Senior Legal Counsel - International Trade Finance
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Purpose of the Role:
Experienced Legal Counsel specializing in Global Trade activities, with a focus on commodities Trade Finance transactions, export finance, and corporate trade finance.
This role requires expert knowledge of applicable laws and regulations, robust contract and risk management skills, and the ability to provide strategic legal counsel to cross-functional teams in a dynamic, multinational environment.
What You Will Be Doing:
- Serve as a key member of the legal team responsible for trade finance transactions, including: (i) commodities trade finance (including repo transactions), (ii) export finance, (iii) discounting (including promissory notes and drafts), and (iv) corporate trade finance (including issuance/confirmation of guarantees, letters of credit, SBLCs, and related instruments).
- Act as the specialist lawyer for Trade Finance transactions across all relevant stages, structuring, negotiation, and execution—providing expert legal counsel and risk assessment throughout the transaction lifecycle.
- Core duties include (but are not limited to): • Advise, draft, review, and negotiate documentation to align with legal, regulatory, and commercial objectives • Liaise with external counsel as required to support complex transactions • Monitor legal, regulatory developments and market trends impacting trade finance • Provide training and guidance to frontline and support teams (front office bankers, agency, middle office, back/middle offices, syndication, innovation trade finance, and related departments) on applicable trade finance legal and regulatory considerations • Contribute legal input internally to credit and new product committees, risk assessment processes, and policy development • Coordinate with other legal teams, foreign branches, compliance, tax, middle office, and risk management to ensure integrated risk control and governance
Your Experiences & Skills:
- English-qualified lawyer with a minimum of 5 years' post-qualification experience (PQE).
- Exceptional academic credentials complemented by strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
- Proven experience in trade financing, obtained at a top-tier city law firm, with potential alignment to in-house practice.
- Experience across trade finance activities is advantageous but not mandatory; willingness to develop breadth of expertise is desired.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues and key stakeholders; strong interpersonal and relationship-management skills.
- Aptitude for prioritisation, time management, and working under pressure in a dynamic environment.
- Team-oriented with flexibility to respond to client demands while adhering to firm policies, procedures, and governance standards.
- Proven ability to identify, assess, and manage legal risks, with escalation where appropriate.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, including client management and the ability to convey complex legal concepts clearly.