Legal Counsel (Derivatives/Trading)

Our purpose is to give everyone real confidence to put their money to work. With a heritage dating back more than 175 years, we have a long history of innovation in savings and investments, combining asset management and insurance expertise to offer a wide range of solutions. 

Our two distinct operating segments, Asset Management and Life, work together to provide access to balanced, long-term investment and savings solutions.

Through telling it like it is, owning it now, and moving it forward together with care and integrity; we are creating an exceptional place to work for exceptional talent.

We will consider flexible working arrangements for any of our roles and also offer work place accommodations to ensure you have what you need to effectively deliver in your role.

We are recruiting a derivatives/trading lawyer to join as a permanent member of the Asset Management Legal team within M&G.

Exciting opportunity to join a dynamic in-house legal team which has a mixture of funds and trading legal specialists. The role will offer suitable candidates the opportunity to grow and develop their full range of buy-side asset management skills as a fully embedded member of the Legal team.

Key Responsibilities

The core responsibility of the role will be to negotiate and deliver trading documentation but the successful candidate will also work closely with product and investment teams as part of the design and structuring of new product offering, providing strategic legal advice and pragmatic trading solutions to help deliver the trading investment strategy for clients.

The Role

The role encompasses trading strategy design and implementation, drafting and negotiating derivatives trading documentation (ISDAs, GMRAs, Stock Lending Agreements, Master Netting Agreements and Broker Terms) and related documentation, advising on assisting with implementation of regulatory change and supporting the company’s strategic projects.

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

• 5+ years PQE working in the derivatives/trading team of a law firm and/or in-house team with demonstrable experience drafting and negotiating derivatives trading documentation to support trading strategies for private assets, liquid and illiquid funds

• Buy-side experience of guiding and advising the business on appropriate trading strategies, eligible instruments and managing sell-side counterparty expectations

• An understanding of the asset management business/value chain and the relevant regulatory framework applicable to asset managers (in particular MiFID II, EMIR and SFTR)
• Ability to build and develop relationships with key internal stakeholders
• Proficiency in English essential (contract negotiation level)

Preferred/Desirable:

• Experience in cross-border derivatives transactions

• An understanding of fund structures and fund documentation, preferably across various jurisdictions (specifically UK, Luxembourg and Ireland), desirable but not essential

• Experience working with and managing external counsel in a multi-jurisdictional context

Qualifications

Essential

• Qualified lawyer
• Strong academic background

Preferred/Desirable

• Qualification in a common law jurisdiction

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Strong drafting and analytical skills and excellent attention to detail, sound judgement and is decisive
• A willingness to challenge/debate and offer own views
• Tenacious, willing to go beyond the job description
• Transparent and a good communicator. Works most effectively when collaborating within the team and across other functions
• Resilience and strength of character that enables effective communication across all levels of the organisation
• Strong organisational skills
• Flexible with the ability to adapt to changing priorities and fluid deadlines.

Experience Level: Manager/Expert

Recruiter: Helen Simons

What we offer:

At M&G, we’re committed to helping you thrive and supporting your wellbeing, both at work and beyond. Our benefits are designed to help you balance your professional and personal life, while planning confidently for your future. Our UK benefits include:

• As a savings and Investments firm we are proud to offer a valuable pension scheme of 18%, with 13% made up of Employer Contributions and 5% Employee Contributions. We also offer Share Save and our Share Incentive Plan, together with access to financial wellbeing and support services - to help give you real confidence to put your money to work.

• Enjoy 38 days annual leave including bank holidays, with the opportunity to purchase up to 5 extra days and additional flexibility through our Time Off When You Need It policy – to balance your work and personal commitments.  

• Our market leading Inspiring Families policy includes comprehensive support and paid parental leave covering maternity, adoption, surrogacy, and paternity leave - as supporting families is a core aspect of our inclusive culture.

• Health & Protection cover including Private Healthcare, Critical Illness cover and Life Assurance for you, with family options - for peace of mind.

To explore more about life at M&G and our full benefits offering, visit Life at M&G

We have a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture at M&G, underpinned by our policies and our employee-led networks who provide networking opportunities, advice and support for the diverse communities our colleagues represent. Regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, nationality, disability or long term condition, we are looking to attract, promote and retain exceptional people. We also welcome those who take part in military service and those returning from career breaks.

M&G is also proud to be a Disability Confident Leader, and we welcome applications from candidates with long-term health conditions, disabilities, or neuro-divergent conditions. 

If you need assistance or an alternative means of applying for a role due to a disability or additional need, please let us know by contacting us at: [email protected]