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

About this role

The Japan Legal team is responsible for legal matters supporting BlackRock’s business across public and private markets in Japan. The team partners closely with investment, distribution, operations, compliance, and corporate functions to provide practical legal guidance on a broad range of regulatory, transactional, governance, and strategic matters. This role offers the opportunity to work across traditional and alternative investment products, collaborate with global colleagues, and contribute to the continued growth of BlackRock’s business in Japan.

As a Director within Japan Legal, you will provide legal advice across BlackRock’s asset management activities and corporate functions in Japan. You will serve as a trusted advisor to business leaders and functional partners, helping navigate a complex regulatory environment while supporting new product development, client solutions, fund structuring initiatives, and strategic business priorities. The role requires strong technical legal expertise, commercial judgment, stakeholder management skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively with both local and international teams.

In every role at BlackRock, you'll be expected to apply sound judgement and critical thinking to solve complex problems, adapt as the business evolves, and combine the curiosity to explore new approaches and technologies with the rigor to challenge the results. The scope of this role also includes the following responsibilities:

• Advise on the Japan Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, the Act on Investment Trusts and Investment Corporations, applicable industry association rules, and other relevant Japanese laws and regulations.
• Draft, review, and negotiate investment management agreements with Japanese clients and offshore counterparties, and advise on related documentation for locally managed investment trusts, including exchange-traded funds (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 as appropriate.
• Advise on legal and regulatory matters relating to digital assets, including the structuring and establishment of investment vehicles with exposure to such assets.
• Provide legal support across a broad range of business and corporate matters, including risk management solutions businesses, 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, as well as infrastructure and other private markets investments, while managing relationships with external counsel and law firms.

• Qualified lawyer in Japan (bengoshi) with approximately six or more years of relevant experience at a leading domestic or international law firm and/or a multinational organization.
• Experience within the asset management or securities industry, preferably involving exchange-traded funds, private fund formation, fund documentation, or fund structuring.
• Demonstrated ability to provide practical, solutions-oriented legal advice while applying sound commercial judgment and partnering effectively with business and functional stakeholders.
• Proven ability to take ownership, operate independently, provide leadership, and adapt effectively to changing business and regulatory environments.
• Strong collaboration and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work effectively across local and global teams. Native-level fluency in Japanese, including the ability to draft and negotiate legal documentation and provide legal advice in Japanese, and business-level proficiency in English are required.
• Excellent organizational, negotiation, interpersonal, and communication skills, with strong attention to detail in legal documentation and advice.
• Experience with digital assets or related regulatory frameworks is a plus.

Our benefits
To help you stay energized, engaged and inspired, we offer a wide range of benefits including a strong retirement plan, tuition reimbursement, comprehensive healthcare, support for working parents and Flexible Time Off (FTO) so you can relax, recharge and be there for the people you care about.

Our hybrid work model

BlackRock’s hybrid work model is designed to enable a culture of collaboration and apprenticeship that enriches the experience of our employees, while supporting flexibility for all. Employees are currently required to work at least 4 days in the office per week, with the flexibility to work from home 1 day a week. Some business groups may require more time in the office due to their roles and responsibilities. We remain focused on increasing the impactful moments that arise when we work together in person – aligned with our commitment to performance and innovation. As a new joiner, you can count on this hybrid model to accelerate your learning and onboarding experience here at BlackRock.

Guidance on AI use for candidates

At BlackRock, AI has long been part of how we work – enhancing decision-making, improving operations, and helping us deliver better outcomes for clients. We encourage candidates to use AI thoughtfully to learn, prepare, and work more effectively; but during our interview process, we want to focus on getting to know you through your own experiences, thinking, and judgment. To support you, we’ve provided guidance on when and how to use AI during our hiring process so you can approach each step with confidence and showcase your best self.

About BlackRock

At BlackRock, we are all connected by one mission: to help more and more people experience financial well-being.  Our clients, and the people they serve, are saving for retirement, paying for their children’s educations, buying homes and starting businesses. Their investments also help to strengthen the global economy: support businesses small and large; finance infrastructure projects that connect and power cities; and facilitate innovations that drive progress.

This mission would not be possible without our smartest investment – the one we make in our employees. It’s why we’re dedicated to creating an environment where our colleagues feel welcomed, valued and supported with networks, benefits and development opportunities to help them thrive.

To learn more about BlackRock, please visit Careers.BlackRock.com. We also encourage you to get to know us on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, X, and TikTok.

BlackRock is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to age, disability, family status, gender identity, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation and other protected attributes at law.