BNP Paribas is the European Union’s leading bank and a key player in international banking. We operate in 65 countries and employ 190,000 people, including nearly 145,000 in Europe. Our Group holds key positions in its three main fields of activity: Commercial, Personal Banking & Services; Investment & Protection Services; and Corporate & Institutional Banking (CIB) for corporate and institutional clients.

BNP Paribas’ CIB UK Legal department is a dynamic and integral part of the bank's activities, providing expert legal advice and support across a wide range of activities. Our teams work closely with the business on transactional, advisory and governance matters and on disputes. It is led by dedicated professionals who ensure that the bank's interests are protected while adhering to the highest legal, regulatory and ethical standards. The department is involved in various initiatives, including work experience programs, diversity and inclusion efforts, and legal technology advancements, reflecting its commitment to excellence, innovation and efficiency in the legal field.

Company purpose:

Our company purpose is to contribute to a responsible and sustainable economy by financing and advising clients according to the highest ethical standards.

Our employer promise is built around three pillars:

• Being a great place to work

• Committed to sustainability and having a positive impact

• Being dedicated to the development of our people

Business area

Securities Services is a leading global custodian and securities services specialist that provides multi-asset post-trade and asset servicing solutions for buy and sell-side market participants, corporates, and issuers. The Securities Services (2S) Legal platform supports the securities services activities and business line of BNP Paribas providing specialist securities services and investment operations support to a wide range of issuers, financial intermediaries, and institutional investors.

Job Purpose

Providing pro-active guidance and leading on legal support in respect of business initiatives and management of legal risks within the securities services business across various Securities Services areas, including custody, clearing and settlement services (“CCS”) and liquidity products such as Synthetic VAR.

Key Responsibilities

• Negotiating, drafting and reviewing contracts including custody agreements and other product contracts within the Securities Services, London Branch legal team
• Legal project support, assisting on cross border and multi-jurisdictional client onboardings/files when required 
• Familiarisation with aspects of creating and enforcing security interests over cash and securities including the effect of insolvency on such security interests
• Working with credit and product management teams on developing new products, updating and obtaining legal opinions and advising with regard to regulatory and tax specific issues, cross-border perfection requirements and insolvency issues and security requirements (including selecting and co-ordinating external legal counsel where relevant) 
• Developing relationships with the legal teams within London CIB 2S legal and globally to work on consistency
• Updating existing precedents (including maintaining a chronology of amendments)
• Participating in legal practice groups 
• Keeping up to date and advising with regard to regulatory issues, changes in the law and regulation 
• Management of contentious issues and settlements as required.
• Providing legal advice and support across business lines where required and crossover in knowledge i.e., account control mechanisms etc
• Assisting with the processing of legal opinion updates for the purposes of NCC validation and assisting with the NCC annual review of the bespoke netting opinions and 2 CCP opinions and providing some support in the negotiation of DEC agreements under English law
• Support all aspects of the Network Management Procedure, including working on sub-custody agreements and co-ordinating the annual review of opinions within legal

Requirements

• Ideally newly qualified solicitor with some relevant experience in-house  or in private practice 
• A pro-active individual who enjoys working within the framework of a supportive team but able to work autonomously - able to prioritise and work to deadlines within a demanding, busy environment
• Awareness and understanding of regulatory, credit and tax aspects of financial services business (including cross border issues) - tax and compliance departments not to provide detailed support but rather an awareness of how and where issues arise
• Experience in drafting, reviewing and negotiation of legal agreements 
• The ability and willingness to embrace change

* The number of years’ experience is indicated as a guide only and does not preclude applications from those with more or less PQE/ work experience

Desirable:

• European language skills would be helpful but not essential 
• Knowledge of cash and securities finance documentation, creating and enforcing security interests and advising as regards taking security over cash and securities
• Experience of working with international colleagues (legal and business) in the coordination of international deals
• Experience of the product development process (i.e. identifying and quantifying legal risk and suggesting risk mitigation/solutions) and commercial transactions (understanding business needs and ability to "balance" business need and legal risk through creative legal thinking and drafting)
• Experience of creating new precedents and amending existing precedents for developing product offerings
• Knowledge of regulatory environment/upcoming regulatory changes at a UK and European level
• In house experience desirable but not essential 

Qualifications required for the role:

Essential:

• Qualified lawyer in a common law jurisdiction

Desirable:

• Qualified English law solicitor. Candidate working towards qualification of solicitor could be considered if they have significant paralegal/similar experience

And of course, we expect all our colleagues to embody and practice the Group values (alignment with the Bank’s strategy, commitment, work ethic, integrity and Code of Conduct).

A bit more about why you should join us

1. We’re a great place to work

We aim for optimal work/life balance (depending on role, this includes hybrid working, flexible working and agile)

We are proud of our award-winning flexible benefits and health & wellbeing strategy. Our flexible benefits include:

• Generous holiday allowance of at least 26 days (plus bank holidays) – with option to buy and sell holidays.

• Valuable financial plans – a 12% non-contributory pension which has been moved to sustainable investments*, life assurance*, income protection and personal accident insurance.

• Extensive wellbeing and mental health offering – one of the most advanced private medical schemes in the UK, dental cover, wellbeing app, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy support, subsidised gym memberships, bespoke health assessments including genetic testing, Private GP (including digital GP services to parents of employees), Employee Assistance Programme, menopause & fertility support (we are an accredited Menopause Friendly Employer), neurodiversity assessment and support.

• Key onsite services and facilities in London – include physiotherapy, nutrition, massage therapy, physiology, mental health first aiders, seasonal flu vaccinations and free onsite fitness centre.

• Plus, emergency back-up care for dependants, green car leasing, season ticket loan, and a range of other benefits.

* Subject to relevant caps

2. As the eurozone’s largest bank, we are committed to having a positive impact in the world.  

For example, we are committed to Net Zero in all of our financing and investment portfolios by 2050. By 2030, 80% of our energy production financing will be low carbon.

But impact for us means more than climate. It means empowering our people every day. Everyone gets four volunteering days each year - in 2023, we achieved over 18,000 hours of volunteering across the UK and reaching over 4,500 young people.

3. We believe in our people

We support our people to develop skills to adapt to the ever-evolving world of work and to prepare for the jobs of today and tomorrow. We do this through a comprehensive training offering, talent programmes, mentoring, career days and inhouse career tools.

We are proud of the number of our people who progress and secure new roles internally. In fact, in 2023, nearly half of our positions in UK CIB were filled internally. 

Investing in our people also means we have a collaborative and inclusive culture:

• Direct feedback from our people shows that our internal culture sets us apart from our industry peers.

• Each year, nearly 30,000 employees globally are involved in professional networks that play an active role in promoting Diversity and Inclusion within the Group. These include our:

Pride Network, Ability Network (which supports disabled employees), MixCity (gender equality network), Women in Global Markets, Women in Global Banking, Women in IT, Diversity Equity & Inclusion in Technology, Early Careers Network, Multicultural Network and Parents & Carers Network.

Equal opportunities

BNP Paribas is committed to providing a work environment that fosters diversity, inclusion, and equal employment opportunity without regard to age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.

Adjustments

We don’t want anyone to be disadvantaged in our recruitment processes, so if you have a disability or health condition which may mean that you’d benefit from some adjustments or additional support, please let us know as early in the process as possible.

#LI-Hybrid