Senior Counsel, Capital Markets

BMO U.S.; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Tuition reimbursement

Accident and life insurance

Retirement savings plans

Performance-based incentives

Discretionary bonuses

Other perks and rewards

Job summary

BMO Financial Group is seeking an experienced attorney with deep derivatives and capital markets knowledge to join the Derivatives Legal Group within the Capital Markets Legal Team. You will provide strategic legal and regulatory guidance on derivatives, structured products, and trading matters, coordinating with trading, risk, and compliance teams to support business objectives and manage legal risk.

Responsibilities include drafting and negotiating ISDA Master Agreements and related trading

Qualifications

• 7+ years of legal practice or equivalent experience.
• Law degree (JD/LLB) and license to practice law.
• Experience drafting and negotiating derivatives documentation including ISDA Master Agreements, CSAs, Control Agreements, Risk Participation Agreements, Master Confirmation Agreements, and related filings.
• Advising on regulatory issues related to derivatives, including initial and variation margin.
• Strong negotiation, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic legal and regulatory advice on derivatives, structured products, and trading matters.
• Partner with trading, sales, risk, compliance, and operations to support business objectives while managing legal risk.
• Draft, review, and negotiate key market documentation and related agreements.
• Identify risks and implement actions to mitigate them; participate in Derivatives Legal Group project matters.
• Build relationships with internal/external stakeholders and act as subject matter expert.

Skills

Derivatives

Negotiation

Regulatory knowledge

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Communication (written)

Collaboration

Ambiguity management

Data-driven decisions

Education

Juris Doctor (JD) or equivalent

Licensed to practice law

Job description

This opportunity is ideal for a lawyer with experience in derivatives and capital markets who thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced financial services environment. As a member of BMO's Derivatives Legal Group within the Capital Markets Legal Team, you will provide strategic legal and regulatory advice on a broad range of derivatives, structured products, and trading-related matters. You will partner closely with trading, sales, risk, compliance, and operations teams to support business objectives while effectively managing legal and regulatory risk. The role offers exposure to complex transactions and regulatory developments, including margin requirements and evolving derivatives frameworks, and requires extensive experience drafting and negotiating key market documentation such as ISDA Master Agreements, CSAs, Control Agreements, Risk Participation Agreements, and related trading documentation. This is an excellent opportunity for a commercially minded legal professional who combines strong technical expertise, sound judgment, and exceptional negotiation skills with the ability to deliver practical, business-focused solutions in support of BMO's global capital markets franchise.

• Makes recommendations to senior leaders on strategy and new initiatives, based on an in-depth understanding of the business/group.
• May participate in the design of legal advice strategies & approaches for the unit activity and making recommendations to minimize legal issues.
• Acts as the prime subject matter expert for internal/external stakeholders.
• Exercises judgement on complex, confidential and sensitive matters
• Identifies and resolves moderately complex issues.
• Determines root causes and negotiates resolutions.
• Delivers legal advice, instructs external counsel and ensures compliance with internal policies & procedures for a single or small number of function(s).
• Acts as a subject matter expert on relevant laws, regulations and policies.
• Resolves daily issues and/or escalates with appropriate analysis and/or recommendations.
• Identifies risks and implements appropriate actions to mitigate them.
• Implements areas of improvement to ensure consistency with market place.
• Builds effective relationships with internal/ external stakeholders.
• Geographic scope: up to global.
• Operates at a group/enterprise-wide level and serves as a specialist resource to senior leaders and stakeholders.
• Applies expertise and thinks creatively to address unique or ambiguous situations and to find solutions to problems that can be complex and non-routine.
• Implements changes in response to shifting trends.
• Broader work or accountabilities may be assigned as needed.

Qualifications

• Typically 7+ years of legal practice or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Degree in law (LLB or JD) and license to practice law in relevant jurisdiction.
• Private practice, in-house experience or experience at regulatory body relating to the regulation of business/group activities may be required.
• Responsible for advising on a variety of derivatives and other trading products related matters.
• Experience drafting and negotiating derivatives documentation including ISDA’s, CSA’s, Control Agreements, Confidentiality Agreements, Risk Participation Agreements, Master Confirmation Agreements, Long-Form Confirmations, and other derivatives documentation ancillary thereto.
• Responsible for advising the business on regulatory issues related to derivatives, including initial and variation margin.
• Participate in project-related matters within Derivatives Legal Group (within the Capital Markets Legal Team) from time to time
• Knowledge in legal field, typically with a functional or business line specialization.
• Knowledge of business and regulatory environment in which BMO Financial Group operates.
• Advanced knowledge of subject matter legal requirements and the operations of a single client group.
• Negotiation skills - in depth.
• Seasoned professional with a combination of education, experience and industry knowledge.
• Verbal & written communication skills - In-depth / Expert.
• Analytical and problem solving skills - In-depth / Expert.
• Influence skills - In-depth / Expert.
• Collaboration & team skills; with a focus on cross-group collaboration - In-depth / Expert.
• Able to manage ambiguity.
• Data driven decision making - In-depth / Expert.
• Hybrid work model requires 3 days a week in NY or Chicago office (subject to change)

Salary

$120,000.00 - $250,000.00

Pay Type

Salaried

The above represents BMO Financial Group’s pay range and type.

BMO Financial Group’s total compensation package will vary based on the pay type of the position and may include performance-based incentives, discretionary bonuses, as well as other perks and rewards. BMO also offers health insurance, tuition reimbursement, accident and life insurance, and retirement savings plans. To view more details of our benefits, please visit: https://jobs.bmo.com/global/en/Total-Rewards

• performance-based incentives
• discretionary bonuses
• other perks and rewards
• health insurance
• tuition reimbursement
• accident and life insurance
• retirement savings plans

About Us

At BMO we are driven by a shared Purpose: Boldly Grow the Good in business and life. It calls on us to create lasting, positive change for our customers, our communities and our people. By working together, innovating and pushing boundaries, we transform lives and businesses, and power economic growth around the world.

As a member of the BMO team you are valued, respected and heard, and you have more ways to grow and make an impact. We strive to help you make an impact from day one – for yourself and our customers. We’ll support you with the tools and resources you need to reach new milestones, as you help our customers reach theirs. From in-depth training and coaching, to manager support and network-building opportunities, we’ll help you gain valuable experience, and broaden your skillset.

To find out more visit us at https://jobs.bmo.com/us/en

BMO is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. We evaluate applicants without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or any other legally protected characteristics. We also consider applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law.

BMO is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please send an e‑mail to [e-mail] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.