Principal Counsel, Corporate

Job Overview

Principal Counsel – Ares Management Corporation. A senior legal advisor focused on global M&A and corporate strategy for asset management and alternative investment platforms, collaborating with senior leadership and cross‑functional teams worldwide.

• Lead legal execution of strategic transactions (global M&A, joint ventures, minority investments, minority stakes, and complex corporate development initiatives) from structuring and due diligence through negotiation, signing and closing.
• Advise on legal and structural considerations for asset managers and alternative investment platforms, including fund structures, management companies, carried‑interest arrangements, co‑investments and strategic partnerships.
• Oversee and coordinate external counsel across multiple jurisdictions to ensure efficient execution, cost management and consistency of the legal approach.
• Provide post‑transaction integration advice covering governance, organizational design, legal group processes, contractual harmonization and ongoing risk management.
• Identify and proactively manage legal, regulatory and reputational risks related to strategic initiatives, including cross‑border considerations and regulatory approvals.
• Partner with senior stakeholders on new firm initiatives—launch and expansion of investment platforms, entry into new markets and jurisdictions, and other growth initiatives.
• Support corporate finance matters: firm‑level debt and equity financings, subscription facilities and other strategic financing arrangements in coordination with Finance, Accounting and Capital Solutions teams.
• Drive best practices across the Legal function by developing scalable processes, playbooks and precedent documentation to support an active M&A and corporate strategy pipeline.

• Juris Doctor (JD) required with a strong academic background.
• 10+ years of legal experience with a focus on M&A and corporate strategy in the asset‑management or alternative‑investment space.
• Strong foundation in mergers and acquisitions and corporate strategy transactions, ideally advising on investments involving asset managers, GP stakes or alternative asset platforms.
• Significant experience advising asset managers, investment funds and alternative‑investment platforms, including fund‑structure, management‑entity, carried‑interest, co‑investment and regulatory considerations.
• Highly organized, detail‑oriented, with superior project‑management skills and a proven track record of execution and follow‑through.
• Excellent written, verbal and facilitation skills; highly analytical and data‑informed with the ability to translate insights into action.
• Entrepreneurial, comfortable building from the ground up, and a commercial mindset paired with operational discipline.
• Ability to operate independently while thriving in a collaborative, cross‑functional, global environment.

• Executive presence with the ability to engage, challenge and influence senior leaders.
• Strong commercial mindset, analytical rigor and a results‑driven approach.
• Exceptional communication and facilitation skills.
• Comfortable working across time zones and cultures.
• Resilient, flexible, open to feedback and a strong sense of ownership.

Base salary range: $300,000 – $360,000; may include a discretionary performance‑based bonus.

• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision plans.
• 401(k) program with company match.
• Flexible Savings Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) with company contribution.
• Life, long‑term disability (LTD) and short‑term disability (STD) insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and commuter benefits for parking and transit.
• Access to a world‑class medical advisory team and mental‑health app with coaching, therapy and psychiatry.
• Financial wellness benefit with access to a financial advisor.
• New‑parent leave, reproductive and adoption assistance, emergency backup care.
• Matching gift program and education sponsorship.

Ares Management LLC (together with its related operating and administrative subsidiaries, “Ares Management”) is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, ethnicity, creed, sex, age, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, partnership status, sexual orientation, status regarding public assistance, military or veteran status, domestic violence victim status, gender identity and expression, transgender status, genetic information, status as unemployed, political affiliation or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

Ares Management will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.