Legal Counsel in London

About Us

BACB is a UK bank that offers trade finance and complementary products to clients in specialist markets, especially Africa and the Middle East. We have been helping businesses with trade finance and complementary products for over half a century, focusing on trade flows to and from Africa and the Middle East as well as real estate in the UK. Our in-depth knowledge of the countries and practices where our clients operate ensures that we put them first.

Additional Info

• Hybrid Working: 3 days onsite, 2 from home
• Location: City of London
• Contract Type: Permanent

Job Summary

Reporting into the Head of Legal, the Legal Counsel will provide effective and timely legal advice and transaction execution assistance to the Bank’s front office teams, covering general and trade finance, real estate finance and treasury matters. The role will also support the wider Bank on commercial, procurement, and regulatory matters. The Bank is UK-regulated and undertakes significant business in emerging markets, requiring sound judgement, strong risk awareness, and the ability to work across diverse jurisdictions.

Key Work Outputs and Accountabilities

• Assist front office teams with legal aspects of transaction structuring, negotiation, execution, closing processes, and post-completion matters including ensuring satisfaction with conditions precedent and completing perfection requirements.
• Advise on, draft, and negotiate documentation for trade finance transactions including letters of credit, guarantees, receivables finance, negotiable instruments, and structured trade products.
• Provide guidance on transaction structuring, risk allocation, enforceability, and cross-border considerations (particularly in emerging markets).
• Facilitate product and geographic expansion through undertaking legal due diligence exercises.
• Support residential and commercial real estate finance transaction by reviewing and drafting loan agreements, security documentation and managing external legal counsel where relevant.
• Support the treasury function by advising on derivative documentation suites (ISDAs and GMRAs).
• Review, draft, and participate in the negotiation of commercial agreements including supplier contracts, service-level agreements, technology and outsourcing arrangements.
• Support procurement processes to ensure contracts are legally sound, compliant, and aligned with the Bank’s risk appetite and legal checklists.
• Provide legal input on regulatory matters including UK financial services regulation, PRA/FCA requirements, AML/Financial crime considerations, sanctions, and emerging market legal risks.
• Support front office and credit team with defaulting transactions and enforcement of the bank’s legal rights through providing sound and pragmatic legal advice and guidance, liaising with third parties where necessary, including syndication agents, receivers and liquidators.
• Support policy reviews, regulatory change initiatives, and internal governance processes.
• Acting as a legal representative and subject matter expert on various internal committees.
• Assist with responding to regulatory queries or audits where required including across our representative offices.
• Build strong working relationships with stakeholders across the London and international rep offices of the Bank, including the front office, credit insurance & distribution, operations, compliance, financial crime risk, audit, risk, credit, procurement and the human resources department.
• Provide clear, practical, commercially-focused advice to non-lawyer stakeholders.
• Liaise and instruct external law firms, legal advisors and manage overseas law firms in a cost-effective manner.
• Reviewing documentation against credit approvals; managing documentation risk; managing signings and completions.
• Preparing standard and bespoke documentation where required.
• Implementing the Bank’s documentation procedures.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of legal templates, playbooks, and guidance materials.
• Participating in standardisation and simplification of processes.
• Support initiatives to improve legal processes, operational efficiency, and knowledge sharing across the Bank.
• Assisting with legal know-how and training.
• Identify, manage, and escalation of legal risks appropriately.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Qualified English law solicitor with post-qualification experience in banking and finance law.
• Strong demonstratable experience with bilateral lending and drafting Loan Market Association syndicated loan documentation.
• Exposure to trade finance, real estate finance and treasury matters would be advantageous, as would exposure to emerging markets.
• Strong experience advising on trade finance and general lending transactions.
• Strong organisational skills with an ability to manage a varied caseload and deadlines.
• Strong communication skills in particular the ability to communicate complex legal concepts clearly and concisely.
• Familiarity with cross-border legal issues and emerging market jurisdictions.
• An ability to remain calm under pressure, demonstrating resilience and professionalism.
• Strong attention to detail, accuracy and thoroughness.
• A willingness to work as part of a small team with an eagerness to broaden skillset to cover the front office and support functions in a collaborative environment.