At Moody's, we unite the brightest minds to turn today’s risks into tomorrow’s opportunities. We do this by striving to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome to be who they are-with the freedom to exchange ideas, think innovatively, and listen to each other and customers in meaningful ways. 

If you are excited about this opportunity but do not meet every single requirement, please apply! You still may be a great fit for this role or other open roles. We are seeking candidates who model our values: invest in every relationship, lead with curiosity, champion diverse perspectives, turn inputs into actions, and uphold trust through integrity. 

Skills and Competencies

• At least 8 years total legal experience, of which: (i) at least 5 years of which are focused on mergers and acquisitions, corporate law, securities, capital markets, financial services, or other transactional-based work; and (ii) the remaining years of experience are either with a corporate law firm or with an in-house legal team, preferably with a technology, professional services, financial services company, private equity or venture capital firm.
• Strong analytical skills and extensive expertise in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex M&A and investment transaction documents.
• Deep understanding of federal, state, and local laws and regulations governing mergers and acquisitions and equity investments.
• A sound understanding of various types of software licensing and services transactions, subscription-based business models, and artificial intelligence systems and products.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills with a good sense of humor, and a strong team orientation; ability to communicate confidently with senior management on complex legal and contractual issues
• Hard working, well organized, detail-oriented and process-driven candidates who have a demonstrated ability to work independently in fast-paced, high-pressure environments, managing multiple projects and deadlines with strong time management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior in-house counsel experience serving as M&A counsel for a fintech, insuretech, or with another technology or data company or a private equity or venture capital firm focused on such technology and data companies

Education

• Law degree from accredited law school
• Member of a State bar in good standing

Responsibilities

Moody’s seeks an experienced, highly qualified and motivated Senior Counsel to provide support to Moody’s Corporation’s central Corporate Development team and handle key mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic investments, divestitures, and complex transactions within the financial technology and data sector for Moody’s Analytics. This hybrid position will be based in one of Moody’s offices located in New York City, NY, Charlotte, NC, or Omaha, NE.

Responsibilities will include:

• Drafting and negotiating term sheets, letters of intent, MOUs, merger agreements, stock purchase agreements, asset purchase agreements, subscription agreements, shareholder agreements, transition services agreements, confidentiality agreements, and other ancillary deal documents relating to M&A and investment transactions in the technology and data sector.
• Closely managing outside M&A counsel to assist with the foregoing.
• Handling and coordinating comprehensive due diligence on acquisition targets or investment recipients.
• Managing and facilitating the closing processes for M&A and investment transactions, working to effectively close transactions in a timely manner on terms acceptable to Moody’s.
• Managing legal integration activities for acquired businesses; and handling disputes related to M&A and investment transactions.
• Supporting and carrying out Moody’s business policies and practices and observing compliance policies such as anti- bribery, economic and trade sanctions and competition law policies
• Navigating privacy, information security, and intellectual property issues arising from M&A transactions and the integration of acquired businesses with assistance from subject matter experts within the legal department
• Applying Moody’s policies and procedures to the negotiation, preparation and closing of contracts, including creating and executing plans for post-acquisition contract management. The successful candidate must also be able to explain these policies and procedures clearly to others and provide related training.
• Collaborating and working closely with Moody’s other in-house lawyers, and Corporate Development, Tax, and Finance, staff, as well as Moody’s product management, including providing guidance regarding M&A contracting and integration practices.
• Supporting joint ventures, strategic and minority investments, complex partnership transactions, loans, and other activities conducted by the corporate development team
• Assisting the Product Counsel team with special projects and/or provide guidance on other corporate projects and initiatives as needed.
• Managing and streamlining internal processes. We value employees who exercise initiative and display creativity in solving challenges while accomplishing business objectives.

About the team

This position will be reporting to the Head of the Product Counsel Team in the Moody’s Analytics Legal Group but will work closely and directly with senior members of the corporate development team and top business executives within Moody’s Analytics. The Senior Counsel position presents an opportunity to provide business-critical professional services in an important and growing business unit of the company.

For US-based roles only: the anticipated hiring base salary range for this position is $143,800.00 - $208,600.00, depending on factors such as experience, education, level, skills, and location. This range is based on a full-time position. In addition to base salary, this role is eligible for incentive compensation. Moody’s also offers a competitive benefits package, including not but limited to medical, dental, vision, parental leave, paid time off, a 401(k) plan with employee and company contribution opportunities, life, disability, and accident insurance, a discounted employee stock purchase plan, and tuition reimbursement.

Moody’s is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender, age, religion or creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital or familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Moody’s also provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities or based on a sincerely held religious belief in accordance with applicable laws. If you need to inquire about a reasonable accommodation, or need assistance with completing the application process, please email accommodations@moodys.com. This contact information is for accommodation requests only, and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications

For San Francisco positions, qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.

This position may be considered a promotional opportunity, pursuant to the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act.

Click here to view our full EEO policy statement. Click here for more information on your EEO rights under the law. Click here to view our Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination statement. Click here to view our Notice to New York City Applicants.
Candidates for Moody's Corporation may be asked to disclose securities holdings pursuant to Moody’s Policy for Securities Trading and the requirements of the position. Employment is contingent upon compliance with the Policy, including remediation of positions in those holdings as necessary.