General Counsel

Posted:
10/27/2024, 5:00:00 PM

Location(s):
Singapore, Singapore

Experience Level(s):
Expert or higher ⋅ Senior

Field(s):
Legal & Compliance

At AIA we’ve started an exciting movement to create a healthier, more sustainable future for everyone.

It’s about finding new ways to not only better people's lives, but to better the communities and environments we live in. And we build on this every day with our ambition to engage one billion people to live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives by 2030.

And to get there, we need leaders with the courage, clarity and humanity to inspire, guide and support their teams to thrive every day - in the work they do and the life they live. Our leaders always have and will play a vital part in our journey to help more people live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives, build healthier societies and cultivate healthier environments that better everyone.

If you sound like that leader, read on.  

About the Role

Join us as General Counsel at AIA Investment Management!

The General Counsel will be responsible for the legal and company secretarial support and associated risk management for AIA Investment Management and related fund platforms as well as leading the legal and company secretarial support for AIA’s Group Unit-linked and Pension business (“GULPB”). The incumbent will also be providing centralized, specialist support and legal risk management for legal documentation relating to investment vendors, intercompany contract architecture, counterparties, and transactions across AIA.

This is a regional position and part of the interconnected legal and company secretarial infrastructure across AIA’s markets and jurisdictions.

Responsibilities

Legal 

Continuously improving the legal infrastructure required to support the legal and contractual needs of AIA Investment Management, related fund platforms, GULPB and aspects of AIA more widely, including: 

  • Mitigating legal risk by ensuring that contracts reflect standards and building and maintaining an appropriate mechanism for legal risk management processes under the Investment Governance Framework and corresponding AIA-wide risk frameworks
  • Leading the provision and procurement of legal advice with respect to compliance with law and regulatory policy in jurisdictions relevant to the relevant entities
  • Providing legal support to GULPB across markets and jurisdictions;
  • Designing and handling the specialized, technical legal infrastructure and resource required
  • Negotiating contracts and providing internal and external legal advice; 
  • Selecting and working with external counsel, ensuring quality of support and associated costs;  
  • Overseeing legal advice and support for investment transactions and managing client, intercompany, vendor and counterparty relationships; 
  • Providing leadership and business judgment and serving as trusted counsel and adviser to AIA Investment senior management; 
  • Leading the continuous improvement of the efficiency of legal support through the use of technology, including generative artificial intelligence and refinement of internal roles and responsibilities; and 
  • Continuously developing both self and legal team members

Company Secretary and Corporate Governance 

  • Designing and managing the corporate governance and associated company secretary infrastructure for the Boards of Directors of AIA Investment Management and related fund platforms so as to assist them to fulfil their fiduciary duties efficiently and demonstrably, in accordance with the Investment Governance Framework, corresponding AIA-wide risk frameworks, applicable law and regulatory policy
  • Direct leadership and support to the Chair and the Boards of Directors through prior quality control review of Board submissions, training and guidance to presenters,  so as to ensure materials are consistent, coherent and any issues arising from such materials are appropriately addressed in advance.   
  • Advising the Boards of Directors as to all applicable legal requirements.  
  • Overseeing all Board and Board committee as well as AIA IM Exco and Senior Leadership Team formation and maintenance, including associated secretariat responsibilities such as meeting logistics, recording minutes and managing the preparation of documentation and reporting on Board/management actions.  
  • Setting standards for all other formal management committees of AIA IM, such that they form a coherent whole, and provide guidance to the secretariats of such other formal management committees of AIA IM. 
  • Coordination with Group Legal Company Secretary with respect to AIA-wide company secretarial requirements.  

Others 

  • Coordinate with the Regional Director of Governance and Legal in highlighting material developments, issues, and challenges so as to facilitate the Regional Director of Governance and Legal’s oversight of associated activities. 
  • Providing support to the legal and governance aspects of the AIA Investment Operating Model

Requirements

  • Qualified solicitor in common law jurisdiction; 
  • 15 years post-qualification working experience as in-house legal; 
  • Regional asset management and funds business experience required; 
  • Compliance and company secretarial experience will be a plus;   
  • Strong leadership and supervision skills; 
  • Excellent organizational, presentation and interpersonal skills; 
  • Strong influencing skills; 
  • Ability to deal with and handle multiple and changing priorities; 
  • Good work attitude and ability to work as a larger team; 
  • Independent with strong self-initiative; 

Believe in better with AIA. If you work at AIA, you play an important part in this movement. Which is why we give you every opportunity to learn, grow and shape your career - your way!

Build a career with us as we help our customers and the community live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives.

You must provide all requested information, including Personal Data, to be considered for this career opportunity. Failure to provide such information may influence the processing and outcome of your application. You are responsible for ensuring that the information you submit is accurate and up-to-date.