Legal Europe is a trusted partner to the business, playing a critical role in enabling commercial growth while managing legal and regulatory risk for our European trading businesses
We're looking for an experienced financial markets lawyer who can operate as a trusted adviser to the business from day one. You’ll lead complex negotiations, advise senior stakeholders, and take ownership of significant legal matters in a fast-moving environment where your advice has direct commercial impact.
What you'll do As a Senior Legal Counsel, you will work closely with trading, compliance, risk, finance, operations and technology teams. You will support the businesses and trading desks covered by the Legal Europe team, including our European listed derivatives, commodities, and systematic trading businesses. The role is primarily focused on listed markets and market infrastructure.
Proximity to trading is fundamental to the way we work. You will partner directly with traders and business leaders, developing a deep understanding of the products, markets, and commercial objectives of the desks you support. Experience advising on relevant trading products or market structures will be a significant advantage.
Your responsibilities will include:
Leading legal support for key business initiatives and acting as the primary legal adviser to assigned trading desks.
Advising traders and business stakeholders on legal issues arising from market making, exchange trading, listed derivatives, clearing and related market infrastructure.
Challenging stakeholders where appropriate and helping shape commercial outcomes through clear, pragmatic legal advice.
Drafting, reviewing and negotiating trading and commercial documentation, including: futures and options clearing agreements; prime brokerage agreements; execution, brokerage and market access agreements; exchange and market infrastructure documentation; market data, connectivity and trading technology agreements; and other commercial agreements supporting the trading business.
Providing pragmatic advice on market structure, trading regulation, market conduct and legal risk affecting the European trading business.
Working closely with our compliance and risk teams to develop practical solutions that appropriately balance business objectives and legal risk.
Supporting strategic projects, including new market launches, legal entity expansions, and growth initiatives.
Managing external counsel where specialist jurisdictional or product expertise is required.
Developing scalable legal processes, templates, playbooks and technology-enabled solutions that improve the effectiveness of the legal function.
Contributing to the continued development of Legal as a proactive, commercially focused business partner
Who you are Qualified lawyer in England & Wales.
8–15 years' post-qualification experience, with most of that experience focused on financial markets, derivatives, or trading.
Experience within the markets legal function of an investment
Senior Legal Counsel in London employer: optiverus
Optiver is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and collaborative work culture, where interns are mentored by seasoned engineers in a fast-paced, data-rich environment. With opportunities for personal and professional growth, including the potential for a full-time role post-graduation, working at Optiver in the UK not only enhances your technical skills but also immerses you in the exciting world of real-time trading systems.
