General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer

Sterling Group•Houston, TX

16d

About The Position

The General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer (GC/CCO) will serve as a key member of Sterlings senior leadership team, responsible for all legal, regulatory, and compliance matters across the firm. This individual will oversee fund formation and governance, manage regulatory relationships, and ensure that Sterlings operations, culture, and growth remain firmly grounded in best practices and integrity. The individual will also be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as CCO of the firm. The ideal candidate will be a strategic, solutions-oriented attorney with deep experience managing legal and compliance functions within the alternative asset management industry. The role is focused on firm level risk management across all operations and infrastructure that support Sterlings private equity and private credit multi-strategy platform.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited U.S. law school; active bar membership.
1020 years of experience, including time in both a top-tier law firm and in-house at an alternative asset manager.
Deep understanding of private fund formation, regulation, compliance, and governance.
Demonstrated success managing legal and compliance functions for a complex, multi-strategy platform.
Strong communicator who can translate complex legal concepts into practical business guidance.
Collaborative leader who values partnership, humility, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

Lead all firm-level legal matters across Sterlings private equity and credit strategies.
Oversee fund f ormation and structuring, including coordination of LPAs, PPMs, subscription documents, and side letters.
Advise on governance, partnership, and investor relations matters, ensuring strong alignment among the firm, funds, and investors.
Manage ongoing legal needs related to firm operations, including employment, vendor, technology, and other commercial agreements.
Serve as primary liaison with external counsel, managing quality, cost, and efficiency across engagements.
Provide strategic legal counsel to the executive team, focusing on risk management and business enablement rather than transaction execution.
Maintain, refine and evolve Sterlings library of standards documents, tools and processes.
Advise Partners and finance team on upper-tier documentation, including relating to governance, co-investment program, carried interest and intra-Sterling documentation
Advise firm on strategy and tactics related to material litigation and disputes at both the firm level, and material items within portfolio companies.
Serve as the firms Chief Compliance Officer and register with the SEC as such
Own and continuously enhance Sterlings compliance program, ensuring policies and procedures are effective, practical, and consistent with the firms values.
Prepare for and lead SEC examinations and audits; manage regulatory filings and reporting.
Oversee compliance for fundraising, marketing, and investor communications, and relevant disclosures.
Develop and lead internal training and monitoring programs that embed compliance in Sterlings culture.
Advise senior leadership on corporate governance, fiduciary duties, and partnership matters.
Support operational and reputational risk management efforts across the platform.
Ensure that firm and fund structures remain aligned with evolving regulations and investor expectations.
Manage firms NDA counsel, including maintenance of NDA negotiation playbook and direct resolution of contentious issues.
Manage firms insurance program, including relating to professional liability (D&O, fiduciary, EPL, crime), cyber, general liability and property and casualty.
Offer advice to the firms portfolio companies on the correct approach to risk management coverage.
Build and manage a high-performing legal and compliance team, currently including two other team members, scaling as the firm continues to grow.
Partner closely with finance, investor relations, operations, and investment professionals to drive alignment and accountability.
Foster a culture of integrity, ownership, and transparency, consistent with Sterlings long-standing values.