Legal Counsel - Global Banking Legal

Are you an experienced lawyer who wants to be close to the business and advise on investment banking transactions with Japan and cross-border dimensions?
We are looking for a legal counsel to support UBS’s Global Banking business in Japan, working alongside senior business stakeholders and legal colleagues on transactions, legal and regulatory issues, negotiations and strategic matters.
This is a role for someone who enjoys combining technical legal expertise with commercial judgement, and who is interested in contributing to a regional and global platform while remaining focused on Japan-related Global Banking matters.

We’re looking for a legal counsel to:

• provide in-house legal support to UBS’s Global Banking business as the primary focus of the role, covering transactions and business originated from, or targeting, Japan, including transactions executed outside Japan
• work closely with Global Banking deal teams and control functions, providing practical, commercial and risk-aware advice on legal frameworks, transaction structuring, issues, negotiations and documentation
• advise on M&A advisory, capital markets and other Global Banking matters, with opportunities to engage with strategic and business-facing questions as transactions develop
• where relevant and aligned with your expertise and interests, collaborate with legal colleagues supporting other areas of UBS, including Global Markets and Global Wealth Management

Your team

You’ll be working in UBS’s Global Banking Legal function in Japan, reporting to and working closely with our lead Global Banking lawyer in Japan. You will be part of the firm’s Investment Banking Legal team and the broader Group Legal function, with regular interaction with colleagues across APAC and the global legal network. The role offers the opportunity to advise on Japan-related Global Banking matters while being connected to a regional and global platform. We focus on delivering high-quality, commercial and practical legal advice to our internal clients.

Your expertise

You have:

• ideally at least 7 years’ post-qualification experience as a lawyer, gained in an international financial institution, a leading law firm or a comparable environment
• hands-on experience advising on investment banking transactions, including M&A advisory and capital markets transactions
• a Japanese law qualification, bengoshi, which is required for this role; an additional common law qualification is not required but would be a plus
• the judgement to provide practical, commercial and risk-aware legal advice in a fast-moving business environment
• a collaborative style and the ability to build trusted working relationships with business stakeholders, control functions and legal colleagues across jurisdictions
• a proactive, pragmatic and solution-oriented approach, with the ability to manage matters independently and escalate appropriately
• strong written and verbal communication skills in both Japanese and English, with the ability to support stakeholders in Japan and overseas



UBS is committed to preventing sexual harassment against job applicants throughout the recruitment process.
If you experience or wish to report any harassment, inappropriate conduct, or concerns related to our recruitment and selection process, please HR recruiting team at:
Email: [email protected]

About us

UBS is a leading and truly global wealth manager and the leading universal bank in Switzerland. We also provide diversified asset management solutions and focused investment banking capabilities. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, UBS is present in more than 50 markets around the globe.
We know that great work is never done alone. That’s why we place collaboration at the heart of everything we do. Because together, we’re more than ourselves. Want to find out more? Visit ubs.com/careers.

Join us

At UBS, we know that it's our people, with their diverse skills, experiences and backgrounds, who drive our ongoing success. We’re dedicated to our craft and passionate about putting our people first, with new challenges, a supportive team, opportunities to grow and flexible working options when possible. Our inclusive culture brings out the best in our employees, wherever they are on their career journey. And we use artificial intelligence (AI) to work smarter and more efficiently. We also recognize that great work is never done alone. That’s why collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. Because together, we’re more than ourselves.
We’re committed to disability inclusion and if you need reasonable accommodation/adjustments throughout our recruitment process, you can always contact us.

Disclaimer / Policy statements

UBS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We respect and seek to empower each individual and support the diverse cultures, perspectives, skills and experiences within our workforce.