Senior Counsel, Capital Markets

At Forge (NYSE: FRGE), we know our team is our greatest asset. As technology innovators in the private market, our vision is to deliver a richer future for everyone. We live that vision through our values of being bold, humble, and accountable. We experience the value that our vision brings to the world every day, helping the teams behind the greatest innovations of our generation, from space travel to planet-saving, plant-based nutrition, and more. 

With liquidity solutions, exclusive data and insights, a custody offering, and a vibrant marketplace, Forge’s goal is to build the best-in-class technology infrastructure to power a global private market that is transparent, accessible, and seamless for companies, their employees, and investors. Through Forge, employees can sell their private shares, employers can reward shareholders with pre-IPO liquidity and individual and institutional investors can participate in private unicorn growth. 

Forge's differentiated global marketplace addresses rising demand among individual and institutional investors for exposure to private company stocks and is building a growing network effect. 

Our ability to offer these powerful financial solutions has generated incredible interest from investors, demand from customers, and a need to grow our team to meet the needs of more companies, teams, and innovators in this way. 

The Role:

We are looking for a Senior Counsel, Capital Markets to join our Legal Department. This role will serve as coverage for Forge’s regulated businesses, with primary focus on Forge’s broker-dealer and registered investment adviser. The role will also support the custody and lending businesses of Forge. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in covering day-to-day broker-dealer sales and trading and understanding of relevant SEC and FINRA rules and regulations, as well as some experience and understanding of RIA regulation, management of private funds, and custody of cash and securities. We are looking for someone with the ability to think and act both strategically and tactically with respect to the needs and objectives of our business while ensuring that the company remains compliant with various securities laws and regulations as well as industry best practices in financial services.

This will be a hybrid role where you'll be onsite 2-3 days a week in our Soho, NY office

Responsibilities:

• Advise on day-to-day activities broker-dealer, including secondary trading, primary placement, and various transaction related questions, including cross border transactions and issues.
• Work closely with the RIA business and advise on issues related to structuring, placement and management of private funds.
• Work with and provide legal advice on issues related to the custody and lending business, including support related to handling of client complaints, questions, and potential disputes related to custodial accounts.
• Partner with the business, product and engineering teams on developing or integrating various products and services across the various regulated businesses, including provide advice on specific legal and regulatory issues.
• Draft/update various template agreements and other relevant documentation and handle negotiations of agreements with clients and other counterparties.
• Provide support related to public company filings, including review and advise on revisions required as part of Forge’s SEC disclosures.
• Collaborate closely with compliance, risk, and other internal teams on various aspects related to Forge’s regulated businesses, including marketing materials review, SEC and FINRA filings, intercompany agreements, inquiries and examinations, etc.
• Stay abreast of regulatory developments and industry standards and provide guidance to internal stakeholders, as well as revise and update policies, forms, and agreements as necessary.
• Work on cross-functional company initiatives and other special projects as needed.

Required Qualifications: 

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school and licensed to practice law.
• Top academic and professional credentials.
• 3-5 years of experience – ideal candidate will have a combination of law firm and in house experience.
• Required experience with broker-dealer sales and trading, and primary placement of securities; understanding of securities law and regulations under the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and FINRA rules and regulations, including operational, custodial, settlement, and other matters related to transactions in restricted securities. 
• Experience drafting and negotiating brokerage agreements and private fund documents.
• Demonstrated ability to handle matters independently a willingness to learn and provide support to other areas.
• Must be able to sit and/or stand for long periods of time in an office or home office setting while working

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strongly preferred understanding of securities laws and regulations under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, and specifically experience with private funds, including relevant exemptions under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
• Experience with cross border transactions and related issues strongly preferred.

For residents of San Francisco/Bay Area, CA or New York, NY the annual salary range for this role is $155,000 - $175,000 + annual bonus. Final offers may vary from the amount listed based on geography, candidate experience and expertise, bonus, and other factors

Forge implements a mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, which applies to all employees. All employees covered by this policy are required to be fully vaccinated as a term and condition of employment at Forge. Employees are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after completing primary vaccination with a COVID-19 vaccine, with, if applicable, at least the minimum recommended interval between doses. Employees must provide truthful and accurate information about their COVID-19 vaccination status, and, if applicable, their testing results as of the first date of their employment. 

Employees may request an exception from this mandatory vaccination policy if the vaccine is medically contraindicated for them or medical necessity requires a delay in vaccination. Employees also may be legally entitled to a reasonable accommodation if they cannot be vaccinated because of a disability, or if the provisions in this policy for vaccination conflict with a sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance. All such requests will be handled in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Forge is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and values diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.