Legal Counsel - IPOE Consulting

Legal Counsel – International Bank

Location: London

Contract: 15-month Fixed-Term Contract (Maternity Cover)

Salary: Up to £100,000 + benefits

The Opportunity

An international bank is seeking a commercially minded Legal Counsel to join its London Legal team on a 15-month fixed-term contract, providing maternity cover.

Working closely with the Head of Legal and Senior Legal Counsel, you will provide practical, commercially focused legal support across the London Branch, with a particular emphasis on Private Banking transactions, banking and finance documentation and wider legal and regulatory matters.

This is an excellent opportunity for a qualified solicitor with banking and finance experience to take on a varied in-house role, working closely with stakeholders across multiple business areas.

Key Responsibilities

Private Banking & Legal Transactions

1. Review, draft and negotiate bilateral facility and security documentation for Private Banking transactions, including real estate finance, Lombard lending, guarantees and related ancillary documents.
2. Prepare and review facility letters, amendments, debentures, legal charges, share charges and personal and corporate guarantees.
3. Review transaction approvals, credit conditions and legal documentation to ensure alignment with approved terms and protection of the Bank's legal and security position.
4. Review existing facility and security documentation to assess validity, enforceability and compliance with relevant conditions, undertakings and covenants.
5. Manage external legal counsel relationships, including panel law firms, fee quotations and performance feedback.
6. Maintain transaction trackers, monitor deal progress and provide updates to internal stakeholders.
7. Ensure executed transaction documents are correctly recorded, lodged and retained.

General Legal Support

1. Provide practical, commercially focused legal advice across a broad range of legal, regulatory and operational matters.
2. Support business areas including Private Banking, Wealth Management, Investments, Credit, Treasury, Corporate & Investment Banking, Trade Finance, Operations, Compliance and HR.
3. Monitor new legislation and assess its potential impact on the Bank.
4. Draft and update internal legal policies, procedures and guidance.
5. Support legal training and provide updates to business colleagues.
6. Manage external legal invoices and maintain accurate legal management information.

Risk, Compliance & Audit

1. Identify and escalate potential legal risks, control weaknesses and process gaps.
2. Support the implementation of remedial actions and improvements to legal processes and procedures.
3. Assist with internal audit requirements and ensure corrective actions are completed promptly.
4. Promote consistent adherence to the Bank's internal policies, procedures and service standards.

Requirements

1. Practising solicitor with a minimum of 3 years' PQE.
2. Experience in banking, finance, real estate finance or private banking transactions.
3. Strong knowledge of facility agreements, security documentation, guarantees, conditions precedent and loan lifecycle amendments.
4. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
5. Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to work effectively with legal, credit, business, operations and compliance teams.
6. Commercially aware, proactive and solutions-focused, with sound judgement and the ability to manage competing priorities.
7. Highly organised, detail-oriented and comfortable working in a fast-paced banking environment.

What's on Offer?

1. Salary of up to £100,000.
2. Competitive benefits package.
3. Opportunity to join an established international banking environment.
4. Broad exposure to Private Banking and wider banking and finance matters.
5. A varied in-house legal role working closely with senior stakeholders.

Interested?

If you are a banking and finance solicitor looking for your next in-house opportunity, I would be keen to hear from you.

Please get in touch for a confidential discussion or submit your CV to find out more.