Lead Counsel - Product - Vice President in London

By joining Citi, you will become part of a global organization whose mission is to serve as a trusted partner to our clients by responsibly providing financial services that enable growth and economic progress.

Team/Role Overview

The Lead Counsel (Vice President) is a key position responsible for providing legal support, advice, and guidance to Citi’s Commodities Business and key internal stakeholders on the legal and regulatory risks associated with the full spectrum of commodities trading activity, including financial derivatives products, physical commodity financing and trading activities across all traded commodities. The overall objective of this role is to provide documentation support, legal analysis, advice, guidance and decision-making for Citi’s Commodities Business in EMEA and in partnership with Legal colleagues globally. This role offers exposure to a very wide range of interesting and challenging legal issues, numerous opportunities to develop both commodity markets-specific and more general legal skills, and a chance to be part of a team that works very closely with the business and is deeply involved with cutting-edge, market-leading deals and initiatives.

What you’ll do

• Provide legal support to Citigroup's financial and physical commodities business in EMEA, including energy, metals and agricultural products.
• Negotiate and draft a variety of trading contracts, including master and bespoke agreements.
• Participate in strategic initiatives, including providing subject matter expertise and interpretations of relevant laws, rules, regulations, and industry practices.
• Collaborate across internal lines of business, control/support functions and/or external counsel to achieve coordinated and efficient outcomes on matters of common interest, working closely with the Legal team on a regional and global basis.
• Proactively identify, evaluate, and contribute to the appropriate management of the legal, regulatory, and reputational risk impacting the Commodities Business by collaborating with ICRM & Risk, following relevant legal developments, participating in internal projects, and escalating as appropriate.
• Drive compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, adhering to Citi policies, applying sound ethical judgment regarding personal behaviour, conduct and business practices, and escalating, managing and reporting control issues with transparency, as well as effectively supervising the activity of others and holding those who fail to maintain these standards accountable, in accordance with Citi’s policies and procedures, and applicable law.

What we’ll need from you

• Law degree from a UK university (or an English-speaking jurisdiction).
• Relevant transactional legal experience consisting mostly of either (1) drafting and negotiating derivatives documentation (including ISDA Master Agreements, CSAs, and LFCs), or (2) a mix of derivatives and commodity markets trading documentation (such as EFETs, or physical commodity trading documents), where the derivatives form the majority of this experience.
• Significant experience in an in-house regulated environment, ideally a US bank.
• Experience supporting internal clients directly in a timely and commercial manner, while managing legal risk, complying with internal policies, and escalating issues and questions, as appropriate.
• Capable of working both independently (with full support) or under supervision as part of a team.
• Effective communication and negotiation skills and ability to build and maintain trusted relationships.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational and relationship management skills.
• Bar license and in good standing to practice law.

Desirable:

• Experience or interest in commodity markets.
• Experience in areas of law relevant to commodity markets such as shipping law, loan documentation (e.g. on LMA terms), personal property (as it relates to physical commodities), taking of security, guarantees, litigation, and tax.
• Experience of drafting and negotiating contracts to tight deadlines, and/or without on-point precedents.
• Familiarity with regulations relevant to commodity markets such as MiFID2 / MFIR, CBAM, and EUDR.

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 London, 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.