Derivatives and Securities Financing Lawyer

The role involves providing legal support for a wide range of issues arising from derivatives and securities financing transactions, including both structured and flow transactions. The lawyer will draft, review and negotiate transactional documentation for different product types across asset classes and underliers such as FX, rates, commodities, and credit-linked OTC derivatives, FX and credit-linked notes, repo and reverse repo transactions, and documentation for related risk distribution (e.g., participation agreements and credit insurance). The role includes reviewing and negotiating documentation with nostro banks, custodians and other service providers, and advising on matters relating to electronic trading platforms.

The lawyer will advise on the practical impact of new regulations on the Bank's derivatives and securities financing trading activities, and on cross-border issues. Working with other lawyers in the transactional Legal team, the role supports day-to-day business transactions, helps structure new transactions and products, and advises the business on regulatory impacts. The role collaborates with the broader Legal team on transactional and advisory work and may support other products (e.g., commodities and Debt Capital Markets) and manage external counsel as needed.

This role requires proactively identifying legal and regulatory issues, providing commercially pragmatic advice, and collaborating effectively within the Legal team and with other departments.

The Legal Department provides legal advisory and transactional support to all divisions of ICBC Standard Bank Plc, including support to the Global Markets trading floor across derivatives, securities financing, loans, physical commodities, capital markets, financial regulation and litigation.

You’ll be responsible for:

• Providing legal advice in relation to derivatives and securities financing transactions, including structuring, documentation and legal support for transactions linked to fixed income asset classes (rates, credit and currencies), including cash, repo and OTC derivative products (including finance-linked swaps), and credit- and/or FX-linked notes; some OTC commodity derivatives may be included, with a focus on emerging markets.
• Managing all aspects of Legal structured transaction management for derivatives and structured financing transactions, including reviewing and negotiating transaction documentation, coordinating external counsel, reviewing legal opinions, presenting analysis and recommendations to internal approval committees, execution management and post-closing matters.
• Assessing legal risks arising in the course of derivatives and structured financing transactions.
• Advising on regulatory compliance issues that impact transactional documentation, including US, EU and UK sanctions.
• Reviewing trade confirmations and other documentation to be entered into by the Bank in relation to derivatives and structured financing transactions, including drafting and/or reviewing transactional documentation and internal approval papers.
• Reviewing and negotiating documentation with nostro banks, custodians and other service providers.
• Advising on matters related to electronic trading platforms.
• Working closely with the Front Office and support functions (e.g., Compliance, Credit, Risk, Operations and Tax).
• Carrying out other functions performed on behalf of the Legal Department as required.

We’re looking for the following skills and experience:

• Legally qualified in a relevant jurisdiction (English (or common law) qualified preferred but not essential).
• Prior relevant experience in some or all of the following areas: Rates, Credit and/or Commodity linked OTC Derivatives, Exchange Traded Products, Central Clearing, Repos, Structured Notes, Loans, Debt Capital Markets, Master Agreements, Insurance Products and/or Dodd-Frank / EMIR / MiFID2 regulations and documentation.
• Experience working at a law firm with a global practice and/or in-house at an investment bank, focusing on derivatives and securities financing transactions.
• Excellent drafting, analytical and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Understanding of legal issues relevant to emerging markets.
• Familiarity with UK investment banking regulatory landscape, including FCA rules; knowledge of banking operations and practices.

ICBC Standard Bank Plc (ICBCS) is a leading financial markets and commodities bank, driven to deliver the right outcomes for stakeholders, clients, counterparties and markets. We benefit from a unique Chinese and African parentage and an unrivalled global network and expertise. We’re headquartered in London, with operations in Shanghai, Singapore and New York.

We’re a diverse and close-knit global team. We put people first, giving talented, self-driven professionals the flexibility, rewards and freedom to grow their expertise and realise their potential. Our vision statement, "Be Yourself, Succeed Together" underpins our drive for an open and transparent culture which values difference, enabling everyone to thrive whilst being themselves. We have an active E, D&I forum and we’re growing other employee network groups, including for women and neurodiversity.

We’re committed to the principle of equal opportunities. All applicants will be treated equally and will be considered on their merits and skills without discrimination.

What’s in it for you?

• Financial market-based pay based on skills and experience, discretionary annual bonus, pension contribution 10% (employee contribution 5%), travel insurance, life assurance and income replacement insurance.
• Hybrid working with the option to work remotely up to two days per week, depending on the role.
• Family - 6 months fully paid maternity leave and enhanced shared parental leave. Coaching for family leave returners and access to emergency care via My Family Care. Miscarriage and menopause policies.
• Wellbeing - private medical insurance, Bike2Work scheme, health and fitness subsidy, holiday exchange and an Employee Assistance Programme.
• Community paid volunteering leave and Give As You Earn scheme. Vibrant CSR and engagement forums and fundraising for charity partners.
• Development - a suite of opportunities to build the skills you need to excel in your role.

If you’re excited about becoming part of our team, get in touch.