Legal Counsel - Regulatory

At a glance

The Legal Counsel - Regulatory is positioned in the Legal department and has a reporting line to the Head of Legal UK Corporate Affairs & Governance.

The UK Legal Department provides legal support to businesses, support functions and senior management within ABN AMRO UK Group and, in doing so, supports the effective management and control of legal risks taking into account the objectives of the UK Group, relevant commercial issues and in proportion to the risks and value of the UK Group.

The Legal Department supports ABN AMRO and its businesses in realising their objectives taking into due consideration the legal risks. Legal is the exclusive and independent provider of legal services for ABN AMRO and part of the 2nd Line of Defence. The Legal Mandate requires that the business involves Legal in product development; standard legal documentation; transactions where non-standard legal documentation is used, and in certain cases where standard documentation is used; corporate matters; incidents, claim handling and litigation; and engaging external legal counsel.

Your job

The role is responsible for advising the businesses (which in the UK includes transactional banking, clearing, markets, leasing, commercial finance and coverage) and support functions (technology & operations, finance, risk, HR and compliance) on a wide range of primarily regulatory issues. In addition to advising on existing and new products, senior legal counsel will assist the Head of Legal UK Corporate Affairs & Governance to identify, monitor and mitigate legal risks.

To provide legal advice to proactively support the UK businesses and support functions in realising their plans, whilst contributing to the management of legal and reputational risk.

Guidance and specialised legal advice

• Follows future developments influencing the position of the bank and the financial industry. Analyses legal risks and commercial interests in context and proposes solutions/approaches to meet the business needs and opportunities. Steers solutions for the business by analysing the context, facts and information given. Gives verbal or written practical, independent, solution-driven legal advice in transactions and projects and assists with the implementation when agreed that will help the client to make a commercial decision. Handles incidents, claims and litigation. Makes sure that the client relationships and the quality of the legal advice remain good in all circumstances. Escalates issues to the UKHead of Legal UK Corporate Affairs & Governance and/or business (management) (as appropriate).

Network and lobby

• Actively develops and expands a network of contacts
• in and outside the bank to influence decisions and build up trusted relationships. Participates on behalf of the bank in lobbying and consultations related to new laws and regulations and in professional dialogue with internal and external stakeholders.

Training and knowledge

• Gives internal presentations/training to businesses and support functions on specific legal topics to increase legal risk awareness and knowledge. Internally and externally acts as point of contact for their field of specialism.

Project/File/Transaction Management

• Deals with legal issues in a broad context (legal complexity in combination with: large files/projects/transactions, with high profile, strategic impact, risk and reputation exposure, secrecy and sensitivity, time constraints, number of internal and external stakeholders/parties involved, including matters with a cross-border dimension). Maintains contact with parties involved and seeks guidance when necessary. Manages expectations of clients and provides after sales/feedback.

Management of external lawyers

• Engages external lawyers/law firms for incidents, claims, litigation and specific legal questions. Manages the strategy, arguments and confers closely about content.

Advice and coordination in projects

• Coordinates multidisciplinary (project) teams within business line(s), within the organisation and/or internationally. Manages deadlines, informs the project team/leader/client or next level management about progress, next steps, issues, impact, timelines and deals with problems to optimise the continuity.

Policies, guidelines and standards

• Prevents legal risk for the bank/business by drafting policies, guidelines and standards. Translates laws and regulations to business requirements, policies and procedures.

Your working environment

At ABN AMRO we have a clear purpose: Banking for better, for generations to come . The shift towards sustainability is one of the most important challenges of our time. Supporting our clients at times that matter has always been our role and our responsibility. Together, we aim high and work towards lasting relationships that are relevant and responsible, both now and in the future. We want to be the bank that leads the way.

ABN AMRO is an enterprising bank with a primary focus on Northwest Europe. We serve clients in the retail, private banking and corporate banking sectors. We are also present internationally in a number of specialist activities, such as Corporate and Commercial Banking and Clearing.

ABN AMRO UK , part of our Corporate Banking network, has established positions in Corporate & Institutional Clients, Financing Solutions (Project and Leveraged Finance), Markets (Capital Markets, Sales & Trading), Transaction Banking and Clearing.

Our business lines are supported by a number of functions such as Risk, Compliance, Legal, IT, Finance (including Tax), Business Management and Human Resources. Our strategy requires a culture of working together and permanent learning from each other; it’s for this reason our core values of care courage and collaboration are at the heart and centre of everything we do.

Equal opportunities for all

The success of our organisation depends on the quality of our people and the ideas that they have. Truly surprising insights and innovative solutions for our clients result from an interplay of cultures, knowledge and experience. Diversity is therefore extremely important to our organisation. To ensure that everyone at ABN AMRO can develop their talents, we encourage an inclusive culture in which all colleagues feel engaged and appreciated.

Your profile

• Common law qualified lawyer.
• Experience gained at a major national or internationally recognised law firm, plus in-house legal experience with a financial institution strongly preferred.
• Strong research, writing and drafting skills. Ability to prepare clear, concise and complete documents, reports, correspondence and other communications on legal issues.
• Strong communication skills, both written and oral.
• Proven experience in balancing legal risks with commercial needs.
• Ability to manage competing priorities effectively.
• Ability to analyse the impact of the law on new products and services.
• Proactive and solutions driven team player who is at ease liaising with internal stakeholders of varying seniority.
• Excellent negotiation skills and the ability to drive results in a collaborative environment.
• Attention to detail and excellent legal research and analysis skills, with demonstrable ability to apply these skills to produce pragmatic solutions.
• Specialised knowledge of financial services regulatory law (both UK and assimilated EU law) and a good understanding of a range of topics including FSMA, regulated activities and the regulatory perimeter, investment services, payment services, the PRA Rulebook and FCA Handbook, financial crime and AML.

What we offer

Joining ABN AMRO means working on meaningful projects. Projects that have an impact on our clients. Working with a wide range of people with different backgrounds, opinions and ideas. In the UK, in the Netherlands or elsewhere in our international network. We offer an environment where you will be challenged on a daily basis - professionally as well as on a personal level - so that you can grow to become the professional you want to be.

Interested?

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