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Associate Counsel

Firm Overview

FORT is a hedge fund with approximately $6 billion in AUM, located in metro Washington, DC and New York City.  Founded in 1993, the firm develops and implements proprietary, fully automated, systematic trading strategies in global equity, rates, FX and commodity markets.  The majority of the firm’s activity is over medium and long-term investment horizons based on a variety of fundamental and price data and using myriad quantitative and AI techniques.

Job Summary

FORT’s five person Legal & Compliance Department currently consists of a General Counsel, two Associate Counsel, a Chief Compliance Officer and a senior Compliance Associate.  The Department’s activities can be roughly categorized into three sectors: Corporate/Fund Support; Investor Transaction Support; and Regulatory/Compliance Support.  The Associate Counsel at FORT supports all three of these sectors and  will be responsible for the drafting and negotiation of various agreements, reviewing marketing materials, advising on legal issues and other regulatory matters.

Summary of essential job functions

• Responsible for preparing and/or negotiating a wide range documents, including offering memorandums, investment management agreements, distribution agreements and employment-related agreements
• Review of SEC and CFTC marketing materials
• Assist as requested in the formation and administration of investment funds and other investment vehicles utilized by FORT
• Assist in training and advising FORT staff regarding pertinent legal issues
• Supervise external counsel
• Work with other FORT departments (Business Development, Investor Relations, Compliance, HR, Finance) to carry out FORT initiatives
• Assist FORT’s General Counsel in developing and implementing policies and processes designed to make FORT’s business more efficient
• Handle other legal and regulatory matters as assigned

Minimum Requirements

• Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school; top 10% of class preferred.
• 6+ years of professional experience as an attorney, preferably in the corporate law department of a nationally recognized law firm and/or a financial institution or hedge fund.
• Experience with private fund- and bank-related regulatory frameworks, including the Securities Act of 1933, Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Investment Company Act of 1940, Dodd Frank, Bank Holding Company Act and ERISA, as well as regulations promulgated under FINRA, CFTC and the NFA.
• Solid understanding of legal principles and practices, especially in the areas of contract and corporate law.
• Must be able to project manage as well as supervise work among outside counsel and other service providers.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills; the ability to articulate clear ideas, both verbally and in writing, internally and externally.
• Strong time management and organizational skills.
• Possess the poise and legal acumen to work closely with FORT’s senior level employees.