Description:

As part of the An Investment Bank & Financial Services Company Global Wealth (“CGW”) Legal department, the Senior Counsel will primarily be engaged in providing broad-based advice on various issues and projects, primarily related to the margin and securities-backed product, of the North America (“NAM”) and Latin America (“LatAm”) Lending business (“Lending”) of CGW for transactions that are booked out of An Investment Bank & Financial Services Company, N.A. in New York. This role will be integral to the global Banking & Lending Legal team, involving a wide range of transactional work in connection with lending to individuals and various entity types across Lending and focused business-critical initiatives.

The role will provide exposure to a wide range of legal work across a broad spectrum of products and services and will provide a unique opportunity to obtain insight into both CGW and the priorities and expectation of the business. The role requires regular interaction with CGW Legal and other functional colleagues (and external counsel as required) to ensure adequate coordination on practices and procedures from a legal and regulatory perspective.

Reporting directly to the Legal Senior Group Manager for CGW Banking & Lending in the Americas, the Senior Counsel will be required to be closely aligned, and collaborate, with the Business and with key areas across An Investment Bank & Financial Services Company, including other Legal areas, Compliance/ICRM and Risk.

Responsibilities:

Support the Lending business by drafting and overseeing the maintenance of credit documentation as well as draft and negotiate transaction specific loan agreements, principally for the margin and securities-backed lending product;
Assist in the preparation of legal opinions on capacity and authority and jurisdictional perfection requirements for lending transactions;
Oversee transactions that are documented by external counsel from inception to completion, addressing key legal issues, participating in the negotiation of core documentation, and liaising with external counsel and transactors to ensure efficient and structured process;
Establish, both directly and with outside counsel where appropriate, a well-founded basis for the institution to access collateral even in the event of a client's insolvency and guide the Lending business on the impacts of Basel III (and IV);
Providing general support to business projects, including related to regulatory and cross-border matters;
Instructing and managing external counsel in relation to various matters, including those set out above;
Appropriately assess risk when business decisions are made, demonstrating particular consideration for the firm's reputation and safeguarding Citigroup, its clients and assets, by driving compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, adhering to policy; and
Apply sound ethical judgment regarding personal behavior, conduct and business practices, and escalating, managing and reporting control issues with transparency, as well as effectively supervise the activity of others and create accountability with those who fail to maintain these standards.

Qualifications:

5+ years of relevant financial services and lending experience
Knowledge of international laws, regulations and practices while staying abreast of regulatory and legal environment, internal policies and industry trends that impact the business
Experience with complex deals, demonstrated ability to analyze issues and develop legal solutions
Effective communication and negotiation skills and ability to build and maintain trusted relationships
Excellent interpersonal, analytical, organizational and relationship management skills
Proven ability to apply sound judgement while managing assignments in a demanding, fast-paced environment and to view the larger picture of the product process and associated risks
Proven ability to apply the care and exactness required in internal and client-facing documentation, identify legal and franchise risk, and to escalate issues on an appropriate basis
Bar license in good standing to practice law

Education:
Juris Doctorate or equivalent law degree