Legal Counsel (Ferrara)

Founded in 2011, Fasanara is a global asset manager and technology platform managing c. USD 5.7 billion AUM (as of December 31, 2025) in Fintech strategies on behalf of pension funds and insurance companies in Europe and North America. With c.130 employees globally, we are a pioneer investor in Fintech Lending and Digital Asset investing.

Fasanara manages the largest and longest-standing Fintech Lending fund in Europe and invests in early-stage Fintech companies via its venture capital vehicles, using its central role in the Fintech ecosystem to identify and back revolutionary new businesses.

Our Culture

We are strong believers in meritocracy, and we seek to reward people based on impact, judgement, and excellence in execution. We keep bureaucracy to a minimum, so decisions are made quickly and people have real ownership. Our environment is collaborative, inclusive, entrepreneurial, and built on trust. We set ambitious goals, work hard in a focused and sustainable way, and place a strong emphasis on teamwork, integrity, and quality in everything we do. We know we are only as good as our people, so we are deliberately building the firm around exceptional talent and diverse perspectives, and we support our leaders to grow, influence, and shape the future of the business.

Position Overview

This is a fast-paced and high-responsibility role focused on providing expert legal support in structured finance transactions, including securitisation, asset-backed lending, trade finance and fintech lending, as well as crypto and venture capital investments, and in the structuring, management and maintenance of the firm’s investment vehicles in various jurisdictions. The candidate will be the first Legal Counsel based in the firm’s new Ferrara office, playing a key role in establishing and supporting the local presence while remaining fully integrated with, and reporting to, the London-based legal team. The candidate will be leading transactional execution, supporting the life cycle of each transaction and providing an active contribution to the advancement of the firm's business objectives in close cooperation with the business teams and external stakeholders, acting as the primary legal point of contact in Italy. This position is ideal for a mid-level candidate with experience in a reputable law firm or financial institution, who is comfortable working independently while collaborating closely with cross-border teams.

Responsibilities

• Structuring, drafting and execution of structured finance deals, including securitisation, asset-backed lending, trade finance and fintech lending, as well as crypto and venture capital investments.

• Serving as a key legal point of contact during execution, liaising with business teams and external advisors, and overseeing the legal aspects of each transaction’s lifecycle.
• Leading and coordinating transactions from start to finish, ensuring timelines, documentation and compliance requirements are met.
• Providing day-to-day legal support across different teams, helping them understand legal considerations and supporting the achievement of broader business objectives.
• Providing corporate assistance in the structuring, management and maintenance of investment vehicles in various jurisdictions.

• Acting as the sole Legal Counsel based in Ferrara, ensuring appropriate legal oversight and support for local operations and supporting the establishment and ongoing development of the Ferrara office.
• Working under the supervision of the London-based legal team to ensure consistency of approach, documentation standards and risk management across jurisdictions.

Requirements:
• Experience working as a lawyer in a finance-related field (e.g. structured finance, banking, capital markets, fund structuring or similar) at a reputable law firm or financial institution.
• Ability to work with a high degree of autonomy and take ownership of matters, while collaborating closely with a cross-border team.
• Fluency in English (working daily with the London-based team) and Italian.

What excites us in a candidate?

A good understanding of financial principles and the commercial drivers behind structured finance, crypto and venture capital investments.

• Strong drafting skills, with the ability to manage complex documentation and handle multiple projects simultaneously.
• Confidence to act as a primary legal contact on transactions, coordinating with business teams and external counsel.
• Clear and pragmatic communicator, able to explain legal issues in plain language to non-lawyers.
• Proactive and intellectually curious, with a drive to stay up to date on industry trends and legal developments.
• Comfortable working independently as the sole Legal Counsel in a growing office environment.
• Collaborative and team-oriented, able to integrate seamlessly with the London-based legal team.
• Business-minded, with an interest in building relationships internally and externally, and contributing to the long-term development of the Ferrara office.

Benefits:
• Competitive bonus scheme.

• Bupa health & dental, Cycle to Work scheme, enhanced pension, and generous annual leave.
• Enhanced parental leave, special leave allowances, and charity giving options.
• Regular team events, legendary summer & Christmas parties, knowledge sharing sessions, and quarterly town halls.
• Team lunches, dinners, Friday drinks, team sport activities.