Legal Counsel - DCM

A well-established Investment Bank is seeking a Legal Counsel to join their DCM team in London.

Summary

Provide full legal, advisory and transaction management support to DCM business teams and Syndicate desks.

Key Responsibilities

• Responsible for providing legal advice, advisory and transactional support to Debt Capital Markets and Leverage Finance & Telecoms Group business teams (mainly for Investment Grade, High Yield, Emerging Markets, Debt Syndicate, liability management and MTN Private Placement teams, including bonds with ESG/sustainability linked elements), worldwide. Responsible for drafting, structuring and negotiating offering documentation and advising on distribution and marketing issues and other ad hoc matters relating to all kinds of Debt Capital Markets transactions.
• Instruct, liaise with and supervise external counsel in various jurisdictions.
• Analyse and advise on legal issues relating to new debt product development.
• Prepare legal governance, legal procedures, KPIs for the DCM business.
• Work very closely with Head of DCM LGL Paris and his Paris team.

Legal and Regulatory Responsibilities

• Comply with all applicable legal, regulatory and internal compliance requirements, including, but not limited to, Compliance and Legal policies and procedures as issued from time to time; Financial Security requirements, including, but not limited to, the prevention of Financial Crime and Fraud including reporting obligations to the Money Laundering Reporting Officers.
• Maintain and develop appropriate level of knowledge to be fully qualified to undertake Key Responsibilities. Complete all mandatory training as required to attain and maintain legal, regulatory, market practice capability.
• Organise internal training sessions to Legal and Business persons on significant legal issues.
• Establish procedures and templates of documents relating to the activity, and related legal governance.
• Participate in legal and documentation working groups and task forces of the Banking Industry professional organisations (ICMA, AFME and other, as applicable).
• Assess and mitigate legal risks.

Experience Required:

• Legal qualification in England & Wales.
• Very good experience in the Debt Capital Markets Legal area.
• Post-qualification major law firm experience or in-house experience gained with a reputable investment bank or an international financial institution;
• Strong experience with issues, processes, management and execution of bond and debt transactions in various countries and jurisdictions and overall knowledge of capital markets transactions.
• Experience with complex and structured products drafting and negotiation.
• ESG and sustainability products issuance - desirable.
• DCM debt transactions and DCM structured debt instruments issues and related topics.
• Ability to work autonomously in a challenging environment.
• Capacity to work efficiently and accurately and remain calm and motivated in a pressurised and deadline-driven business environment.
• Ability to integrate into a close-knit team.
• Strong organisational skills.
• Highest degree of integrity and professionalism.

Skills and Knowledge Required:

• Interpersonal and communication (written and oral) and networking skills essential.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Excellent negotiation and drafting skills.