Senior Legal Counsel - US
Moonfare · New York City · $180,000–$220,000 (stated in the posting)
Join the team rewriting the rules in private markets.
Moonfare delivers what few others can: the highly sought-after funds and hidden-gem investments that go beyond what most private banks offer. Every opportunity is subjected to a ruthless vetting process; the bar is unforgivingly high. The result? Institutional-quality portfolios for investors who demand more.
Our team combines finance veterans with talent from tech, consulting, law and industries you’d never expect. Headquartered in Berlin, we operate from eight offices across Europe, the US and Asia.
If you're ready to build what's next in private markets, let's talk.
US Senior Legal Counsel
Moonfare is experiencing exceptional growth in the North American market. Our Legal & Compliance Team plays a central role in enabling this success by shaping fund structures, guiding regulatory strategy, and partnering closely with teams across the business to open up private markets to US investors.
Moonfare US is currently a small close-knit team of five, with each member playing a hands-on role in the day-to-day success of the business. As the platform continues to grow and expand its range of offerings within the US market, the team is expected to grow alongside. This is a standalone role and you’ll report to our Chief Legal & Compliance Officer in Berlin and work day to day with our Luxembourg-based Global Fund Legal team.
You will lead the legal structuring of our Delaware-based feeder funds, oversee our regulatory framework, and ensure our platform remains at the forefront of SEC and FINRA excellence.
You will:
In this role, you will be responsible for providing expert legal advice on the setup, structuring, and operation of US-domiciled private equity feeder funds (primarily Delaware Limited Partnerships). You will also serve as the primary point of contact for US regulatory bodies.
- Fund Structuring & Execution: Lead the legal work for the creation and maintenance of US feeder funds, including drafting and revising Limited Partnership Agreements (LPAs), Private Placement Memorandums (PPMs), and subscription documents.
- Contract Negotiation & Due Diligence: Draft and negotiate complex agreements and lead the due diligence of fund managers (GPs), service providers, and institutional partners in accordance with Moonfare’s global standards.
- Strategic Advisory: Provide legal guidance on new product launches, co-investments, and secondary market opportunities within the US jurisdiction.
- External Counsel & Global Collaboration: Liaise with external US counsel to ensure high-quality, cost-effective legal support, while operating as part of an international legal group with a strong connection to the Luxembourg-based Global Fund Legal team.
- Strategic Business Partnership: Partner closely with Sales and Operations teams to ensure legal and compliance frameworks support US business growth and to foster effective, high-touch interaction across all US-based teams.
- Regulatory Oversight: Act as the primary liaison for SEC and FINRA matters. You will be responsible for managing and ensuring all filings, including Form ADV's and Form D's, Blue Sky, are accurate and timely.
The next Moonfarian:
- Currently licensed to practice law in a US state, with a preference for New York
- Private Funds Expertise: 8–12 years of experience, with a significant track record in private equity, venture capital, or asset management legal roles.
- SEC/FINRA Knowledge: Understanding of the US regulatory landscape, specifically regarding broker-dealers, RIAs, and private placements (Reg D).
- Hands-On: You have drafted the documents and owned the filings yourself. A track record that depends on a large legal team or on external counsel for everything will not translate here.
- Analytical Mindset: Accountable and reliable with the ability to navigate a fast-paced, environment
- Communication: Exceptional ability to translate complex legal and regulatory requirements into actionable business advice for non-lawyers.
- Self-starter: Being part of a small team with timezone difference to the HQ means you will be expected to identify and organize your working day autonomously
Invest in Yourself:
- Ownership and Impact: You are empowered to bring ideas, make decisions, and see your work directly contribute to Moonfare's success
- Transparent Environment: We believe in open communication. You will receive regular updates on company strategy, performance against our KPls, and key business decisions
- Personal Growth: We support your development with an individual growth budget of 2% of your base salary
- Invest in Your Future: We support your long-term financial goals by matching (up to 4%, cap at USD 5,000) your contribution to your 401k Retirement Plan. Our vesting set up is 3-year-cliff.
- Relax and Recharge: Unlimited PTO
- Daily Lunch: Enjoy a free lunch every day that you are in the New York Office
- A Culture of Excellence: Join a team of ambitious, smart, and committed professionals who are passionate about revolutionising private market investing
Our Values:
- Our clients come first, Moonfare comes second, and we prioritise ourselves third - Client-Centric Focus. Putting clients first means creating value for them is essential. Placing Moonfare second signifies that our individual professional future at Moonfare depends on the company's commercial success.
- We pursue excellence and honor our promises - Commitment to Excellence. We hold ourselves to the highest standards, taking responsibility for our failures, and celebrating our successes.
- We are here to win and to celebrate our collective achievements - Win together. We are mission-focused and think and act like owners. We exemplify the attitude we expect and each of us commits to do what it takes to succeed.
- We foster personal growth but each of us earns our place as a Moonfarian through merit - Growth and Merit. We hire, retain, and develop exceptional people and invest in empowering them to excel.
We understand the important role that diversity plays in our success. Different backgrounds, experiences and ideas push us further and raise the bar. We’re committed to developing an inclusive and safe culture where everyone — regardless of colour, race, religion, sex, origin, sexuality, disability, marital status, citizenship or gender identity — knows that they are an integral part of the team and can bring their full potential to their work.
*Minimum investments vary according to jurisdictions.