General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer

Rutherford is partnering with an alternative investment manager on the appointment of its first General Counsel. This is a foundational legal hire at a firm entering an active growth phase, with significant new fund launches in the pipeline and selective M&A activity on the horizon. The successful candidate will report to senior management with direct exposure to the board. As General Counsel, you will own the legal function end-to-end and shape it from the ground up. Responsibilities:Leading fund formation and structuring across a range of new onshore and offshore vehiclesManaging external counsel relationships and driving efficiency in legal spendProviding day-to-day legal support across NDAs, employment contracts and commercial agreementsSupporting M&A activity, including potential bolt-on acquisitions of complementary businessesPartnering with the in-house team on SEC and broader regulatory mattersBuilding out a small legal team over time as the platform scalesRequirements:Substantive funds formation and structuring experience across hedge funds, asset management and/or private equityA blend of top-tier private practice (ideally to senior associate level or beyond) and in-house experience, ideally at GC level — strong Assistant GCs with the right product depth and presence will also be consideredWorking knowledge of the US registered investment advisor regimeThe gravitas and presence to operate credibly with sophisticated board and senior management stakeholdersGenuine appetite for ownership — this is a build role, not a maintain role