Chicago - Funds Innovation and Knowledge Management Attorney

About us

At Winston Taylor, we set the standard, together.

Winston Taylor is a transatlantic law firm built for the businesses, people, and markets driving capital and innovation. Here, you're in the room. In the action. Sleeves rolled up.

You'll work with leading clients. Disruptors. Fast-growth companies. And help them to stay one step ahead of the moment and make critical decisions that shape their future. We're present in the U.S., U.K., Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, combining the scale and speed that clients demand.

You'll be trusted with real responsibility from the outset and build experience through hands-on work. We take your progression personally. We provide the platform. You shape the work around your goals and aspirations.

Step into the moments that matter. Join Winston Taylor.

Position summary

Winston Taylor's Funds platform advises sponsors, managers, and institutional investors across private equity, private credit, real estate, venture capital, secondaries, and other funds of funds. The Funds Innovation & Knowledge Management Attorney will convert recurring practice workstreams into playbooks, templates, and technology-enabled processes that improve quality, speed, and consistency across fund formation, investor negotiations, side letters, closings, and ongoing fund operations.

This position is part of the Practice Operations function, with direct accountability to the Funds practice. The role is focused on translating how the group works into repeatable tools that strengthen delivery and profitability. This is a non-partnership track position.

Position responsibilities

Build knowledge infrastructure

• Develop and maintain the Funds knowledge libraries.
• For primary fundraise mandates, maintain model limited partnership agreements, subscription documents, side letter provisions, investor questionnaires, checklists, closing guides, disclosure banks, marketing material review guides, and regulatory references.
• For secondaries transaction mandates, maintain model purchase and other transaction agreements, transfer agreements, investor questionnaires, and closing checklists.
• Capture approved precedent language and market terms, so attorneys work from reliable starting points.
• Document workflows for formation, negotiations, closings, and fund operations to drive consistency and partner confidence.
• Prepare and maintain surveys regarding fund terms.

• Identify high-leverage opportunities across document generation, disclosures, side letter tracking, obligation management, diligence, closing coordination, and regulatory filings.
• Prototype and pilot tools with attorneys, Practice Operations, and IT; translate firm AI guidance into Funds-specific workflows and training.
• Refine tools based on attorney feedback and matter-team usage.

• Serve as adoption lead for standardized workflows and approved tools across formation, regulatory, investor-side, and secondaries matters.
• Design training materials, job aids, and demonstrations that embed tools into daily practice.
• Track adoption and efficiency metrics and report impact to practice leadership.

• Own Funds innovation and knowledge projects from scoping through implementation, coordinating with Practice Operations, Knowledge Management, IT, and Business Development.
• Set project plans, manage stakeholders, and report outcomes against defined success measures.

• Monitor and summarize legal, market, and regulatory developments and best practices relevant to the Funds group.
• Prepare and coordinate client alerts on Funds matters.
• Periodically survey and monitor best practices for private funds practice groups.

• Maintain a 500-hour annual billable expectation on active Funds matters so tools and playbooks remain current and practical.

• In scope: Identify AI and legal technology use cases; pilot firm-approved tools; translate firm guidance into Funds-specific workflows and training; and measure adoption and impact.
• Out of scope: Firm-wide AI governance or risk policy; vendor selection; security review; data privacy approval; final determinations on permissible AI use; and enterprise technology architecture.

• JD required. All candidates must be admitted to the Illinois Bar.
• 4+ years relevant experience, preferably in private funds, investment management, or a comparable transactional practice at a top-tier firm or professional services environment required.
• Must live within a commutable distance to a local office and be willing to come into the office 3-4 days per week.
• Experience with fund formation, sponsor representation, investor negotiations, side letters, subscription documents, regulatory filings, secondaries, co-investments, continuation vehicles, or fund operations strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to partner with senior attorneys on workflow design, process improvement, knowledge management, and matter delivery.
• Strong project management, analytical, and drafting skills; excellent judgment in a collaborative, matrixed environment.
• Experience with private fund formation and regulatory matters strongly preferred.

Benefits

Winston offers comprehensive benefits that provide a full spectrum of coverage and support for our full-time employees and their families. Additional information about benefits and rewards can be found here.

Salary

Illinois applicants only: The target annual salary range for this role is currently $195,000-$280,000 based on a regular, full-time schedule. The amount of compensation offered will be determined by several factors, including but not limited to experience, qualifications, market data and internal equity. Total compensation includes a comprehensive healthcare benefits package, yearly retirement contribution, and may include an annual discretionary merit bonus.

We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences. #LI-DC2 #LI-HYBRID