Assistant General Counsel - Securities Investments (M&A)

The Northwestern Mutual Law Department is seeking an experienced and agile transactional or investment attorney, who ideally has significant M&A or private equity experience, to join a diverse, challenging, and fast-paced practice advising the Company on a wide range of issues as the Company works to transform how clients experience financial security.

What's the role:

This attorney will be a member of the Department’s Private Securities Investments Team and will support the Company’s transactional initiatives and its $230+ billion investment portfolio. Specifically, this attorney will provide legal advice on transactional matters, including M&A and joint ventures. Additional responsibilities will also include providing advice relating to our institutional investment portfolio. As a member of the team, and working collaboratively with other Department members, this attorney’s responsibilities will include some or all of the following:

• Advising the Company’s leaders and investment professionals on Company initiatives including M&A, capital markets transactions, investment fund formations, venture capital investments, joint ventures, management of third-party capital and other transactional matters;
• Being a trusted advisor helping investment professionals review and negotiate complex, multi-million dollar domestic and foreign investments including First Lien, Second Lien, Senior Unsecured, Unitranche, Mezzanine, HoldCo PIK, Preferred Equity, Common Equity, Structured and Project Finance, Limited Partnerships and/or Syndicated Bank Loans; and
• Providing legal support for a range of asset management activities for the Company’s investment portfolio including amendments and waivers, restructurings, bankruptcies, realizations, and regulatory matters.

Bring Your Best! What this role needs:

• Candidates must have five or more years of legal experience in one or more of these areas: private equity, M&A, corporate finance, commercial lending, structured finance, private placements, securities offerings, fund formation, private fund investment or Advisers Act. M&A or private equity experience is preferred and bankruptcy and restructuring experience would be a plus.
• To qualify, this candidate must be able to analyze a variety of legal issues, synthesize complex information, and provide legal advice to business professionals throughout the enterprise.
• A candidate must have an exemplary academic record and a Juris Doctorate degree; note that a license to practice law in the State of Wisconsin or a commitment to become licensed within the first year of employment is required.

Desired personal attributes:

• The scope of this role may change over time to respond to business needs. The successful candidate will be flexible and adaptable in terms of general abilities & aspirations.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, a highly analytical and curious mind, creativity, comfort dealing with ambiguity, integrity, high ethical standards, and a positive demeanor.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate and contribute effectively in a team environment and to manage a multijurisdictional practice.
• Ability to work autonomously as well and to deal with multiple tasks at the same time.
• A keen problem-solving approach using sound legal reasoning and practical business judgment to identify and address risks and achieve results that balance benefits for all partners of the enterprise.

Information About Northwestern Mutual and the Law Department:

Of the Northwestern Mutual Law Department’s approximately 130 people, roughly 80 are lawyers, having come to Northwestern Mutual from all around the country after having graduated from a multitude of law schools and undergraduate institutions and having practiced in a wide variety of settings. The balance of the Department consists of highly-skilled paralegals and research and administrative professionals who support significant aspects of the Department’s operations. Our Law Department (in every aspect of its operation, including our Leadership Team, practicing lawyers, and our professional administrative staff) is inclusive and diverse, comprising a rich mixture of people who come from a wide variety of ethnic and religious backgrounds and includes people of color and those who are openly gay or lesbian.
 

The Northwestern Mutual Law Department provides the vast majority of legal services in nearly all fields directly to the Company, with only select utilization of outside counsel. There are nine main practice teams within the Law Department: Insurance Products and Operations; Digital Products and Operations; Investment Products and Advisory Services; Corporate; Distribution; Litigation; Enterprise Governance; Private Securities Investments; and Real Estate Investments. Lawyers have the opportunity to develop a thorough understanding of the Company’s business needs and are fully engaged in the execution of the Company’s business strategy. This allows members of the Law Department to provide the most timely and effective counsel in an efficient manner and leads to greater career satisfaction for our attorneys, paralegals, and professional administrative staff.

Northwestern Mutual has been helping people and businesses achieve financial security for more than 160 years. Through a comprehensive planning approach, Northwestern Mutual combines the expertise of its financial professionals with a personalized digital experience and industry-leading products to help its clients plan for what is most important. With $308.8 billion in total assets, $31.1 billion in revenues, and $2 trillion worth of life insurance protection in force, Northwestern Mutual delivers financial security to more than 4.75 million people with life, disability income and long-term care insurance, annuities, and brokerage services. The company handles more than $200 billion of investments owned by its clients and held or handled through its wealth management and investment services businesses. Northwestern Mutual ranks 90 on the 2021 FORTUNE 500 and is recognized by FORTUNE® as one of the "World's Most Admired" life insurance companies in 2021.

We a re an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you work or would be working in California, Colorado, Ne w York City, Washington or outside of a Corporate location, please click here for information pertaining to compensation and benefits.

Please note: Any wages or wage ranges listed directly on a specific job requisition or posting will supersede corresponding wage ranges listed within Pay Transparency Guide linked above.​

FIND YOUR FUTURE

We’re excited about the potential people bring to Northwestern Mutual. You can grow your career here while enjoying first-class perks, benefits, and commitment to diversity and inclusion.