Legal Director - Derivatives

SSQ; Greater London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

SSQ, a leading UK law firm, is appointing an experienced Derivatives lawyer at Legal Director level to join its growing finance practice. The role offers significant client exposure and leadership responsibilities across complex ISDA schedules, CSAs, and securities financing.

The incoming lawyer will handle broad hedging and financing work, lead matters, and contribute to the continued growth of the team in a senior capacity.

Qualifications

• 8+ PQE with substantial derivatives experience
• Ability to lead matters and client relationships
• Experience in a City, international, or comparable practice

Responsibilities

• Lead matters and client relationships within the derivatives and wider finance practice
• Provide high-quality technical derivative work and advise on related hedging and financing transactions
• Contribute to the growth and development of the practice and team

Skills

Derivatives expertise

ISDA documentation

CSAs (VM/IM)

Securities financing

Regulatory margin

Netting & collateral enforceability

Trading documentation

Client relationship management

Leadership

Job description

A leading UK law firm is looking to appoint an experienced Derivatives lawyer at Legal Director level to join a growing specialist practice within its broader finance offering.

This is an excellent opportunity for a senior derivatives specialist looking for a role combining high-quality technical work with significant client exposure and the opportunity to play an important part in the continued growth of the practice.

The team advises a sophisticated client base including banks, asset managers, insurers, pension funds, brokers and corporate treasury functions, with a practice spanning derivatives, trading documentation, securities financing, collateral arrangements and transaction-related hedging.

The successful candidate will have strong experience across areas including:

• ISDA documentation and complex schedule negotiations
• Credit Support Annexes, including VM and IM
• Securities financing transactions
• Regulatory margin requirements
• Netting and collateral enforceability
• Trading documentation across a range of asset classes

The practice also advises on hedging arrangements arising in connection with a broad range of financing transactions, giving the successful candidate exposure beyond standalone derivatives work.

A key attraction of the role is its breadth and senior-level responsibility. The incoming lawyer will have the opportunity to lead matters and client relationships, work closely with colleagues across the wider finance practice and contribute to the continued development of a successful and growing team.

There is strong scope for long-term progression for someone with the technical credentials, client skills and commercial ambition to develop their career within the practice.

Candidates are likely to be 8+ PQE, with substantial derivatives experience gained within a leading City, international or comparable practice.

For a confidential discussion about the opportunity, please get in touch.