EME Credit Legal Counsel VP

Barclays UK; London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the financial sector seeks a Vice President to provide legal support for Credit Trading and Structuring. The role involves advising on legal and regulatory issues, managing risks, and ensuring compliance within the Markets division. Candidates should be qualified lawyers with strong negotiation and drafting skills, ideally with experience in distressed debt trading. This position is based in London and requires collaboration across teams to align with business strategies.

Qualifications

• Qualified lawyers with a background in Financial Services.
• Experience in distressed debt trading and special situations.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily legal coverage for Credit Trading and Credit Structuring.
• Advise on legal issues related to business operations.
• Manage external counsel and legal spend oversight.

Skills

Excellent drafting skills

Negotiation skills

Regulatory navigation

Education

Qualified lawyer

Job description

Overall purpose of role

To provide legal support and manage legal and reputational risks for the Credit Trading and Credit Structuring businesses in EME, focusing on loan and special situations trading. Additionally, to support the Markets Legal team in executing the strategic priorities of the function and the firm.

Key Accountabilities

1. Provide daily legal coverage for the Credit Trading and Credit Structuring businesses within the Markets division of Barclays Investment Bank in UK and Europe, including fixed income trading, loans, special situations, claims trading, credit derivatives, structured credit, and financing.
2. Support all aspects of the loan and special situations trading lifecycle, including par and distressed loans, NPLs, claims, restructurings, refinancings, and new money.
3. Offer advice on event-driven situations involving issuers, borrowers, reference entities, and counterparties, including rights under transactions and master agreements, market events, counterparty distress, and close-out.
4. Advise on legal issues related to business operations and ensure appropriate governance frameworks are maintained, including participation in internal approval processes and risk forums.
5. Assist with regulatory change initiatives impacting the Credit businesses, providing input and managing implementation of relevant regulatory projects.
6. Represent Barclays in industry fora and market initiatives.
7. Manage external counsel effectively, including legal spend oversight.
8. Deliver updates on legal, regulatory, and governance matters to senior management and foster collaboration with other legal teams to ensure efficient legal coverage.

To succeed, candidates should:

• Be qualified lawyers
• Have a background in Financial Services, either in-house or private practice
• Possess excellent drafting and negotiation skills
• Navigate complex legal and regulatory issues in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment

Additional desired experience includes:

• Experience in distressed debt trading and special situations
• Restructuring & insolvency expertise
• Support experience in trading businesses, including markets, derivatives, and bonds

The role is based in London.

Purpose of the role

To ensure compliance of business activities within the Markets division with applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to assist in managing legal risks.

Accountabilities

1. Develop and implement legal strategies to ensure compliance with laws and regulations.
2. Provide legal advice and support on products and services offered by the Markets division.
3. Represent the bank in legal proceedings related to the Markets business, including litigation, arbitration, and investigations.
4. Create and review legal documents to ensure compliance and maintain templates.
5. Conduct legal research on regulatory changes impacting the business.
6. Develop and deliver training on legal and regulatory requirements.
7. Identify and communicate legal risks, ensuring they are reflected in policies and controls.

Vice President Expectations

1. Contribute to strategy, requirements, and policy development, managing resources and budgets.
2. If managing a team, define roles, plan for future needs, and lead performance management.
3. Demonstrate leadership behaviors: Listen, Energize, Align, Develop.
4. As an individual contributor, serve as a subject matter expert, guide assignments, and mentor others.
5. Advise stakeholders on impact and alignment of legal issues.
6. Manage risks and strengthen controls.
7. Understand organizational functions to support business goals.
8. Collaborate across teams to stay aligned with business strategies.
9. Develop solutions through analytical and innovative thinking.
10. Build relationships with stakeholders to achieve business objectives, using influencing skills.

All colleagues should embody Barclays Values: Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, and Stewardship, and demonstrate the Barclays Mindset: Empower, Challenge, Drive.