Associate General Counsel

Job Summary

The Associate General Counsel will provide comprehensive legal support to a multi-generational family office. This role requires a versatile attorney with strong analytical skills and the ability to manage diverse legal matters, including corporate governance, investment transactions, compliance, and estate planning. The position demands discretion, sound judgment, and the ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, confidential environment. The Associate General Counsel will operate with a high level of discretion and autonomy and will deal with highly sensitive and confidential information. Absolute discretion and confidentiality is required.

Key Responsibilities

• Advises on corporate, tax, investment, real estate, employment, and fiduciary matters.
• Drafts and implements policies and procedures in accordance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
• Prepares and reviews various legal instruments and documents, including commercial contracts, leases, licenses, purchase and sale agreements, real estate documents, trusts, corporate filings, etc.
• Negotiates complex and critical agreements with third-party vendors and service providers.
• Supports private investments including private equity, venture capital, and real estate.
• With the General Counsel, liaises with external counsel and collaborates with internal teams.
• Participates in the development of complex legal structures and strategies for estate planning purposes.
• Works with IFO colleagues to ensure operations are conducted in compliance with applicable laws and regulations and to identify significant risks and develop risk mitigation plans.
• Manages and completes required entity federal and state regulatory filings, including, but not limited to, annual reports and corresponding resolutions in domestic and international jurisdictions.
• Prepares or works with colleagues to coordinate required shareholder and corporate resolutions, compliance documents, minute books, stock ledgers, and annual filings.
• Conducts research and analysis of specific legal questions and scenarios.
• Reviews legal publications and pending legislation, including tax legislation, property law, and IRS regulations. Monitors emerging legal trends and rulings.
• Participates in family office and private trust company conferences, symposia, and industry initiatives to identify best practices regarding legal issues for family offices and private trust companies.
• Handles other legal matters as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Bachelor’s degree and J.D. degree from an accredited law school, admission to a state bar with the ability to be admitted (if not already) to the bar of the State of Michigan.
• Minimum of 5+ years of experience working in a law firm, corporate legal department, family office, or private trust company.
• Broad knowledge of corporate, tax, and investment law; familiarity with estate planning and compliance.
• Exceptional analytical, drafting, and communication skills and the ability to synthesize complex legal issues into digestible and actionable business points.
• Collaborative leadership style; team player with a strong work ethic.
• Praactical, business-oriented approach to problem-solving and ability to effectively counsel colleagues by providing them with clear, concise advice, and creative solutions where necessary, on established timelines to meet business needs.
• Highest level of integrity, honesty to report to the General Counsel in an open and unbiased manner.
• Exceptional communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills with ability to present information in both verbal and written formats to a variety of internal and external audiences.
• Professional, reliable, enthusiastic, self-reliant, self-motivated and demonstrated ability to work well under pressure with all groups while addressing people courageously, directly and candidly.
• Demonstrated experience with handling and maintaining highly confidential information in a discreet manner without breach of confidentiality.
• Strong intellectual capacity, critical and analytical thinker; possesses a fact-based approach to the analysis of business problems and opportunities. Displays presence, seasoning and maturity.
• Able to adapt to changing circumstances and priorities and to manage multiple projects simultaneously with superior attention to detail, accuracy, and efficiency while keeping to deadlines.
• Strong systems aptitude and proficiency, including various legal research systems. Proficiency in Microsoft Office systems strongly preferred.