Legal Counsel - Derivatives

Natixis; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

FQPS Academy Ltd. is seeking an English-qualified lawyer with a minimum of 10 years’ PQE to advise on structured derivatives, OTC activities and related documentation.

You will support Front Office, Operations and Risk, draft and negotiate ISDA and French FBF master agreements, and liaise with external counsel as needed. You will assess legal risks in OTC transactions, contribute to the New Product Committee, and keep standard templates up to date.

Qualifications

• English-qualified lawyer with a minimum of 10 years’ post-qualification experience (PQE).
• Significant experience at a leading law firm and/or in-house within an investment bank with a track record across derivatives.
• Experience with ISDA documentation, derivatives and structured products (rates, credit, FX, securitisation swaps).
• French law or a French qualification and knowledge of FB Master Agreements would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Advise on legal basis for structured derivatives and related activities (OTC, platform trading, repos).
• Advise Front Office, Operations and Risk on legal issues and transaction documentation.
• Draft, review and negotiate legal and contractual documentation (ISDA, French FBF Master Agreements, guarantees, security docs, confidentiality agreements).
• Liaise with external counsel as required.
• Identify and assess legal risks arising from OTC activities and develop mitigation measures.
• Provide legal analysis of new products and contribute to New Product Committee.
• Maintain and update standard documents and Natixis policies.
• Monitor ISDA/FBF developments and advise on implications.

Skills

Derivatives expertise

ISDA documentation

French law knowledge

Legal risk management

Client/stakeholder management

Education

Qualified lawyer (PQE 10+ years)

Job description

• Advise on the legal basis for structured derivatives and related activities, including OTC transactions, platform-based trading, clearing and repurchase transactions (repos).
• Advise Front Office, Operations and Risk teams on legal issues, transaction documentation and the legal risks associated with OTC activities.
• Draft, review and negotiate legal and contractual documentation, including confirmation templates, structured ISDA and French FBF Master Agreements, guarantees, security documents, confidentiality agreements and other transaction-related agreements.
• Liaise with external counsel where required.
• Identify and assess legal risks arising from OTC activities, explain them clearly to relevant stakeholders, and develop practical measures to manage or mitigate them, including through procedures and standard documentation.
• Provide legal analysis of new products and contribute to the work of the New Product Committee.
• Manage contractual documentation, keeping standard documents and templates up to date, and coordinate relevant Natixis legal policies.
• Maintain and update internal legal guidance on structured derivatives considering relevant international legal developments.
• Monitor ISDA (and French FBF, if applicable) developments and advise the business on their implications.

• Advise on the legal basis for structured derivatives and related activities, including OTC transactions, platform-based trading, clearing and repurchase transactions (repos).
• Advise Front Office, Operations and Risk teams on legal issues, transaction documentation and the legal risks associated with OTC activities.
• Draft, review and negotiate legal and contractual documentation, including confirmation templates, structured ISDA and French FBF Master Agreements, guarantees, security documents, confidentiality agreements and other transaction-related agreements.
• Liaise with external counsel where required.
• Identify and assess legal risks arising from OTC activities, explain them clearly to relevant stakeholders, and develop practical measures to manage or mitigate them, including through procedures and standard documentation.
• Provide legal analysis of new products and contribute to the work of the New Product Committee.
• Manage contractual documentation, keeping standard documents and templates up to date, and coordinate relevant Natixis legal policies.
• Maintain and update internal legal guidance on structured derivatives considering relevant international legal developments.
• Monitor ISDA (and French FBF, if applicable) developments and advise the business on their implications.

Report to management in London and Paris and liaise with colleagues across both locations.

What we need from you

• English-qualified lawyer with a minimum of 10 years’ post-qualification experience (PQE).

Significant experience gained at a leading law firm and/or in-house within an investment bank with a track record of success across derivatives

What we need from you

• English-qualified lawyer with a minimum of 10 years’ post-qualification experience (PQE).

Significant experience gained at a leading law firm and/or in-house within an investment bank with a track record of success across derivatives

• ISDA documentation, derivatives and structured products, including interest rate swaps, credit and FX derivatives, securitisation swaps, and hedging swaps relating to a range of underlying assets and transactions, including LBOs, real estate, asset-backed transactions, PPPs and alternative assets.
  • French law or a French law qualification, and knowledge of French-law-governed master agreements (FBF), would be an advantage.

A solid understanding of derivatives, with some experience in repos and other financing arrangements.

• Work collaboratively with colleagues and key stakeholders, supported by strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to prioritise effectively and work under pressure.
• Team-oriented, with the flexibility to respond to client demands while adhering to firm policies and Group practices.
• Able to identify, assess and manage legal risks, escalating issues as appropriate.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex legal issues clearly to senior internal stakeholders and non-lawyer audiences.
• Strong client-management skills.

Required Skills/Qualifications/Experience

Act as a trusted legal partner to the Fixed Income business, advising on the structuring, negotiation and execution of derivatives transactions and supporting the effective management of legal risk.

QWE

Will this role count as your QWE, and who will confirm it?

Check it against the SRA’s questions in two minutes. If there is no COLP or solicitor where you work, the SRA lets a solicitor outside confirm it: an FQPS solicitor can, from £275.