Director, Fund Lawyer - ETFs & Mutual Funds, Japan Legal

About the role

The Japan Legal team supports BlackRock's business across public and private markets in Japan, partnering with investment, distribution, operations, compliance and corporate functions on regulatory, transactional, governance and strategic matters. As Director, Fund Lawyer for ETFs and mutual funds, you will advise on BlackRock's asset management and corporate activities in Japan, acting as a trusted advisor to business leaders on new products, fund structuring and strategic priorities.

Key responsibilities

• Advise on the Japan Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, the Act on Investment Trusts and Investment Corporations, industry association rules and other Japanese laws and regulations.
• Draft, review and negotiate investment management agreements with Japanese clients and offshore counterparties, and advise on documentation for locally managed investment trusts, including ETFs.
• Advise on filings for foreign investment trusts and corporations, domestic securities placements and cross-border regulatory matters, coordinating with global colleagues and external counsel.
• Advise on legal and regulatory matters relating to digital assets, including structuring and establishing investment vehicles with exposure to such assets.
• Support business and corporate matters such as risk management solutions, intellectual property, large-shareholding reporting, vendor contracts and intercompany agreements.
• Provide corporate secretariat support for BlackRock Japan and its Japan-based affiliates.
• Advise on real estate transactions under TMK and TK-GK structures, and on infrastructure and other private markets investments, managing relationships with external counsel and law firms.

Required profile

• Qualified lawyer in Japan (bengoshi) with around six or more years of relevant experience at a leading domestic or international law firm and/or a multinational organization.
• Experience in asset management or securities, preferably with ETFs, private fund formation, fund documentation or fund structuring.
• Proven ability to give practical, solutions-oriented advice, take ownership, lead and adapt to changing business and regulatory environments.
• Native-level Japanese, including drafting and negotiating legal documents in Japanese, and business-level English.
• Strong collaboration, negotiation and communication skills, with attention to detail in legal documentation.
• Experience with digital assets or related regulation is a plus.

What we offer

• A retirement plan, tuition reimbursement, comprehensive healthcare and support for working parents.
• Flexible Time Off.
• A hybrid model of at least four days in the office per week, with one day from home, and a supportive onboarding for new joiners.