Director & Legal Counsel, Investments - Credit

Director & Legal Counsel, Investments - Credit

The opportunity

We are seeking a high caliber, experienced credit lawyer to join the Investment Counsel team in Toronto. As the first credit-focused investment lawyer at Teachers’, you will partner with investment teams to support our growing credit investment strategy in North America and Europe and oversee the provision of legal advice on credit matters across the Teachers’ private asset portfolios.

Who you'll work with

Reporting to the Managing Director & Associate General Counsel, Investments in Toronto, you will be part of the Global Investment Counsel team (GICT) within the Corporate Affairs division of Teachers’. You will support Teachers’ C$30B global credit platform, working closely with deal teams focused on private and structured credit investments, with colleagues in the GICT, and with other partners across the organization. This role provides an excellent opportunity to work on a variety of complex, leading edge, and high-profile transactions across Teachers’ credit investments. The position will involve periodic travel to the Teachers’ London office. This is a great opportunity for a motivated, commercially minded lawyer who thrives in a high-performing and collaborative environment.

What you'll do- Provide strategic, business-oriented legal counsel on credit-related investment matters in North America and Europe, with a primary focus on advising the private and structured credit teams through all transaction stages, including grid and term sheet negotiation and long-form documentation.-
- Support the provision of legal advice on credit-related investment matters across the portfolio, including acquisition and portfolio company financings.-
- Manage occasional credit restructuring negotiations and solutions, related litigation, and regulatory inquiries.-
- Develop legal support model for the Teachers’ credit investment strategy, including policies, processes and playbooks to support implementation of advice, operational efficiency and risk management.-
- Engage and manage external legal counsel on credit-related investment matters; support the GICT’s external counsel relationship plan and other strategic relationships.-
- Represent the GICT at relevant credit-related investment committees.-
- Lead knowledge sharing sessions with deal teams and GICT colleagues on credit-related investment matters.-
- Anticipate, identify and assist in managing legal risks relating to credit-related investment strategies and activities, and new or changed laws or regulations that impact such strategies.-
- Support the GICT and legal division strategy, advancing our performance-driven culture within a collegial and collaborative team. What you'll need- 8+ years of relevant legal experience at a top-tier law firm or in-house at a leading investment house or lending institution.-
- Qualified solicitor or attorney with an internationally recognized Law Society.-
- Significant transaction experience with leveraged buyout financing, corporate finance, direct lending strategies and/or structured financial products. U.S. and/or European experience is a plus.-
- Ability to act proactively and with considerable autonomy, manage competing priorities and demonstrate innovation to address novel issues. Proficient in critical thinking, negotiation and influence, decision-making, and working collaboratively.-
- Excellent judgment and alignment with Teachers’ values, performance culture and growth-mindset.-
- Strong communication skills (oral and written), excellent interpersonal skills and client service orientation.-
- Flexibility and adaptability, including supporting investment teams outside of traditional work hours and periodic travel to our London office. #LI-VN, #LI-Hybrid

What we’re offering- Pay-for-performance environment that offers competitive salary and incentive- Numerous opportunities for professional growth and development- Comprehensive employer paid benefits coverage- Retirement income through a defined benefit pension plan- The opportunity to invest back into the fund through our Deferred Incentive Program- A flexible/hybrid work environment combining in office collaboration and remote working- Competitive time off- Our Flexible Travel Program gives you the option to work abroad in another region/country for up to a month each year- Employee discount programs including Edvantage and Perkopolis

At Ontario Teachers', diversity is one of our core strengths. We take pride in ensuring that the people we hire and the culture we create, reflect and embrace diversity of thought, background and experience. Through our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategy and our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), we celebrate diversity and foster inclusion through events for colleagues to connect for professional development, networking & mentoring. We are building an inclusive and equitable workplace where our talent is respected, accepted and empowered to b