of counsel London, England
Job description
The Senior Lead Counsel I is a senior level position responsible for providing Citi businesses and functions with legal counsel and thought leadership on all matters related to financial services legislation and regulation in the EMEA region. The overall objective of this role is to provide legal support, advice, and guidance across a broad range of practice areas in coordination with the Legal team.
This role requires a pragmatic, proactive attorney with thorough understanding of financial services legislation and regulation in the EMEA region, 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 business-oriented solutions.
Responsibilities:
- Responsible for providing Citi businesses and functions with legal counsel; supporting strategic initiatives and product/service launches, providing subject matter expertise and interpretations of relevant laws, rules, regulations, and industry practices, and advising business management/leadership on all manners of legal matters related to financial services legislation and regulation in the EMEA region
- Objectively evaluate business decisions by applying institutional knowledge against industry standard, widely accepted business practices, laws, rules, and regulatory guidelines, escalating as appropriate
- Collaborate across internal lines of business and control/support functions to achieve coordinated and efficient outcomes on matters related to financial services legislation and regulation in the EMEA region; coordinate closely with legal peers aligned to associated businesses
- Participate in planning and development initiatives; contribute to objectives by providing thought leadership using knowledge of industry, laws, and regulations
- Proactively identify, evaluate, and contribute to the appropriate management of legal, regulatory, and reputational risk by collaborating with ICRM & Risk, following relevant legal developments, participating in internal projects, and performing other related tasks
- Manage day-to-day legal activities as a subject matter expert in area of responsibility and provide advisory services to business partners
- Monitor management of complex legal issues, 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
Qualifications:
- 7+ years of relevant industry experience, preferably in financial services
- Banking or financial industry experience, including laws related to banking regulations
- Comprehensive 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 leadership, 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
Education:
- Juris Doctorate or equivalent law degree
This role resides within the Cross Enterprise Legal (CEL) team, which encompasses a portfolio of legal areas that impact Citi, our clients and our stakeholders on a multi-regional, multi-product and multi-entity level. Working in partnership across ‘One Legal’, these areas include providing legal advice to and on: Enterprise Operations and Technology (including Intellectual Property, Privacy, and vendor, realty and other transactions); Global Public Affairs; Corporate Mergers and Acquisitions; ESG; Cyber; Strategic Investments; Digital Strategy; designated Cross-Product Regulations, Regulatory Change and Business Transformation (including Consent Order related); aspects of both regional and global Resolution and Recovery; Citi legal entity platforms; certain strategic ‘client experience’ initiatives; and Cross-Product/Enterprise Risk and Control. The Cross Enterprise Legal team reports into the Deputy General Counsel of Citi.
The Cross Enterprise Legal and Regulatory Advisory sub-team within CEL provides advice in relation to a wide range of regulatory requirements, developments and cross product themes and takes on a core advisory and leadership role in relation to business change projects and other strategic initiatives. Amongst the areas of focus include: the regulatory perimeter, global booking models and legal entity strategy, financial infrastructure (markets and payments), business conduct, public policy and advocacy support, digital innovation and ICG strategic investment activity. Relevant business change projects and initiatives align with the ICG Risk and Controls transformation agenda and ICG cross product business priorities. OCC/Fed Consent Order related activities will also be in scope, from an ICG Legal perspective.
Key Responsibilities:
The CEL team requires an experienced financial services regulatory lawyer to advise on certain major regulatory, transformational and business change projects globally impacting on the business. Responsibilities are expected to evolve over time having regard for regulatory, commercial and technological developments impacting on the business, but initial responsibilities are expected to include:
- providing regulatory legal advice on UK and EU regulatory change projects (for example, changes to UK and EU MIFID, MIFIR and MAR);
- acting as subject-matter expert in the EMEA time zone for certain existing UK and EU financial services regulatory queries from business lines and product lawyers (for example, MIFID, MIFIR and MAR);
- supporting Global Government Affairs, the EMEA Regulatory Engagement team and other stakeholders on advocacy initiatives with industry associations and regulators in respect of regulatory developments, including assisting in the development of responses to consultation papers to regulators and policy-makers, attendance at legal-focused industry association working groups and meetings with regulators, in respect of banking and financial services regulation in the EMEA region and globally;
- providing training and education for management and product lawyers on regulatory developments globally and in the region – this will involve working on presentation materials, providing presentations to Legal colleagues, country counsel and business areas.
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Job Family Group:
Legal-
Job Family:
Legal - Enterprise and Country-
Time Type:
Full time-
Citi is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.
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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