SVP, Senior Lead Counsel

Shape your Career with Citi

Citi’s Global Legal Affairs and Compliance(GLAC) empowers and protects Citi by providing legal, compliance, investigative, and security services to our firm.  We manage compliance risk, provide legal analysis and advice, protect Citi’s people and businesses, advocate for legal and regulatory outcomes that benefit our firm and our clients, and ultimately promote behavior that is consistent with Citi’s mission and culture.

We’re currently looking for a high caliber professional to join our team as SVP, Senior Lead Counsel, Prime Finance - Hybrid (Internal Job Title: Senior Lead Counsel I - C14) based in Hong Kong. Being part of our team means that we’ll provide you with the resources to meet your unique needs, empower you to make healthy decision and manage your financial well-being to help plan for your future.  For instance:

• We believe all parents deserve time to adjust to parenthood and bond with the newest members of their families. That’s why in early 2020 we began rolling out our expanded Paid Parental Leave Policy to include Citi employees around the world.

• We empower our employees to manage their financial well-being and help them plan for the future.

• We have a variety of programs that help employees balance their work and life, including generous paid time off packages.

The Senior Lead Counsel I is a senior level position responsible for providing legal guidance and thought leadership to the business. The overall objective of this role is to provide legal support, advice, and guidance to the business.

This role requires a pragmatic, proactive attorney with thorough understanding of the Business, combined with a solid conceptual / practical grounding in the laws and regulations for the geographies in which we operate. Provides input into strategic decisions, exercising sound legal judgement to develop proactive, risk-appropriate, and commercially practical business-oriented solutions.

This role leads the team of 2 other lawyers in Hong Kong to support the Prime Finance business for the North and South Asia clusters.  It covers all aspects of Prime Finance - from (i) leading onboarding negotiations on prime brokerage agreement (for cash prime) and prime finance swap documentation (for synthetic prime on swap); (ii) supporting the Securities Lending and Funding desks on novel and complicated securities lending agreements; (iii) advising the business on new prime brokerage products and initiatives; to (iv) servicing existing client queries and other significant ad hoc issues such as conducting close-out analysis.  It also frequently advises the business on regulatory issues such as client asset rules / regulatory margin requirements / well-founded basis opinions under BASEL requirements

In this role, you’re expected to:

• Responsible for providing legal counsel to the Business, participating in strategic initiatives, providing subject matter expertise and interpretations of relevant laws, rules, regulations, and industry practices, and advising business management on legal matters impacting the business

• Objectively evaluates Business proposals by applying institutional knowledge and risk appetite against industry standards, widely accepted business practices, laws, rules, and regulatory guidelines, escalating as appropriate

• Collaborates across internal lines of business and control/support functions to achieve coordinated and efficient outcomes on matters of common interest; coordinate closely with the Legal team on a regional and global basis

• Participates in BUSINESS planning and development initiatives; contribute to business objectives by providing thought leadership using knowledge of industry, laws, and regulations

• Proactively identifies, evaluates, and contributes to the appropriate management of legal, regulatory, and reputational risk by collaborating with ICRM & Risk, following relevant legal developments, participating in internal projects, escalating as appropriate

• Manages day-to-day legal activities as a subject matter expert in area of responsibility and provide advisory services to business partners

• Monitors management of complex legal issues and transactions, escalating when necessary

• Appropriately assess risk when business decisions are made, demonstrating particular consideration for the firm's reputation and safeguarding Citigroup, its clients and assets, by driving compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, adhering to Policy, applying sound ethical judgment regarding personal behavior, conduct and business practices, and escalating, managing and reporting control issues with transparency, as well as effectively supervise the activity of others and create accountability with those who fail to maintain these standards

As a successful candidate, you’d ideally have the following skills and exposure:

• 7+ years of relevant industry experience, preferably in financial services

• Banking or financial industry experience, including laws related to banking regulations

• Knowledge of international laws, regulations and practices while staying abreast of regulatory and legal environment, internal policies and industry trends that impact the business

• Experience with complex deals, demonstrated ability to analyze issues and develop legal solutions

• Effective communication and negotiation skills and ability to build and maintain trusted relationships

• Excellent interpersonal, organizational and relationship management skills

• Proven ability to apply sound judgement while managing assignments in a demanding, fast-paced environment

• Bar license in good standing to practice law

• Juris Doctorate or equivalent law degree

Working at Citi is far more than just a job. A career with us means joining a family of more than 230,000 dedicated people from around the globe. At Citi, you’ll have the opportunity to grow your career, give back to your community and make a real impact.