Lead Counsel - Wealth Capital Markets Product - Vice President in Belfast

Working as part of the Wealth Legal department, this role will be a core member of the global Capital Markets Legal team, focusing on the UK, Europe and Middle East business. The role involves a wide range of work, including advising on general regulatory implementation, transactional Capital Markets work and Capital Markets business projects and initiatives.

This role requires a pragmatic, proactive lawyer with a general grounding of UK/EEA financial services/private bank/wealth management regulation, combined with awareness of the laws and regulations for the geographies in which we operate. We are looking for a candidate who can exercise sound legal judgement to help develop proactive, risk-appropriate, and commercially practical business-oriented solutions. As this role supports trading desks and front office personnel, timely and clear responses are critical.

The role will provide key legal support and execution on Capital Markets matters, participating in client trading activities and business projects/initiatives. There will be a need to provide input/analysis on interpretation of relevant laws, rules, regulations, and industry practices, draft documentation and advise on legal matters impacting the Capital Markets business. In particular, the role will focus on primary and secondary market securities, structured products / derivative securities and more complex security trading, such as strategic equity solutions. Familiarity with Digital Asset/Tokenised/Crypto products and related market initiatives will be advantageous too.

A successful candidate will:

• Provide real-time legal support in Capital Markets (with a particular focus on securities, including derivative securities/structured products) to front office business and Control partners, escalating where applicable.
• Negotiate and review trading and offering documentation, including Broker Agreements, Distribution Agreements and Termsheets.
• Review and draft product terms, offering documentation and related disclosures.
• Assist the business to manage negotiations and dialogue with investment bank issuers/underwriters.
• Advise on cross-border marketing, sales and distribution requirements impacting Capital Markets products.
• Work with other stakeholders to develop policies, procedures and controls related to the product area.
• Collaborate across internal lines of business and control/support functions to achieve coordinated and efficient outcomes on matters of common interest.
• Prioritise workload and execute on transactions/initiatives by proactive engagement and active management of legal issues.
• Maintain momentum across multiple parallel matters, meeting tight and competing deadlines.
• Assist in evaluating Wealth Capital Markets proposals and queries by applying institutional knowledge and risk appetite against industry standards, widely accepted business practices, laws, rules, and regulatory guidelines.
• Determine when external legal support is required and manage external counsel.

What we’ll need from you:

• Bachelor’s degree.
• 7+ years of relevant experience.
• Previous experience working as a lawyer in a major international bank, a large law firm and/or a regulatory authority will be beneficial.
• Knowledge of financial services, either gained in-house or in private practice.
• Knowledge of Capital Markets products, particularly securities.
• Technical ability and eagerness to develop that more deeply (including drafting skills), and analytical ability.
• Ability to analyse complex legal issues, assist in developing solutions and provide sound legal advice to the business.
• Team Work: Ability to engage with both legal and business teams on a partnership basis as well as an ability to work independently as required.
• Able to meet the time demands of a profitable and client and market driven business.
• Ability to assimilate complex issues and communicate concisely and clearly to all levels of the organisation.
• Able to identify legal risk and to escalate issues on an appropriate basis.

What we can offer you:

We work hard to have a positive financial and social impact on the communities we serve. In turn, we put our employees first and provide the best-in-class benefits they need to be well, live well and save well. By joining Citi Belfast, you will not only be part of a business casual workplace with a hybrid working model (up to 2 days working at home per week), but also receive a competitive base salary (which is annually reviewed), and enjoy a whole host of additional benefits such as:

• Generous holiday allowance starting at 27 days plus bank holidays; increasing with tenure.
• A discretional annual performance related bonus.
• Private medical insurance packages to suit your personal circumstances.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Pension Plan.
• Paid Parental Leave.
• Special discounts for employees, family, and friends.
• Access to an array of learning and development resources.

Alongside these benefits Citi is committed to ensuring our workplace is where everyone feels comfortable coming to work as their whole self every day. We want the best talent around the world to be energized to join us, motivated to stay, and empowered to thrive.