EMEA Equity Derivatives Legal Counsel – Vice President

Overview

In this VP role, you provide expert legal coverage for the EMEA Equities business within the Markets Legal team, focusing on Exotics and proprietary indices and bespoke derivatives. You partner with Trading, Structuring and Sales to structure and close complex derivative transactions while managing legal, regulatory, and reputational risk. You work cross-functionally to drive governance, documentation, and process improvements in a fast-paced environment. You will shape guidance across equity and other derivative transactions, offering practical, scalable legal support and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Advise on structuring complex derivative transactions, JPM proprietary indices, and bespoke structured products, reviewing structures and documentation for legal/regulatory issues.
• Draft and negotiate transaction documentation from inception to close in collaboration with the business.
• Identify, assess, and manage legal, regulatory, and reputational risks affecting the Equities business; monitor developments and escalate issues as needed.
• Coordinate with Legal, Compliance and risk functions and manage external counsel to deliver coordinated outcomes.
• Drive process, documentation, and efficiency improvements to scale operations and achieve legal operational excellence.

Key requirements

• Qualified lawyer with 3+ years’ post-qualification experience in a top law firm or in-house legal team
• Licensed to practice law in England & Wales or a similar jurisdiction
• Strong transactional background with experience advising on derivative transactions
• Excellent negotiation skills and familiarity with UK and European regulations impacting Markets (MiFID II, EMIR, UK/EU BMR)
• Strong analytical and risk management skills; excellent drafting and solution-oriented approach
• Highly developed organizational, analytical, and time management abilities in a fast-paced environment
• Strong collaboration and communication skills; able to work independently and in a team

• negotiation
• collaboration
• communication
• derivatives transactions
• regulatory knowledge (MiFID II, EMIR, BMR)
• legal drafting

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