Description:
Role Summary:Mizuho Americas is seeking an experienced Legal Counsel to support its equity sales and trading platform, with a focus on equity finance (margin lending, equity repo, securities lending, delta-one swaps). This role works closely with front‑office, risk, and operations partners to manage legal and regulatory risk, negotiate complex trading documentation, and support a broad range of equity and equity‑linked products in a fast‑paced markets environment.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide legal coverage for the structured equity finance business.
- Support LP fund financing, full-recourse margin lending, equity repo (bi-lateral and tri-party), securities lending and delta-one equity swaps.
- Provide legal guidance on margin lending regulations, FINRA, Regulation T, and Regulation U compliance.
- Provide guidance on Dodd-Frank and rules applicable to Security-Based Swaps (SBS) and Security-Based Swap Dealers (SBSD).
- Draft and negotiate credit agreements, loan agreements and related fund financing and margin lending documentation.
- Draft and negotiate securities financing documentation, including MRAs and MSLAs and equity swap MCAs; maintain and enhance standard documentation templates.
- Partner closely with Credit, Market Risk, Collateral Management, Operations, and other internal stakeholders to address legal, operational and risk matters.
Qualifications:
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited U.S. law school.
- Member in good standing of the New York State Bar.
- 10+ years of relevant legal experience within a financial institution or top‑tier law firm.
- Proven ability to manage multiple complex matters and tight deadlines in a trading‑floor environment.
- Proactive, resourceful, and able to operate independently while exercising sound judgment.
- Detail‑oriented, collaborative team player with strong interpersonal skills.
- Excellent written, verbal, organizational, and presentation skills.
- Demonstrated professionalism and strong work ethic.
