Legal Counsel - AVP (Amsterdam)

Mizuho EMEA; Amsterdam; Hybrid; EUR 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working environment

Travel opportunities

Job summary

Mizuho Bank Europe N.V. (MBE) is seeking a Legal Counsel based in Amsterdam to partner with business teams across the EMEA region, focusing on the Netherlands, France, Spain and Germany.

The role requires strong legal expertise in banking documentation, cross-border transactions, and regulatory matters, with a hybrid work arrangement emphasized in Amsterdam.

Qualifications

• LLM or Master’s degree in law from a French, German, Dutch or Spanish university.
• Excellent written and verbal English communication.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Pro-active, pragmatic and independent with client focus.

Responsibilities

• Review and draft banking documentation (loan agreements, facilities, trade finance, securities).
• Advise on cross-border transaction structures and restructurings.
• Ensure documentation compliance with internal approvals; coordinate with external counsel as needed.
• Support negotiations with commercial staff and represent the legal function in bank-wide projects.
• Collaborate with other legal departments within the Mizuho Group and monitor regulatory changes.

Skills

English communication

Analytical skills

Proactive and pragmatic mindset

Education

LLM/Master’s in Law

Job description

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Mizuho Bank Europe N.V. (MBE), part of the leading international financial Mizuho Group, is looking for a Legal Counsel, to be based at the European Headquarters in Amsterdam.

As our Legal Counsel you will be part of the dedicated Legal, Regulatory & Corporate Affairs (“LRC”) team of MBE. The international LRC team consist of 7 fte’s, including the Head of LRC, to whom you report directly. The LRC team members have different backgrounds, and we are looking for someone that can complement the team. The LRC team is primarily located in Amsterdam, but we also have team members in GermanyK and Paris and work closely with the Mizuho London legal team. Given the truly international nature of our legal work across multiple jurisdictions, we are looking for a person that has a legal background in a jurisdiction where we are located (France, the Netherlands, Germany or Spain). We would be especially excited to connect with candidates who have a background in Spanish law, as this would be a strong asset for the role.

Duties and Responsibilities

The position of Legal Counsel is a unique opportunity to be in a leading position of all commercial activities of an internationally operating bank. Your main responsibilities will be to act as a true partner of our business departments and support the commercial activities of MBE in the EMEA area, with a focus on the Netherlands, France, Spain and Germany. More specifically:

• Review and draft (with or without external counsel) commercial banking documentation (e.g., loan agreements, credit facilities, trade finance documentation, security documentation and other transaction documentation) under diverse governing laws.
• Advise on the structure of new (cross-border) transactions, amendments and restructurings of existing financial structures.
• Examine transaction documentation for consistency with internal approvals.
• Support and advise commercial staff in negotiations.
• Represent the legal function in and outside the bank and participate in bank-wide projects (often international and multi-disciplinary).
• Coordinate and cooperate with other legal departments within the Mizuho Group.
• Strengthen legal policies, and our templates framework and observe/analyse changes in regulatory requirements or market standards.
• Support the corporate housekeeping of MBE and its branches, including corporate governance and regulatory affairs.
• Draft and review (in-house) corporate contracts, NDAs, supplier and other third-party contracts, and provide support regarding inquiries by/to group companies, third parties or regulators.

Due to the set-up of the team and the short hierarchical lines there are many possibilities to develop and broaden your knowledge and experience, to manage interesting files and to support projects in a truly international environment

Qualifications, Skills, and Experience

• A LLM / Master’s law degree from a French, German, Dutch or Spanish University. A degree in Spanish law is a pre.
• At least 3 years PQE within the banking/financial sector, or alternatively within a law firm.
• Proven experience with drafting and negotiating complex legal documentation such as transactional documentation in English and more specific loan documentation (bilateral and syndicated (LMA) facilities) and Trade Finance Products (bank guarantees, LC, Risk participations). Experience with Project and Acquisition finance is a plus.
• Ability to manage transactions independently, with a high-quality standard.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Pro-active, pragmatic and independent and business orientated worker with an (internal) client focus.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Team player, flexible and punctual.

What Mizuho can offer you

• A challenging legal in-house role within a highly empowered, energetic, growing team.
• Working in a dynamic and challenging international environment.
• Unique possibilities to learn, to grow and to further develop professional and personal skills.
• Hybrid working environment with the emphasis on working in the office.
• Possibility to travel when needed to our MBE offices.