Corporate and Equity Derivates Attorney

About the role

A leading global financial institution is seeking an experienced attorney to join its Legal Department as Director, Corporate & Equity Derivatives Counsel. This role will serve as a trusted legal advisor supporting the bank's corporate and equity derivatives businesses, partnering closely with trading, structuring, sales, risk, compliance, and senior management teams. The successful candidate will provide strategic legal guidance on a wide range of sophisticated derivatives transactions, structured products, and capital markets activities while helping manage legal, regulatory, and reputational risk across the business. This is an excellent opportunity for a highly motivated attorney looking to work on complex and innovative transactions within a dynamic, fast-paced financial institution.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal support for corporate and equity derivatives products, including swaps, options, forwards, convertible hedging transactions, structured equity products, and other bespoke derivatives.
• Advise trading, sales, structuring, and investment banking teams on the legal and regulatory aspects of complex transactions.
• Draft, negotiate, and interpret ISDA Master Agreements, Credit Support Annexes, confirmations, and related trading documentation.
• Support equity-linked financing transactions, corporate hedging strategies, and derivatives associated with capital markets and M&A transactions.
• Counsel business stakeholders regarding securities laws, banking regulations, derivatives regulations, and market developments.
• Analyze and advise on regulatory requirements impacting derivatives activities, including Dodd-Frank, SEC, CFTC, Federal Reserve, and other applicable regulations.
• Coordinate with compliance, risk management, operations, and control functions to identify and mitigate legal and regulatory risks.
• Assist with the development and implementation of new products and trading initiatives.
• Manage external counsel and coordinate legal support across global jurisdictions as needed.
• Participate in internal committees and strategic initiatives involving derivatives, structured products, and regulatory change management.
• Provide practical, business-oriented legal advice to senior stakeholders and executive management.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school and active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar.
• 8+ years of relevant legal experience gained at a top-tier law firm and/or a major financial institution.
• Significant experience advising on corporate and equity derivatives transactions.
• Strong understanding of ISDA documentation and derivatives market practices.
• Experience with securities laws and regulations applicable to equity-linked products and structured transactions.
• Familiarity with derivatives regulations, including Dodd-Frank, SEC, and CFTC frameworks.
• Ability to manage complex legal issues while balancing commercial objectives and risk considerations.
• Strong drafting, negotiation, and analytical skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting equity capital markets, structured products, or prime brokerage businesses.
• Knowledge of cross-border derivatives transactions and international regulatory regimes.
• Exposure to transactions involving convertible securities, corporate finance, or merger-related hedging strategies.