Legal counsel Transaction Banking

Job description / Role

- To provide legal support to the Transaction Banking ("TB"), Corporate & Institutional Clients ("C&IC") and Corporate Finance ("CF") segments of the Bank in the Middle East, Pakistan and North Africa.
- The role will cover MENAP, with a principal focus on Transaction Banking. Transaction Banking consists of trade finance, cash and liquidity management, channel and functionality, securities services, global custody, securities lending, agency and trust. Legal support on a product, transactional and project basis will cover the Transaction Banking business, the Corporate Finance business and the Corporate and Institutional Segment.
- To assist the Bank in procuring that appropriate forms of legal and operational documents are used for dealings with third parties which contain adequate protections and remedies to address credit and event risk, and to help determine that transactions with third parties are valid and enforceable under the laws of all relevant jurisdictions.
- To assist in the negotiation and completion of contractual documentation with customers and counterparties and the continual management of underlying facilities upon completion.
- To control the quality and cost of legal services provided by external law firms and overseas counsel (as appropriate).

Key Roles and Responsibilities

Key Responsiblities
- Engaged review and development of a technical and practical understanding of the Transaction Banking ("TB") products and their program guides (for trade finance, cash and securities services products) and relevant country guides and keeping the MENAP legal team up to date with Global Transaction Banking initiatives, targets and focus areas; undertaking amendments where required to TB country guides; and proactively offering constructive advice and guidance to the MENAP legal team, Global legal team and all relevant stakeholders in writing or verbally on Transaction Banking products and the appropriate processes and procedures for offering, delivering and providing such products in MENAP;
- Proactive support and guidance to the Bank's business teams, MENAP legal and compliance team colleagues, TB product, TB credit, Trade Ops, Op Risk and TMU (transaction management unit) on documentary, commodity or receivables trade finance, cash management and channels functionality; custody arrangements, securities lending, trust and agency arrangements and internal processes where such technical support is required to facilitate the documentation and closure of a Transaction Banking deal, facility, service offering or project or the management and operation of the product with regard to legal risk mitigation;
- Reviewing standard-form TB product documentation and ensure that it remains appropriate in the light of all country legal and regulatory developments and all internal policy requirements and advising relevant internal stakeholders on amendments.
- Providing proactive and constructive guidance to the Transaction Banking business and internal clients/stakeholders, including the various documentation units, on acceptable amendments to approved standard form documentation and review and approve any non-standard documents or material departures from approved standard form documentation in particular cases.
- Where standard form documentation does not exist or is not considered appropriate, draft and negotiate documentation on an ad-hoc basis.

Requirements

- Educational background to degree level/post-graduate & professional studies as necessary to fulfill this role
- An understanding of the key features of Middle East relevant laws and regulations would be useful but is not essential.
- Initiative; self-aware; accountable; team player; adaptable; robust to challenge but welcomes the development of technical and commercial knowledge and experience; effective and concise written and verbal communicator; confident working and able to work independently, tenacious and resilient.
- Personal authority and integrity
- An inquisitive approach to practices, procedures and specific transactions

Commonwealth or Middle East qualified lawyer, with technical strength in any 3 of the following areas:
- Documentary trade finance
- Securities, global custody;
- Cash and liquidity management;
- Electronic payment platforms;
- Commodity and receivables finance; and
- General finance, banking and lending.

Closing Dates
The closing date for applications is 24/05/2015. Please note all closing dates are given in Hong Kong time (GMT + 8 hours). We aim to respond to successful applicants within four weeks and will keep a record or your application in our database so that we can contact you when suitable vacancies arise in future.

Diversity and Inclusion
Standard Chartered is committed to diversity and inclusion. We believe that a work environment which embraces diversity will enable us to get the best out of the broadest spectrum of people to sustain strong business performance and competitive advantage. By building an inclusive culture, each employee can develop a sense of belonging, and have the opportunity to maximise their personal potential.

About the Company

Standard Chartered Bank started in 1958 in UAE with its first branch in Sharjah. The Group’s business gradually increased in Dubai with the opening of several branches and today, Dubai is the administrative hub of the Middle East and South Asia Region. In its 43rd year, the Bank enjoys the position of having the most extensive branch network among foreign international banks in UAE with 10 branches emirate-wide.

Standard Chartered is an international bank, focused on the established and emerging markets of Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America with an extensive global network of more than 600 offices in over 50 countries. The three principal business groups are Global Markets, Personal Banking and Corporate and Institutional Banking.

In UAE, we are one of the leading banks, offering an extensive range of products and services for personal customers, local companies, multinational corporate and financial institutions.