Counsel

About the role

Empower is transforming how Americans experience wealth, bridging workplace retirement and personal wealth products and services to deliver more holistic, accessible financial solutions. We are seeking a Counsel to join the Advisory & Broker-Dealer legal team.

Responsibilities

• Advise on matters pertaining to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 ("Advisers Act"), including registration requirements, disclosure obligations, and fiduciary duties;
• Advise on matters concerning the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act"), such as Regulation Best Interest, reporting and disclosure obligations, trading regulations, and corporate governance requirements;
• Advise on compliance with Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) rules and regulations, including broker-dealer conduct, advertising, and recordkeeping requirements;
• Monitor, research, review, and analyze new state and federal laws and regulations impacting Empower's broker-dealer and investment advisory business;
• Partner with Empower business groups and leaders to identify and address legal issues, including product development, sales, operations, client service, call center, marketing and education teams;
• Support the negotiation of Empower contractual arrangements with plan sponsors and individual clients related to brokerage and/or advisory services;
• Provide legal counsel on corporate governance matters related to the Advisers Act, Exchange Act, and FINRA rules;
• Advise on legal and regulatory issues related to stock plan services, including equity compensation plan administration, participant-facing brokerage and advisory service considerations, disclosures, client agreements, operations, and related product or service initiatives;
• Advise on political contributions, pay-to-play, and political law compliance matters, including related policies, monitoring, disclosures, public sector client considerations, and applicable federal, state, and local requirements;
• Interact with representatives from the FINRA, SEC, and state regulatory agencies and assist with responses to various regulatory inquiries.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor / Law Degree from an accredited law school
• Current admission to at least one state bar and a license to practice law in the United States
• 2 or more years of relevant legal experience

Skills and expertise

• Ability to efficiently identify and analyze the legal aspects of a business problem and provide practical, actionable legal advice
• Willingness to engage and build relationships with business clients at all levels of seniority as a trusted legal partner
• Ability to communicate complex legal concepts clearly and efficiently verbally and in writing to non-lawyers and provide risk-based compliance approaches
• Ability to work as a team member, both within the Empower Workplace Solutions and Empower Personal Wealth legal team and with other legal department colleagues
• Ability to work independently to manage multiple, competing priorities and attain results by exercising appropriate judgment to manage matters through ambiguity and to completion

What you will bring

• Juris Doctor / Law Degree from an accredited law school
• Current admission to at least one state bar and a license to practice law in the United States
• 2 or more years of relevant legal experience
• Ability to efficiently identify and analyze the legal aspects of a business problem and provide practical, actionable legal advice
• Ability to communicate complex legal concepts clearly and efficiently verbally and in writing to non-lawyers and provide risk-based compliance approaches
• Ability to work as a team member, both within the Empower Workplace Solutions and Empower Personal Wealth legal team and with other legal department colleagues
• Ability to engage and build relationships with business clients at all levels of seniority as a trusted legal advisor

What will set you apart

• In-house experience at a broker-dealer firm, investment adviser, insurance company, retirement recordkeeper, or other financial services company with experience in advising on broker-dealer matters, investment products and/or investment advisory services strongly preferred
• Familiarity with the Advisers Act, Exchange Act, and/or FINRA rules
• Experience advising on stock plan services, equity compensation plan administration, or related brokerage, advisory, and participant-service matters
• Experience with political contributions, pay-to-play, and political law compliance for regulated financial services firms, including related policies, monitoring, disclosure, and public sector client issues
• Previous experience related to corporate governance matters for a large organization

Pay

$125,400.00 - $181,875.00

Schedule

Remote and Hybrid Positions