Legal Counsel - Fund Formation and Structuring

GCM Grosvenor • Chicago, IL

9d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Legal Counsel (Principal) – Fund Formation and Structuring will play a key role in structuring, forming, and maintaining private and registered investment funds across GCM Grosvenor’s platforms. The attorney will work closely with senior legal, compliance, investment, product, and operations professionals to support new fund launches and strategic product initiatives, ensuring legal and regulatory compliance across jurisdictions. This role is an opportunity for a motivated attorney to gain hands-on experience in complex fund structures within a sophisticated asset management platform. As an onsite/hybrid employee, you are expected to be in the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursday.

Requirements

• Degree from a top-tier law school; admitted to practice in Illinois.
• 3–5 years of experience in a leading law firm’s fund formation or investment management practice, or comparable in-house experience at an asset manager.
• Demonstrated experience drafting and negotiating fund documentation (e.g., LPAs, PPMs, side letters, subscription documents, IMAs).
• Strong grasp of applicable U.S. securities laws, including the Advisers Act and Investment Company Act.
• Exceptional drafting, analytical, and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex legal concepts into clear business guidance.
• Strong project management skills with a proven ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
• High integrity, sound judgment, and a proactive, collaborative mindset.
• The ideal candidate is a self-motivated, intellectually curious professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment and values precision, practicality, and teamwork.
• They will bring an ownership mindset, a high level of integrity, and a collaborative approach to partnering with colleagues across all levels of the firm.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with both private and registered fund structures preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead or support the formation and ongoing maintenance of private funds, registered funds, and related investment vehicles; draft and negotiate LPAs, operating agreements, offering memoranda, and side letters.
• Collaborate with investment and product teams on new product launches, assessing legal structure, governance, and regulatory implications.
• Oversee preparation and negotiation of subscription agreements, side letters, and investor communications.
• Advise on issues under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, and related securities and commodities laws.
• Support fund board governance, periodic updates to offering documents, and investor reporting materials.
• Coordinate with external counsel to ensure efficient execution of fund-related initiatives.
• Serve as a trusted legal partner to internal stakeholders, balancing commercial goals with legal and regulatory requirements.

Benefits

• Eligible employees can elect to participate in comprehensive healthcare coverage (including medical, dental, vision and life insurance), flexible spending accounts, and the employer sponsored retirement plan.
• Additionally, employees are eligible for paid time off, parental leave, short-term and long-term disability, as well as other care/wellness programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees