Equity Derivatives Legal Counsel - Vice President

We are seeking an experienced derivatives lawyer to join the Markets Legal team as a Vice President, providing legal coverage to the EMEA Equities business. The role will sit within the Exotics legal team, which has responsibility for a broad variety of work focussed on JPM proprietary indices and investable rules-based strategies across equities and other asset classes, as well as structured and complex OTC derivatives and bespoke securitised products.

As an EMEA Equity Derivatives Legal Counsel – Vice President in Markets Legal team  you will have a great opportunity to further develop their skills and knowledge through working on a variety of cutting edge transactions both within the Exotics legal team and the wider Equities legal team.  Whilst the role is primarily transactional, members of the team are expected to have knowledge of UK and European derivatives law and regulation. This is a high profile and technically challenging role requiring a comprehensive understanding of the legal and commercial aspects of equity and other derivative transactions.  You will apply sound judgment to assess and manage legal and regulatory risk, translating complexity into clear, practical guidance that supports well-controlled growth in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.  

Job responsibilities

• Advise the business (Trading, Structuring and Sales) on structuring complex derivative transactions, JPM proprietary indices and bespoke structured products. This includes reviewing deal structures and documentation, identifying legal, regulatory and other implementation issues relevant to a transaction, and providing general legal support and advice. 
• Work closely with the business from inception to the close of transactions, including drafting and negotiating  transaction documentation.
• Proactively identify, assess, and support the management of legal, regulatory, and reputational risks affecting the Equities business, including monitoring relevant legal developments, supporting governance forums, and escalating issues appropriately.
• Collaborate effectively across Legal, business, Compliance and other risk and control functions, and manage external counsel where appropriate to deliver coordinated and efficient outcomes.
• Drive process, documentation and efficiency improvements across the various areas of coverage, with a focus on legal operational excellence and scalable ways of working.

Required qualifications, skills and capabilities   

• Qualified lawyer with 3+ years’ post-qualification experience gained in a leading law firm and/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 businesses (e.g. MIFID II, EMIR, UK and EU BMR)
• Strong analytical and risk management skills as well as excellent drafting skills and a solution-oriented approach
• Highly developed organisational, analytical and time management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Strong collaboration and communication skills and an ability to work both independently and as part of a team