Vice President/Director, Legal Department (Global Markets)

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation; Singapore; On-site; SGD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

A global financial institution in Singapore seeks a Senior Legal Counsel to support its Global Markets and Treasury Department. The ideal candidate will provide strategic legal advice, oversee transaction documentation, and ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations. Candidates should have a recognized law degree and extensive experience in financial services, particularly in derivatives and global markets.

Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer with 10-14 years of post-qualification experience in financial services.
• Strong knowledge in derivatives products/documentation and laws/regulations.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and able to work independently.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal support on transactions for Global Markets and Treasury Dept.
• Draft and negotiate trading agreements and market trading documentation.
• Advise on legislation affecting the derivatives business.

Skills

Legal analysis

Negotiation

Communication

Problem-solving

Project management

Education

Good Law degree from a recognized university

Job description

Overview

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Senior Legal Counsel to join our Legal Dept, supporting the Bank’s global markets and derivatives trading business. The successful candidate will provide legal support across a wide range of treasury and derivatives products.

Responsibilities

• Providing legal support and advice on structuring, negotiation and execution of transactions undertaken by the Bank’s Global Markets and Treasury Dept (GMTAP) and be the subject matter expert for all legal issues arising from GMTAP’s business. Transactions undertaken by GMTAP include derivatives and treasury related products such as structured deposits, hedges, liquidity management products, derivative products involving different underlying asset classes.
• Draft, negotiate and review trading agreements including ISDA Master Agreements (ISDA), Credit Support Annexes (CSA), GMRA, CDEA and other market trading documentation and trade confirmation for OTC/structured products.
• Advise on interpretation of laws and regulations relating to derivatives business (e.g. RMR, MAS regulations EMIR etc) and monitor legal, regulatory and industry developments impacting global markets and derivatives.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders including client facilitation teams from Front office/GMTAP and Compliance, Risk, Credit and Operations teams.
• Drafting, updating, improving and maintaining agreements, standard templates, framework, guidance notes and other legal documents for the Bank and to conduct internal trainings.
• Co-ordinating legal matters with other offices under APAC where necessary. Assisting Head of Legal in managing, coordinating and rolling-out initiatives relating to GMTAP’s business involving legal teams across Asia Pacific Division.
• Projects, initiatives and other matters as may be assigned by Head of Legal from time to time.

Qualifications/Requirements

• Good Law degree from a recognized university and admitted to practice in a common law jurisdiction (e.g. Singapore, the UK).
• Qualified lawyer with at least 10-14 years of post-qualification experience in a law firm and/or in-house legal dept in financial services specialising in treasury, derivatives and global markets business and products.
• Strong knowledge and experience in derivatives products/documentation and laws/regulations. Knowledge of international laws/practices that impact the business and ability to advise across multiple APAC jurisdictions, will be a plus.
• Proven ability to structure bespoke products, manage transactions and provide strategic legal advice and practical solutions while balancing risks.
• Excellent communication, analytical, negotiation and interpersonal skills.
• Able to work independently and exercise sound legal judgment.
• Able to balance risks and commercial considerations and provide sound and practical legal advice
• Confident and meticulous and able to work in fast-paced environment.
• Proactive and growth-minded.