Director, Head of Structured Products Legal, Americas

Purpose of the role

To ensure that the activities of the business units in the Markets division are conducted in compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, and to help the bank manage legal risk associated with these activities. 

Accountabilities

• Development and implementation of best practice legal strategies to manage compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations.
• Legal advice and support to the business units in the Markets division on matters arising from the relevant products/services provided by the Markets division  .
• Subject matter support in the Legal department’s representation of the bank in legal proceedings related to the Markets business units such as litigation, arbitration, and regulatory investigations.
• Creation and review of legal documents for the business units in the Markets division to ensure the bank’s compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations. Maintaining and updating template legal documentation for the Markets division.
• Legal research and analysis to stay up to date on changes in applicable laws, rules and regulations that may impact the activities of the bank's Markets business units   .
• Developing and delivering training programmes to educate employees on legal and regulatory requirements related to the activities of the Markets business units   .
• Pro-active identification, communication, and provision of legal advice on applicable laws, rules and regulations (LRRs). Keeping up to date with regards to changes to LRRs in the relevant coverage area. Ensuring that LRRs are effectively allocated to, and adequately reflected within, the relevant policies, standards and controls.

Director Expectations

• To manage a business function, providing significant input to function wide strategic initiatives. Contribute to and influence policy and procedures for the function and plan, manage and consult on multiple complex and critical strategic projects, which may be business wide..
• They manage the direction of a large team or sub-function, leading other people managers and embedding a performance culture aligned to the values of the business. Or for an individual contributor, they lead organisation wide projects and act as deep technical expert and thought leader, identifying new ways of working and collaborating cross functionally. They will train, guide and coach less experienced specialists and provide information affecting long term profits, organisational risks and strategic decisions..
• Provide expert advice to senior functional management and committees to influence decisions made outside of own function, offering significant input to function wide strategic initiatives.
• Manage, coordinate and enable resourcing, budgeting and policy creation for a significant sub-function.
• Escalates breaches of policies / procedure appropriately.
• Foster and guide compliance, ensure regulations are observed that relevant processes in place to facilitate adherence.
• Focus on the external environment, regulators, or advocacy groups to both monitor and influence on behalf of Barclays, when appropriate.
• Demonstrate extensive knowledge of how the function integrates with the business division / Group to achieve the overall business objectives.
• Maintain broad and comprehensive knowledge of industry theories and practices within own discipline alongside up-to-date relevant sector / functional knowledge, and insight into external market developments / initiatives.
• Use interpretative thinking and advanced analytical skills to solve problems and design solutions in often complex/ sensitive situations.
• Exercise management authority to make significant decisions and certain strategic decisions or recommendations within own area.
• Negotiate with and influence stakeholders at a senior level both internally and externally.
• Act as principal contact point for key clients and counterparts in other functions/ businesses divisions.
• Mandated as a spokesperson for the function and business division.

All Senior Leaders are expected to demonstrate a clear set of leadership behaviours to create an environment for colleagues to thrive and deliver to a consistently excellent standard. The four LEAD behaviours are: L – Listen and be authentic, E – Energise and inspire, A – Align across the enterprise, D – Develop others.

All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship – our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right. They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset – to Empower, Challenge and Drive – the operating manual for how we behave.

We have an excellent opportunity for a Director, Head of Structured Products Legal, Americas to join the Global Capital Markets Legal Team. This is a permanent role, based in New York.

As Director, Head of Structured Products Legal, Americas, you will lead the legal team supporting Barclays’ structured products business across the U.S. and the wider Americas region. You will serve as the senior legal partner to the business and key control functions, advising on the development, documentation, execution and distribution of structured notes and other structured products across asset classes and distribution channels. The ideal candidate will bring deep structured products expertise and may also have equity derivatives experience to support a broader understanding of equity-linked structured products.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of lawyers and legal professionals supporting structured products insurances across the Americas, including SEC-registered, Rule 144A, Regulation S and other exempt offerings

• Advise on the development, issuance, disclosure, execution and distribution of structured notes and other structured products, including transactions involving notes linked to equities, rates, commodities, currencies, funds, indices or baskets

• Partner closely with senior business personnel and control functions to manage the execution of a large volume of transactions efficiently and consistently, including using automated documentation solutions, while maintaining robust governance and quality control processes

• Review, draft and negotiate key transaction and program documentation, including offering documents, marketing materials and distribution agreements

• Provide legal advice on applicable laws, rules and regulations, including U.S. securities laws, broker-dealer requirements, disclosure standards and distribution-related legal obligations

• Partner with Sales, Structuring, Trading, Compliance, Risk, Tax, Operations and other stakeholders to support efficient execution and strong governance

• Maintain and improve legal templates, internal guidance and execution processes

• Monitor legal and regulatory developments affecting structured products and advise on their impact on the business

• Contribute to strategic initiatives, policy and procedure development, governance forums and new activity processes relevant to the structured products business, while fostering a performance culture aligned to Barclays values and control expectations

Role qualifications

• A minimum of 10 years of post-J.D. (or equivalent) experience in structured products or related capital markets legal work at a leading law firm and/or an in-house legal department at a financial institution

• Deep knowledge of U.S. securities laws, disclosure standards, broker-dealer regulation and related legal frameworks relevant to structured products

• Experience with and knowledge of equity derivatives products and related transaction documentation for OTC equity derivatives (including the ISDA Equity Definitions) preferred

• Proven ability to advise on complex transactions, exercise sound judgment and balance commercial objectives with legal, regulatory and reputational risk considerations

• Strong people-management experience, with a proven ability to lead, develop and motivate teams of lawyers and legal professionals while maintaining high standards of execution and risk management

• Qualified lawyer admitted in good standing in New York

Salary / Rate Minimum: $270,000

Salary / Rate Maximum: $330,000

The minimum and maximum salary/rate information above include only base salary or base hourly rate. It does not include any another type of compensation or benefits that may be available.