Lead Counsel - Product (Mergers & Acquisitions Advisory Legal)

Job Title: Lead Counsel - Product - Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) Advisory Legal

Are you looking for a career move that will put you at the heart of a global financial institution? By Joining Citi, you will become part of a global organisation whose mission is to serve as a trusted partner to our clients by responsibly providing financial services that enable growth and economic progress.

Team/Role Overview

Legal counsel to the Investment banking / M&A advisory business in Europe, the UK, Middle East and Africa.  The successful candidate will be responsible for delivering legally and commercially sound advice to the investment bank in relation to its advisory work on M&A transactions. In addition, the role involves working with others to ensure that the Investment Bank’s policies, practices, procedures and precedent documents are up to date and compliant with latest developments in case law and legislation. 

The role is in Citi’s M&A Advisory Legal team which is part of the broader Investment Banking Legal group (which belongs to Banking & International Legal).  Investment Banking Legal provides legal coverage and support globally for Citi’s Investment Banking and M&A advisory teams; the Equity Capital Markets business and the Debt Capital Markets Financing business. The role will report directly to the Global Head of M&A Advisory Legal & Conflicts.

What you’ll do

The primary role of the successful candidate will be to liaise directly with the  investment banking professionals in Europe, the UK, Middle East and Africa to understand the nature and structure of the M&A transactions on which Citi is advising and to accurately identify, assess and escalate or deal with in a timely manner the risks, exposures or liabilities that Citi may face in relation to such transactions. 

Candidate will be closely involved in reviewing and negotiating IB transaction documentation (engagement letters, documents and announcements naming Citi and other transaction related documentation), answering legal risk related questions in day-to-day deal processes and will be consulted at the pre-mandate stage in order to provide structuring advice and to anticipate potential legal hurdles.  Will also interact with outside legal counsel when Citi requires own advice during transaction execution.

M&A Advisory Legal (together with the rest of Investment Banking Legal) plays a prominent role in Citi’s control architecture and, working alongside Compliance, AML, the Control Group and other functions, is involved in ensuring compliance with Citi policies and procedures to protect, amongst other things, Citi’s reputation and franchise.  As such commercial awareness, a questioning mind, attention to detail and good judgement are essential skills.

The role will require contact with legal and compliance officers throughout the region, as well as with external legal counsel and clients of Citi.

The successful candidate would

• learn to manage legal risk in a large variety of scenarios typical of a top tier international investment bank;
• come into contact with internal processes and structures across the bank as well as dealing with other groups within legal;
• learn to escalate material issues to senior team members and then on to senior management within the bank;
• -have the opportunity to expand their product knowledge and experience of challenging jurisdictions.

The position offers an opportunity to work on a broad range of very high quality and challenging matters as part of the M&A Advisory Legal team, which is responsible for legal advice to the investment bank on all M&A advisory assignments. Generally, the role provides exposure to some of the largest, high profile, complex M&A transactions in Europe, the UK, Middle East and Africaas well as to the senior business professionals internally and leading legal industry players at other banks and at law firms.

What we’re looking for

• Strong academics, preferably with in-house experience gained either in a current position or through secondment
• Strong knowledge and/or understanding of the structure and execution of M&A transactions
• Experience with public M&A transactions
• Familiarity with investment bank documentation and market practice
• Excellent technical skills and analytical ability, attention to detail
• Excellent communication skills (both written and oral) and client and time management skills
• Ability to work to tight deadlines and without supervision where appropriate
• Qualified lawyer, either UK solicitor or barrister or equivalent in other jurisdictions if have practical knowledge of UK practice.
• Some relevant years of job experience in an international law firm, specific in corporate law / M&A department (candidates that have worked either on secondment or since leaving their law firm would also be desirable) or as in-house lawyer at a securities firm / investment bank
• Excellent business and legal risk judgment as well as commercial attitude
• High performance and motivation level
• Co-operative, team orientated style
• Individual leadership skills to take on supervisory role for junior team members
• Analytical approach to identifying, and practical approach to solving, issues
• Ability to present and speak in front of internal and external groups.

What we can offer you

We work hard to have a positive financial and social impact on the communities we serve. In turn, we put our employees first and provide the best-in-class benefits they need to be well, live well and save well.

By joining Citi, you will not only be part of a business casual workplace with a hybrid working model (up to 2 days working at home per week), but also receive a competitive base salary (which is annually reviewed), and enjoy a whole host of additional benefits such as:

• Generous holiday allowance starting at 27 days plus bank holidays; increasing with tenure
• A discretional annual performance related bonus
• Private medical insurance packages to suit your personal circumstances
• Employee Assistance Program
• Pension Plan
• Paid Parental Leave
• Special discounts for employees, family, and friends
• Access to an array of learning and development resources

Alongside these benefits Citi is committed to ensuring our workplace is where everyone feels comfortable coming to work as their whole self every day. We want the best talent around the world to be energized to join us, motivated to stay, and empowered to thrive.

Sounds like Citi has everything you need? Then apply to discover the true extent of your capabilities.

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Job Family Group:

Legal

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Job Family:

Legal - Product

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Time Type:

Full time

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Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

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