Associate Counsel

If you're passionate about being part of a diverse organization that enables a Fortune 100 company with nearly $70 billion in annual sales to deliver innovative business solutions with excellence, then Nationwide's Legal team could be the place for you! At Nationwide, “on your side” goes beyond just words. Our customers are at the center of everything we do and we’re looking for associates who are passionate about delivering extraordinary care.

Nationwide’s Investments Legal Practice Group within The Office of the Chief Legal Officer is seeking a highly motivated attorney to join our team supporting the Department of Investments. This role is a critical partner to Nationwide’s investment professionals and will provide strategic, business-oriented legal guidance on a wide range of sophisticated private investment transactions, including private placements, private credit, private funds, co-investments, secondary transactions, and related matters.

The successful candidate will have an opportunity to gain experience in capital market and commercial transactions by collaborating closely with other Investments Legal attorneys, portfolio managers, compliance, risk, and other internal stakeholders, as well as external counsel and counterparties, to structure and execute complex transactions that align with Nationwide’s investment objectives and regulatory requirements. This position requires sound judgment, the ability and desire to learn quickly, and the ability to navigate nuanced legal and business issues in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist more experienced attorneys on the structuring and execution of private investments, including private funds, feeder funds, co-investments, and secondary transactions, ensuring alignment with business goals and regulatory obligations.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide variety of agreements, such as subscription agreements, limited partnership agreements, note purchase agreements, side letters, investment management agreements, and other transaction-related documents.
• Analyze offering materials, term sheets, transaction documents, and ongoing fund communications to identify and mitigate legal and business risks.
• Provide proactive guidance on regulatory and legal obligations under federal and state securities laws, insurance regulations, and other applicable frameworks.
• Monitor, interpret, and communicate developments in laws and regulations impacting insurance company investments, private markets, and related transactions, advising on their implications for Nationwide’s investment strategies.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to develop and implement best practices, policies, and procedures that promote compliance and operational efficiency.
• Manage relationships with external counsel and counterparties to ensure timely and effective transaction execution.
• Contribute to strategic initiatives within the Investments Legal Practice Group, including process improvements, training, and knowledge sharing.

Job Description Summary

Would you thrive in an environment where you can deliver top-quality legal services to support business objectives of a Fortune 100 insurance and financial services company? If you possess the legal and analytical skills needed to provide sound counsel to our team, as well as to company leaders and associates, we want to know more about you!
We provide legal expertise that reflects our commitment to innovative thinking, effective collaboration and a proactive approach to our work. As an Associate Counsel, you'll provide general legal services to one or more assigned areas and work with junior to mid-level leaders and business partners in the Office of the Chief Legal Officer (OCLO). We’ll count on you to work on some routine matters or projects with supportive supervision, and more complex issues or initiatives with more direct supervision and support from more senior counsel.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

• Provides legal support to an assigned area. May contribute to larger matters, and work on more complex projects to broaden and deepen skills. May receive some projects that are intended to develop skills. May attend business partner meetings to better understand business processes and needs.

• Researches legal issues, drafts legal documents, develops conclusions and recommendations for core legal matters.

• Provides legal counsel, within a team of attorneys, for business partners, including legal research, advocacy, negotiation or other forms that successfully meet the needs of the business.

• Supports the effective resolution of core legal issues by capturing relevant information and conducting legal research to prepare for negotiations or the providing advice to clients. Develops and assesses alternative solutions or positions. Has occasional interaction with persons outside the company on behalf of the organization.

• Identifies persons or groups, in addition to the client, who might have an interest in or need access to useful information about the issue. Effectively connects with them to keep them updated on developments.

• Establishes and maintains positive relationships with associates at all levels within the OCLO.

• Assists, as a team member, with multiple group/client assignments.

May perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Reporting Relationships: May report to Managing Counsel/Senior Counsel/Counsel.

Typical Skills and Experience:

Education: JD from an American Bar Association-accredited law school.

License/Certification/Designation: Associates reporting within Nationwide’s Office of the Chief Legal Officer (OCLO) who are functioning in attorney roles must be fully licensed in accordance with OCLO policy, in good standing and in compliance with all continuing legal education requirements at all times in the state(s) in which they practice.

Experience: Developing technical expertise and relevant experience in assigned practice area. Typically, may be newly admitted to practice with up to four years of proven experience.

Knowledge: Has a limited amount of experience and knowledge in legal practices and procedures. Developing knowledge of the business operations of the company.

Skills/Competencies: Proven verbal and written communication skills needed for interacting with other attorneys and business partners. Analytical ability to interpret statutes, regulations, policies and other contracts. Ability to provide input on projects and matters. May participate in negotiation and conflict resolution processes; may focus more on individual issues rather than overall strategy.

Other criteria, including leadership skills, competencies and experiences may take precedence.

Staffing exceptions to the above must be approved by the hiring manager’s leader and Human Resources Business Partner.

Values: Regularly and consistently demonstrates the Nationwide Values.

Job Conditions:

Overtime Eligibility: Exempt (Not Eligible)

Working Conditions: Normal office environment. Occasional travel.

ADA: The above statements cover what are generally believed to be principal and essential responsibilities of this job. Specific circumstances may allow or require some people assigned to the job to perform a somewhat different combination of duties.

Credit/Background Check: Due to the fiduciary accountabilities of this job, a valid credit and/or background check will be required as part of the selection process.

Benefits

We have an array of benefits to fit your needs, including: medical/dental/vision, life insurance, short and long term disability coverage, paid time off with newly hired associates receiving a minimum of 18 days paid time off each full calendar year pro-rated quarterly based on hire date, nine paid holidays, 8 hours of Lifetime paid time off, 8 hours of Unity Day paid time off, 401(k) with company match, company-paid pension plan, business casual attire, and more. To learn more about the benefits we offer, click here .

Nationwide is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels challenged, appreciated, respected and engaged. Nationwide prohibits discrimination and harassment and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to any characteristic (or classification) protected by applicable law.

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NOTE TO EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES:

We value the partnerships we have built with our preferred vendors. Nationwide does not accept unsolicited resumes from employment agencies. All resumes submitted by employment agencies directly to any Nationwide employee or hiring manager in any form without a signed Nationwide Client Services Agreement on file and search engagement for that position will be deemed unsolicited in nature. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is subsequently hired as a result of the referral or through other means.

Nationwide pays on a geographic-specific salary structure and placement within the actual starting salary range for this position will be determined by a number of factors including the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; the scope, complexity and location of the role as well as the cost of labor in the market; and other conditions of employment. If a Sales job, Sales Incentives, based on performance goals are possible in addition to this range. Note on Compensation for Part-Time Roles: Please be aware that the salary ranges listed below reflect full-time compensation. Actual compensation may be prorated based on the number of hours worked relative to a full-time schedule.The national salary range for Associate Counsel : $97,000.00-$180,000.00The expected starting salary range for Associate Counsel : $97,000.00 - $145,000.00

Summary

• Location: Ohio - Columbus, One Nationwide Plaza
• Type: Full time