Senior Legal Counsel – Derivatives & Structured Finance

Senior Legal Counsel – Derivatives & Structured Finance at MUFG Bank

MUFG Bank, Ltd. is seeking an experienced senior legal counsel to lead its derivatives and structured finance legal advisory function at the Marunouchi headquarters. This role sits within the Legal & Compliance Division and provides critical legal support to MUFG's global markets and structured finance businesses.

About the Role

You will be the senior legal adviser for MUFG's derivatives trading, securitisation, and structured finance transactions. This includes negotiating ISDA Master Agreements and Credit Support Annexes, advising on the Act on Securitisation of Assets (資産流動化法 / SPC Act), and ensuring compliance with the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (金融商品取引法 / FIEA) and associated cabinet orders and FSA guidelines.

The position requires deep expertise in Japanese security interests under the Civil Code (民法), including jōto tanpo (譲渡担保 / security by way of assignment) and pledge arrangements. You will work closely with the firm's treasury, risk management, and front-office teams in the Marunouchi financial district.

Focus Areas

• ISDA documentation and derivatives regulatory compliance
• Securitisation under the SPC Act (資産流動化法) and trust structures
• Structured lending and receivables finance
• FIEA (金融商品取引法) compliance for OTC derivatives
• Collateral management and netting enforceability under Japanese law

• Lead legal advisory for derivatives and structured finance transactions
• Negotiate ISDA Master Agreements, CSAs, and GMRAs with counterparties
• Advise on securitisation structures and SPC/trust arrangements
• Ensure FIEA and FSA compliance for new derivative products
• Provide legal opinions on netting, set-off, and collateral enforceability
• Manage external counsel and oversee legal budgets for complex transactions
• Train and mentor junior legal counsel within the division

• Registered bengoshi (弁護士) with the JFBA (日本弁護士連合会)
• 8-15 years of experience in derivatives, structured finance, or capital markets law
• Expert-level knowledge of ISDA documentation and derivatives regulation
• Deep understanding of FIEA (金融商品取引法), the SPC Act (資産流動化法), and the Civil Code (民法)
• Experience with securitisation structures including tokutei mokuteki kaisha (TMK/特定目的会社)
• Fluent English for negotiation with international counterparties
• Prior experience at a major law firm or financial institution preferred