Legal Counsel – Trade Finance Lawyer

Excited to grow your career?

BBVA is a global company with more than 160 years of history that operates in more than 25 countries where we serve more than 80 million customers. We are more than 121,000 professionals working in multidisciplinary teams with profiles as diverse as financiers, legal experts, data scientists, developers, engineers and designers.

BBVA is growing its Corporate and Investment Bank (CIB) in London. We are hiring an excellent and motivated trade finance lawyer to join our dynamic and growing UK legal team. Working alongside two other full-time trade finance lawyers in London, this role offers exposure to a broad range of banking and finance products and related areas, providing a strong platform for professional development and career growth within a leading and growing international bank. 

You will be a key legal advisor to the global trade finance and distribution businesses, supporting the structuring, origination, execution and distribution of a broad range of trade finance transactions (including bilateral and syndicated facilities, security, guarantees, trade instrument issuance, supply chain finance, receivables discounting, cash products and distribution of risk through insurance and participation agreements). This role will suit a lawyer with a practical, solution-oriented and adaptable mindset who thrives in a fast-paced, deal-driven environment. 

About the job:

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Advising, drafting and reviewing a wide range of products and documentation, primarily focussed on trade finance, including bilateral and syndicated facilities, security, guarantees, trade instrument issuance, supply chain finance, receivables discounting, cash products and distribution of risk through insurance and participation agreements.

• Taking responsibility for managing discrete matters and transactions alone, in addition to providing support to more senior members of the team.

• Providing English law advice to the Corporate and Investment Banking division of the Bank, both locally, to the head office and to international branches. This involves working directly with business units and other legal teams and functions within the Bank,

• Analysing and advising on compliance with applicable law and regulation and keeping abreast of legislative changes that may affect the Bank. 

• Advising on and assisting with the creation of and updates to internal legal policies and managing legal risk within the Bank. 

• Instructing and managing external counsel. 

• Supporting the legal team as required on other finance matters and certain global markets matters.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Qualified solicitor in England and Wales.

• Would suit candidates with three plus years post-qualification experience (PQE) working in a top law firm or in-house at a bank; additionally, for those at a law firm prior experience in an in-house legal department is helpful but not a prerequisite.

SKILLS/COMPETENCIES/EXPERIENCE/ PROFICIENCIES REQUIRED

• A background in general banking and finance is required. Prior experience of trade finance is helpful but not required - however, the candidate must be enthusiastic and keen to learn.

• Robust and thorough approach to drafting and reviewing of documentation.

• Strong ability to work effectively in multi-cultural, geographically dispersed, virtual teams.

• Ability to work well and efficiently under pressure - working outside core office hours in order to meet deadlines, if required.

• Ability to manage a high workload consisting of a wide range of multiple competing tasks for various business areas.

• Good understanding of the regulatory aspects of banking and finance.

• Spanish language skills are helpful but not essential.

ADDITIONAL ESSENTIAL ATTRIBUTES

• A responsible, professional and reliable team player.

• An understanding of the necessity to provide a high standard of customer service to clients.

• A desire to work as a part of a team to take on new challenges and help develop and support new business areas for CIB.

Skills: