Legal Counsel (Fund Investments Lawyer)

responsAbility board seeks a Legal Counsel for Fund Investments in Cape Town. This mid-level role supports private market investment activities within the Legal & Compliance team.

Positioned within the Legal Investments & Restructuring team, this position provides pragmatic, business-focused legal counsel to internal stakeholders. The successful candidate will act as a hands-on, solution-oriented lawyer, navigating a fast-paced international environment to support investment activities across private markets.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted legal advisor to investment professionals, focusing on Fund-of-Fund transactions such as primary commitments, co-investments, and secondary deals involving intermediated businesses.
• Draft, review, and negotiate various legal documents, including Limited Partnership Agreements (LPAs), subscription agreements, side letters, and ancillary paperwork.
• Assist with fund structuring and product development by collaborating with internal departments and external partners.
• Evaluate legal opinions, regulatory confirmations, and tax documentation, while managing external counsel across multiple jurisdictions in a practical manner.
• Provide guidance on portfolio investment issues, including amendments, restructurings, and the unwinding of exposures.
• Deliver targeted legal training to investment teams to enhance internal knowledge and establish best practices.
• Contribute to the refinement of processes, templates, and playbooks to improve scalability and operational efficiency.

Requirements

• Master of Law degree or equivalent, accompanied by 4–6 years of experience in private markets, gained either in-house or at a prominent law firm.
• Solid legal knowledge and practical experience in private equity fund investments, preferably within a Fund-of-Funds context.
• Commercial mindset with the ability to balance legal risks against business objectives.
• Execution-focused approach, capable of managing transactions from start to finish with minimal supervision.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with proficiency in legal drafting and negotiation, and the ability to interact effectively with diverse global stakeholders.
• Business fluency in English.
• Ability to work independently, keep the broader context in mind, meet tight deadlines, and continuously improve processes.
• Enthusiasm for and interest in impact investment.

Nice to have

• Experience in Financial Inclusion lending.
• Proficiency in additional languages such as French, German, or Spanish.

What the company offers

• An engaging role based in Cape Town, offering significant autonomy for personal initiative.
• A multicultural and forward-looking working environment.

About the company

responsAbility is a prominent Swiss impact asset manager specializing in private market investing within emerging markets. The organization integrates impact and ESG principles deeply into its investment process, supported by active engagement strategies.

• Impact and ESG are core components of the investment process.
• Active engagement supports the organization's impact goals.

How to apply

Documents to submit:

• CV
• motivation letter