General Counsel for Germany, Austria and Nordics and Country Counsel for Germany

Title: General Counsel for Germany, Austria and Nordics and Country Counsel for Germany

Business: Legal

Division:Banking & International Legal, Europe

Officer Title: Managing Director

C-Grade: C16

Location: Frankfurt

Legal Entity: Citigroup Global Markets Europe AG (“CGME”)

Role posted until: 14 October 2024

Role Overview

The role is a senior management-level position responsible for accomplishing results through the management of a team to manage and direct day-to-day legal activities in coordination with the Legal team. The overall objective of this role is to provide legal support, advice, and guidance across a broad range of practice areas, with respect to the local laws and regulations of the country or countries for which the role is responsible. The role is part of Banking & International Legal Europe and:

• Covers Legal Germany, Austria & the Nordics (Sweden/Norway/Finland/Denmark (Iceland))
• Sits on CGME’s Management Board
• Supports Citi Legal Vehicles active in the countries covered.

Role Purpose

The role of General Counsel for Germany, Austria and the Nordics and Country Counsel for Germany is responsible for all legal matters relating to the businesses in Germany (including the business of CGME, Citi’s principal investment company within the European Union post-Brexit), Austria and the Nordic countries.

The role is part of the Citigroup Global Markets Europe (“CGME”) Management Board and therefore responsible for Legal, CGME regulatory matters, Independent Research and CSIS matters in Germany.

This role leads a team of lawyers providing guidance, support, and legal advice on Citi's businesses and functions in Germany, Austria and the Nordics. The role will also have direct management responsibility for the Corporate Secretary role in Germany. The CSIS Head for Germany and the independent research analysts have a matrix reporting line to the role. 

This role requires a thorough understanding of the strategic direction of the Business, combined with a solid conceptual / practical grounding in the laws and regulations for the geographies in which we operate. The role holder will be required to provide input into strategic decisions and develop medium to long term plans and execute functional strategies for the country or countries for which the role is responsible.

The role reports directly into the Europe Cluster and Europe Legal Vehicles Counsel and will have a matrix report to CGME’s Chief Executive Officer.

Responsibilities:

To provide legal advice to internal clients (colleagues from Legal and all business units in Frankfurt and other Citigroup offices) and on all legal matters relating to the businesses in Germany and in the countries where CGME is located, as well as in Austria and to the Citigroup offices in Finland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway.

• Accountable for legal counsel provided to the CGME CEO, Citi Country Head for Germany, relevant Country Cluster Head, Citi Country Officers and country senior management, control functions and businesses on sensitive legal, regulatory and franchise matters associated with Citi’s business activities in the countries and/or region covered; ensuring that Citi is appropriately addressing legal, regulatory and franchise risks in these countries/regions. The role supports all Citi Legal Vehicles active in the countries covered.
• Supports strategic initiatives of the businesses and functions in countries covered. Provides subject matter expertise and interpretations of relevant laws, rules, regulations, and industry practices, and advises business management/leadership on all manner of legal matters impacting the business
• Advises the Regional CEO and CCO on business, franchise and reputational legal issues
• Takes an active role in any relevant regional, cluster or country-level governance committees (directly or through their team), e.g., regional management committees, country coordinating committee, business risk & controls committee; acts as lawyer providing support to the country

The role is part of the CGME Management Board and is responsible for legal, regulatory, independent research and CSIS matters. As Member of the Management Board the role has to represent the interests of CGME towards external and internal stakeholders (such as regulators, headquarters, etc.) and has full responsibility for the legal entity, collectively with the other Management Board members as set out in the German Stock Corporation Act. The role is also responsible for CGME relations with the BaFin and all other German regulatory bodies and ECB that are relevant to Citi’s business in Germany.

• Management and coordination of the provision of external legal services
• Liaise with compliance in the development, updating and presentation of training materials related to local laws and regulations
• Together with Litigation colleagues, as appropriate, manages and organizes the handling of litigation cases in which Citigroup entities are involved as defendants or claimants
• In coordination with CEO, Cluster head and CCOs, as appropriate, represents the firm with clients, government bodies or other organizations; provides legal advice to the CEO, Citi Cluster Head and/or Citi Country Officer and country management to support Citi’s maintaining good relations with local regulators and all other local regulatory bodies that are relevant to Citi business activities. The role will manage all relationships with external legal counsel retained to support the German, Austrian & Nordic businesses.

• Anticipates, evaluates, and appropriately responds to developments in local and international environments that impact firm policies; assist the firm in evolving to meet marketplace and client needs
• In General Counsel capacity, appropriately assesses legal risk when business decisions are made, demonstrating particular consideration for the firm's reputation and safeguarding Citigroup, its clients and assets, by providing clarity and analysis on applicable laws, rules, regulations and country or European guidelines and their interpretation. Provides support on Policy interpretation.  Applies sound ethical judgment regarding personal behavior, conduct and business practices, and escalating, managing and reporting control issues with transparency, as well as effectively supervises the activity of direct and matrix reports and creates accountability with those who fail to maintain these standards

• Plays a leadership role in Europe and reports for Legal matters into the Europe Cluster and Europe Legal Vehicles Counsel. In addition, the role will work as a partner with product lawyers based in Europe on transactions that may be originated in Europe or other Citi offices but involve German and CGME legal matters.

• Manages a team by providing guidance, evaluating employee performance, and providing recommendations for pay increases, promotions, terminations, personnel-related matters, as applicable. The team will comprise of a team of lawyers who support all of the products and services originated in Germany, Austria & Nordics by the businesses, including but not limited to, Equities, Commodities, Fixed Income derivatives, Investment Banking, Loans, Trade Finance and Global Transaction Services. In particular, the role will have direct responsibility to support the European Markets business. In addition, there are matrix reporting lines from German CSIS and independent research into the role. The role has the regulatory responsibility for these areas.

Power of Attorney:

• PoA for CGME;
• PoA for German Rahmenvertrag related matters for Citibank N.A. London, and
• PoA for German Rahmenvertrag related matters for CGML.

Development Value:

• The role can grow into a cluster or global Legal senior role and take over more responsibilities.

Skills/Knowledge/Experience:

• Demonstrable professional experience in banking and regulatory laws and very good background within Capital Markets/Investment Banking products

• Knowledge of European Banking and applicable regulation
• Good business and workflow understanding
• Very good management and leadership skills
• Excellent communication skills in German and English
• Excellent PC skills

Qualifications:

The following German qualifications would be preferable (but are not absolutely necessary – however we need the person to have completed a full legal degree and to have sufficient relevant experience within a Legal team):

• Fully qualified in German law (University degree and both state exams; at least one “Vollbefriedigend”)
• Sound knowledge of and practical experience in EBA guidelines and European Regulations
• Bank traineeship (Bankkaufmann)

Competencies:

• Ability to lead a team and foster an open and inclusive team culture
• Commercially focused problem solver
• Flexibility and resilience, ability to react to changing priorities
• Structured working
• Open-minded, team-oriented mindset
• Good project management skills
• Well-developed organizational abilities
• Thoroughness

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