the Market : You will advise sophisticated pension funds and institutional investors on high-value private markets activity across funds and direct investments. For the right person, this is a rare chance to combine top-tier legal work with genuine commercial ownership and long-term upside. Move Faster, With Less Friction : You’ll operate in a high-performance environment that values momentum, accountability, and smart judgement. We take client service seriously, we back each other, and we’re building something meaningful together. This is a full-time, in-office role based at our London Bridge office ( Monday–Thursday in-office, Friday remote ). Cleveland & Co is not a legal placement agency. We are a fully integrated, outsourced in-house legal team. We operate as a collaborative, high-performing legal function, serving multiple clients from within our own firm. If you’re a strategic legal leader ready to take the next bold step in your career, we’d love to hear from you. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.