EME Credit Legal Counsel VP

Barclays; London; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading investment bank seeks a Vice President to provide legal support for its Credit Trading and Structuring businesses in London. The role involves managing legal risks, ensuring compliance with regulations, and advising on complex legal issues. Ideal candidates will be qualified lawyers with strong negotiation skills and a background in financial services.

Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer with financial services experience.
• Excellent drafting and negotiation skills.
• Ability to navigate complex legal and regulatory issues.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal support for Credit Trading and Credit Structuring businesses.
• Advise on regulatory change and governance issues.
• Manage external counsel and legal spend.

Skills

Drafting skills

Negotiation skills

Legal risk management

Regulatory compliance

Strategic thinking

Education

Qualified lawyer

Financial Services background

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, and to support the Markets Legal team in executing strategic priorities.

Key Accountabilities

1. Cover daily legal needs of the Credit Trading and Credit Structuring businesses within 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. Provide advice on event-driven situations involving issuers, borrowers, reference entities, counterparties, market events, counterparty distress, and close-out procedures.
4. Advise on legal issues related to business operations and ensure proper governance frameworks are in place, including participation in internal approval processes and risk forums.
5. Assist with regulatory change initiatives affecting the Credit businesses, including providing input and managing implementation of relevant projects.
6. Represent Barclays in industry fora and market initiatives.
7. Manage external counsel effectively, including overseeing legal spend.
8. Deliver updates on legal, regulatory, and governance matters to senior management and foster collaboration across legal teams.

To succeed, candidates should:

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

Additional preferred experience includes:

• Distressed Debt trading and special situations experience.
• Restructuring & Insolvency experience.
• Support experience in trading businesses, including markets, derivatives, and bonds.

The role is based in London.

Purpose of the role

Ensure that the activities of the Markets division comply with applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and assist in managing legal risks.

Accountabilities

1. Develop and implement legal strategies to ensure compliance.
2. Provide legal advice and support on relevant products and services.
3. Represent the bank in legal proceedings related to Markets activities.
4. Create and review legal documents to ensure compliance, maintaining templates and standards.
5. Stay updated on legal and regulatory changes impacting the business.
6. Develop and deliver legal and regulatory training for employees.
7. Identify and communicate legal risks, ensuring policies reflect legal requirements.

Vice President Expectations

• Contribute to strategy, drive requirements, and recommend changes, managing resources and policies.
• If managing a team, define roles, plan for future needs, and oversee performance and development.
• Demonstrate leadership behaviors: Listen & be authentic, Energise & inspire, Align & develop others.
• For individual contributors, act as a subject matter expert, guide technical direction, lead projects, and mentor colleagues.
• Advise stakeholders, manage risks, and ensure strong controls.
• Understand organizational functions to support business goals.
• Collaborate across teams to stay aligned with business strategies.
• Develop solutions through analytical thinking and research.
• Build and maintain relationships with stakeholders to achieve objectives, using influencing skills.

All colleagues are expected to embody Barclays' values and mindset to foster an ethical, empowered, and driven work environment.