Legal Director (US OR Canada Based)

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and grow the Americas compliance practice
• Take ownership of the Americas compliance service line — its quality, capacity, and commercial performance
• Build and develop the Americas compliance team as the practice grows
• Work closely with the Managing Director on strategy, new client development, and the evolution of Avantia's compliance offering
• Contribute actively to business development — pitches, proposals, client presentations, and retention
• Represent Avantia externally through thought leadership, conference participation, and industry engagement
• Deliver for clients

Deliver for clients

• Lead transaction AML/KYC reviews for PE and credit fund deal teams — managing the compliance workflow from instruction through to sign-off, with sensitivity to deal timelines and pressures
• Oversee inbound KYC and investor onboarding programmes for fund clients and RIAs — including CDD, EDD, beneficial ownership analysis, and sanctions screening
• Act as the primary senior point of contact for US clients, managing relationships at General Counsel, CCO, and partner level
• Collaborate with Avantia's UK and Luxembourg teams on cross-border mandates
• Stay ahead of the Americas regulatory environment — FinCEN, BSA/AML, OFAC, the Investment Adviser AML rule — and ensure clients are well-positioned for change
• Contribute to the development of Avantia's compliance frameworks, templates, and technology-enabled workflows

Competencies

• Comfortable with a dynamic, growth environment supporting demanding clients
• Legally rigorous, but commercially savvy and comfortable with competing tasks, priorities and deadlines
• Business-minded, with a commitment to getting the balance right between efficiency, responsiveness and respect for team members' work-life balance
• Enthusiastic about leading a team of high-quality team members, appreciating that your own success is in turn dependent on their success
• A self-starter who takes ownership

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

Avantia Law is offering a permanent, full-time position with the flexibility of remote working, anywhere within the United States or Canada. At Avantia, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace, and we firmly believe in equal opportunities for all. We value and celebrate the unique perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences that each individual brings to our team. We embrace diversity in all its forms. We strive to create an environment where everyone feels respected, valued, and empowered to contribute their best work. Our hiring process is merit-based, and we welcome applications from all qualified individuals. We encourage you to communicate any reasonable accommodations you may need during the recruitment process and future employment. Please let your Talent team contact know ahead of any interview, we will be happy to suggest or confidentially discuss reasonable adjustments.

Requirements

• 8-12 years of relevant experience, with substantial time in an in-house compliance role at an institutional investor or large fund manager
• Deep working knowledge of BSA/AML, FinCEN requirements, OFAC sanctions, and the Investment Advisers Act compliance framework
• Demonstrated experience owning or leading KYC/AML programmes — at programme lead, compliance officer, or senior advisory level
• Track record of senior client or stakeholder relationship management
• US or Canada bar admission preferred
• Bonus: Prior experience in a big law transactional or regulatory/compliance advisory practice
• Bonus: Experience delivering compliance as a service, whether from a law firm, Big 4 practice, or specialist compliance advisory firm
• Bonus: Familiarity with cross-border fund structures — Luxembourg, Cayman, UK
• Bonus: Experience with fund investor onboarding and LP subscription workflows