Staff Attorney - Investments

GuideStone Financial Resources•Dallas, TX

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Staff Attorney - Investments provides legal support to the enterprise’s investment management and financial services activities, including investment products and services offered to faith-based organizations and their staff. The role advises investment professionals on securities and investment management laws, product development and governance, investment and service-provider agreements, and regulatory matters affecting registered investment advisers and investment companies. Working closely with Investments, Compliance, Risk Management, and senior legal professionals, the Staff Attorney helps structure business initiatives, negotiate commercial arrangements, and identify and mitigate legal and regulatory risk. The position combines financial-services legal expertise with a commitment to advancing the enterprise’s faith-based mission.

Requirements

3+ years of relevant legal experience, preferably involving investment management, securities, registered investment companies, registered investment advisers, financial services, or a related area of law.
Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school and an active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction, with eligibility to satisfy applicable requirements for practice as in-house counsel.
Demonstrated knowledge of federal securities and investment management laws, particularly the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and Investment Company Act of 1940, and ability to research and apply SEC rules, regulations, interpretations, and guidance to business activities.
Ability to draft, review, interpret, and negotiate sophisticated legal agreements and identify material legal, regulatory, fiduciary, operational, and commercial risks.
Knowledge of investment products, investment management practices, and financial-services operations.
Ability to provide clear, practical, risk-based legal advice that balances regulatory requirements, legal risk, fiduciary considerations, business objectives, and operational realities.
Strong legal research, analytical, drafting, and communication skills, with careful attention to accuracy, detail, and written work quality.
Ability to collaborate and build effective relationships with investment professionals, compliance and risk professionals, attorneys, executives, external counsel, service providers, and other stakeholders.
Ability to independently manage multiple matters, priorities, and deadlines, exercise appropriate judgment about escalation, and adapt to evolving business and regulatory requirements.
High degree of professional integrity, discretion, initiative, and accountability; ability to handle confidential and sensitive matters and work effectively in a mission-driven, faith-based organization.
Proficient skills in MS Office and appropriate GuideStone system applications.
Must maintain complete confidentiality regarding GuideStone business matters.

Nice To Haves

Experience with a law firm, investment manager, financial institution, regulator, or comparable organization.
Experience or knowledge involving mutual funds, ETFs, institutional investment management, private funds, or similar products and services.

Responsibilities

Provide day-to-day legal counsel to the Investments business on investment management, investment products and services, securities laws, fiduciary obligations, and related regulatory requirements; research and analyze legal issues and provide practical, business-oriented advice.
Draft, review, and negotiate investment-related and commercial agreements, including investment management and advisory agreements, sub-advisory agreements, collateral account control agreements, confidentiality agreements, service-provider contracts, amendments, and other agreements supporting investment activities.
Support the Investment division’s registered investment advisers and investment products—including mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), separately managed accounts, private investments, and other institutional investment solutions, as applicable—by advising on product development, implementation, operation, and ongoing legal requirements.
Advise on federal securities and investment management laws and regulations, including the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Investment Company Act of 1940, Securities Act of 1933, Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and applicable SEC rules and guidance.
Support investment product and fund governance, including preparing and reviewing Board and committee materials, resolutions, policies, regulatory filings, service-provider matters, and other documentation needed for effective oversight and governance.
Partner with Investments, Compliance, Risk Management, Operations, and other business functions to evaluate new products, investment strategies, business initiatives, and operational changes, and identify, communicate, and mitigate associated legal and regulatory risks.
Assist with regulatory filings, examinations, inquiries, and compliance matters affecting the division’s investment activities; coordinate with Compliance and other stakeholders to interpret regulatory developments and implement necessary changes to policies, procedures, disclosures, and business practices.
Conduct legal due diligence and provide transactional support involving investment managers, sub-advisers, funds, counterparties, vendors, and other strategic relationships, identifying material legal, regulatory, contractual, and governance considerations.
Monitor developments in securities, investment management, and financial-services law and communicate their potential impact to stakeholders; assist with developing and maintaining policies, procedures, templates, guidance, and training as appropriate.
Support other legal matters affecting the Investments division as assigned, including corporate governance, recordkeeping, disclosure, regulatory, contractual, and cross-functional initiatives consistent with the enterprise’s mission and service to faith-based organizations and their staff.