Associate, Paralegal, U.S. Direct Lending

Job Description

Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES) is seeking a highly organized, quick-thinking and proactive paralegal to join the Ares Legal team. The paralegal will provide day-to-day support to the U.S. Direct Lending Legal team with respect to a variety of recurring tasks and discrete projects, including with respect to regulated public funds and private funds. This is a “front-line” role working directly with Ares Credit Group investment professionals as well as the broader Ares Legal/Compliance/Tax department and the Finance & Accounting, Investor Relations and Investment Operations departments. As such, familiarity with legal matters relevant to investment management and/or private equity funds is strongly preferred. The position will be based in New York.

The role calls for a proactive self-starter, someone who is comfortable taking initiative and running with projects, all while demonstrating integrity and professionalism. The successful candidate will possess excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills, attention to detail, organization and time management skills and be a “good corporate athlete” with a great attitude who can work autonomously and proactively anticipate needs.

The firm fosters a culture of collaboration, entrepreneurialism, integrity and partnership, both internally amongst colleagues and externally amongst clients and other stakeholders. The Ares team operates with a growth mindset, communicates transparently and cultivates a high-performance and results-oriented environment. 

Primary functions and essential responsibilities

The Paralegal will be charged with facilitating the efficient functioning of the –U.S. Direct Lending legal team to enable the timely delivery of high-quality legal services to investment professionals and other departments (finance/accounting, investor relations, operations, etc.) across Ares globally.  This role is hybrid with a requirement of three days in office per week.

Critical tasks include:

• Assist with substantive day-to-day operations for regulated public funds, including:

  • Prepare resolutions, written consents, certificates and other entity documentation and assist with other tasks to ensure all entity legal formalities, including director and officer documentation, are addressed.

  • Review subscription documentation from external investors.

  • Coordinate with outside counsel and third-party service providers on, among other things, document workflow and signature requests.

  • Coordinate with internal groups on responses to diligence requests from external investors, lenders and distributors, and internal product management teams.

  • Assist with project management related to fund capital markets transactions.

  • Review draft regulatory filings (e.g., SEC).

• Oversee other internal legal workstreams, including:

  • Track regulatory and investment-related filings (e.g., UCC, state level).

  • Assist with improving and creating standard forms / precedents and processes.

  • Maintain and improve investment-related procedures.

• Review, advise and coordinate with outside counsel on non-disclosure agreement (NDA) terms, non-reliance letters and access letters.

• Respond to inbound Know Your Customer, Anti-Money Laundering and other legal/regulatory requests.

• Collaborate with internal business units (e.g., finance and accounting, investor relations and operations) to provide legal information and support.

• Organize, maintain and periodically audit electronic and hard copy records and files relating to various matters, including highly sensitive information.

• Participate in certain Ares-wide projects as needed on a global basis.

qualifications

Education/Certification

• Bachelor’s degree required.

• Paralegal certificate from an ABA-accredited program or equivalent qualification is valued, but not required.

• Notary public is appreciated, but not required.

Experience

• Minimum of 3 years of experience functioning as a paralegal or legal assistant.

• Substantive experience working within a regulated industry at a top-tier law firm or in an in-house legal department is required.

• A background in asset management (investment funds, credit, private equity, capital markets, leveraged finance, M&A) is strongly preferred, and familiarity with the Investment Company Act of 1940 is appreciated but not required.

Requirements

• Highly organized individual who is detail-oriented, logical, able to multi-task and committed to meeting deadlines with limited supervision.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Strong time-management and prioritization skills.  Able to successfully manage multiple priorities and competing demands and take ownership of assignments.

• Thrives working autonomously in a dynamic, collaborative and fast-paced environment—demonstrating flexibility, resiliency and proactivity.

• Exhibits excellent judgment—knows when to elevate issues and ask questions.

• Focus on specific goals and demonstrate a sense of personal growth, accountability and urgency for achieving results.

• Skilled with Adobe Acrobat Pro, Microsoft Office Suite and other MS Office software products and web-based research.

• Experience with entity data management or analytics software, DealCloud or other deal pipeline management software is a plus.

Reporting Relationships

Compensation

$90,000 - $105,000 / annum

There is no set deadline to apply for this job opportunity. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the search is no longer active.