Lead Counsel – Equity Capital Markets (ECM)

Are you looking for a career move that will put you at the heart of a global financial institution? Then bring your skills and experience to Citi’s Legal team.

By joining Citi, you will become part of a global organisation whose mission is to serve as a trusted partner to our clients by responsibly providing financial services that enable growth and economic progress.

Team Overview

The role is a senior legal counsel role within Citi’s UK, Europe and MEA Equity Capital Markets (ECM) Legal team, which is part of the broader Banking Legal team. ECM Legal plays a prominent role in Citi’s control architecture, working alongside Compliance, AML, the Control Group, Research Gatekeepers, Business Selection and other functions. The team helps to ensure compliance with Citi policies and procedures to protect, among other things, Citi’s reputation and franchise.

What you’ll do

• Primarily responsible for providing legal advice to Citi’s ECM business. This means having responsibility for delivering legally and commercially sound advice to the investment bank in relation to its work on ECM transactions in the region

• Review and advise on legal documentation and agreements ranging from simple engagement letters to more complex execution-oriented documents, in particular underwriting agreements (including all forms of such agreements, e.g., block trade agreements, equity-linked subscription agreements, etc.), auditor arrangement and comfort letters, legal opinions (covering all relevant UK, Europe and MEA jurisdictions as well as US opinions and disclosure letters), prospectuses, information memoranda and other agreements and documents associated with international capital markets transactions

• Highlight and explain potential UK, EEA and US legal issues/transactional risks to the business, and provide advice and proposed solutions relating to UK, Europe and MEA capital markets transactions on a day-to-day basis

• Ensure consistency with legal advice provided by other regional investment banking and equity capital markets lawyers as well as with internal Citi standards, liaise closely with other regional product specialists in financial centres outside London with a Citi Banking presence. Provide product counsel guidance to local (i.e., non-product) counsel in the UK, Europe and MEA cluster

• Prepare legal decisions and provide advice and guidance to ECM management and represent the ECM Legal team in internal and external decision-making processes, e.g., towards legal departments of institutional clients, such as financial institutions and listed corporations, after consulting with senior legal team members

• Work closely with the firm’s Legal and Compliance staff in the UK, Europe, MEA, the United States and Asia, especially with the ECM legal teams in those regions to ensure that Citi’s policies, practices, procedures and precedent documents are up to date and compliant with latest developments in case law and legislation; Liaise closely with product lawyers in the region and globally on projects and advice given

• Liaise and negotiate with joint advisors regarding confidentiality issues, underwriting and common process documents prepared for the client etc.; Liaise with external law firms on legal issues and drafting of transactional documentation; Qualify and assess legal issues on an independent basis and present legal assessments to the requesting business units

• Prepare and deliver in-house seminars and written briefings/mailings on ECM and regulatory topics; Attend law firm seminars and briefings of industry bodies (e.g., AFME) and report on information received in internal meetings on the level of the Legal Department and ECM

What we’ll need from you

• Suitable experience in Equity Capital Markets (ECM) and/or Debt Capital Markets (DCM) and investment banking advisory experience – prioritised experience in executing ECM transactions as well as in-house experience in international investment bank (preferred) with focus on the UK, Europe and MEA cluster

• Experience in executing ECM transactions, familiarity with ECM (including block trade) structuring and documentation (e.g., underwriting agreements, prospectuses, comfort letters and legal opinions) and market practice for these transactions

• Excellent knowledge of UK, EEA and US prospectus, market abuse, anti-fraud and other relevant regulations; Knowledge of and interest in UK, EEA, US and other cross-border regulatory developments

• Bar license in good standing to practice law; Juris Doctorate or equivalent law degree

• Knowledge of US securities laws would be advantageous

• Excellent technical skills and analytical ability; Transaction Management skills; Ability to work under pressure

• Excellent communication skills (both written and oral) and client and time management skills

Exceptional candidates who do not meet these criteria may be considered for the role provided they have the necessary skills and experience.

What we can offer you

This is a role that will offer you the opportunity to build and develop an in-depth specialist knowledge and drive your career forward. 

Sounds like Citi has everything you need? Then apply to discover the true extent of your capabilities.

#LI-CM2

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Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

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