Legal Counsel, Global Trade Finance

A leading international financial institution is seeking a Legal Counsel to join its Transaction Banking Legal team in London. This is an opportunity to advise on a broad range of trade finance and lending transactions across EMEA, partnering closely with business stakeholders and supporting strategic growth initiatives. Based on the source role, the position focuses heavily on trade finance documentation, transaction structuring and legal risk management.

The Role

You will provide legal support across a wide range of trade finance products and transactions, working closely with front office, operations, risk and external counsel where required.

Key responsibilities include:

• Advising on the legal and regulatory aspects of trade finance transactions across multiple jurisdictions.
• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating a broad range of documentation, including letters of credit, guarantees, supply chain finance arrangements, receivables finance transactions, trade loans and related financing documents.
• Supporting the structuring and execution of complex and bespoke trade finance transactions.
• Providing commercially focused advice on legal, regulatory and reputational risk.
• Monitoring legal and regulatory developments affecting the trade finance market.
• Contributing to legal process improvements, template development and broader business projects.

Qualifications and Skills Required

• Qualified Lawyer or similar qualification.
• At least 7 years of relevant post qualification experience gained in private practice and/or an in-house legal tea
• Solid experience in trade finance, transaction banking or general banking matters.
• Strong experience drafting and negotiating trade finance documentation.
• Knowledge of letters of credit, bank guarantees, supply chain finance and receivables finance.
• Experience supporting complex cross-border financing transactions.
• Background gained within an international bank, export credit agency or leading law firm.
• Ability to advise business stakeholders on transaction structuring and legal risk.
• Assisting with the development and mentoring of junior team members.
• Contributing to strategic business projects and helping drive best practice across the legal function.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders across multiple jurisdictions.
• Providing pragmatic, commercially focused legal advice to support business objectives while appropriately managing risk.