Counsel - Asset Servicing and Digital

Job Description

OverviewOverview of BNY Mellon:BNY Mellon is a global financial services company focused on helping clients manage and service their financial assets, operating in 36 countries and serving more than 100 markets. BNY Mellon is a leading provider of financial services for institutions, corporationsand high-net-worth individuals, providing superior asset management and wealth management, asset servicing and digital, issuer services, clearing services and treasury services through a worldwide client-focused team. Team Description: (Overview of the team)The EMEA Asset Servicing and Digital ("ASD") team consists of eight London-based lawyers who provide legal support to the EMEA ASD line of business which includes core custody and administration, AIF depositary services, alternative investment services andglobal network management. The team is predominantly based in central London but works closely with EMEA ASD colleagues in Edinburgh, Manchester, Dublin, Brussels, Frankfurt, Luxembourg, and Amsterdam. The team also liaises frequently with colleagues in theUnited States and APAC region on both the business lines it supports and enterprise-wide initiatives. In particular the team is responsible for:

• Advising on law and regulation in the UK with insight and support from legal colleagues in other divisions, where applicable.
• Preparation and maintenance of all contract templates ensuring continuous compliance with local law and regulation.
• Extensive contract negotiation including managing internal escalations and obtaining requisite approvals.
• Advising on legal risk and other aspects of service provision and contractual arrangements.
• Liaising with first, second and third line of defence including compliance, risk, audit, finance and product on a wide variety of legal matters applying to ASD. This will include engagement with specialist legal teams including litigation, enforcement,public policy and government affairs, M&A and corporate governance and Public and Regulatory Affairs); and
• Regular participation at risk committees, business acceptance committees, regulatory committees and other governance bodies where you will play a key advisory role to stakeholders.

Job Purpose: (What the job role involves)Your role will involve being responsible for the provision of legal support to the EMEA ASD business line. You will have varied responsibilities covering a broad range of EMEA ASD legal matters in the context of the products and services it offers. This willinclude managing legal negotiations with external clients and providing internal legal advice with respect to the same. You will be responsible for maintaining ASD templates as well as engaging on matters relating to global custody, depositary, , settlementand ancillary matters across different markets and asset classes. You will be required to engage with multiple internal stakeholders and other support functions to ensure seamless and consistent legal advice. You will also be engaged on other matters includingregulatory change, liaising with regulatory legal teams (and others) and active participation in the Banks digital asset strategy as it relates to EMEA ASD. Your role will also involve being a dedicated legal provider to one large client (although not solelycommitted to that client). You will work with other lawyers in the EMEA Legal department, and jurisdictional specific lawyers, to deliver a high standard of legal advice that is tailored to BNYMs business models. Responsibilities: (Key parts to the job role)The position involves reviewing and advising on:

• Global Custody and Depositary Agreements and associated documentation.
• Documents relating to other services provided by ASD business.
• Advise and prepare documentation in relation to internal and external outsourcing by ASD business, including Operations.
• Contract implementation issues including conducting ongoing review and updating of BNYM standard form agreements.
• Strategic project and product development work.
• Assisting the business on regulatory issues where necessary, including maintaining an awareness and understanding of existing and proposed regulatory requirements, trends and best practices in EMEA and where applicable, the US, and assisting the businessin maintaining an appropriate profile with industry groups and others on key issues.
• Instruction and management of outside counsel (including assistance with analysis and collation of advice from such counsel).
• Providing timely advice and assistance to the business, risk and compliance partners.
• Represent Legal and actively participate in governance bodies, business steering committees and working groups.
• Assistance with the development of formal training sessions for business colleagues on relevant topics, e.g. documentary standards/policies/market industry issues/legal issues.
• Supporting knowledge sharing within the legal team.

Key relationships / stakeholders:

• Head of EMEA ASD legal.
• BNYM ASD business.
• Compliance & Ethics, including CASS Compliance.
• Public Policy & Regulatory Affairs (within EMEA Legal).
• Risk Management.
• Network Management and Network Legal Functions.
• EMEA wide legal team.
• Global legal ASD team.

Requirements; (what we are looking for)The successful candidate will have 4 to 7 years PQE with a legal background in custody or custody intensive businesses. Preferred technical skills and experience include:

• In-house legal and transactional banking operational experience at a global financial institution.
• Working experience of custody and market infrastructure arrangements.
• Knowledge of applicable local and EU legislation and regulation.
• Regulatory knowledge including CASS, AIFMD, UCITS, MIFID I/II.
• Experience managing outside counsel.
• Experience of interactions with wider business/risk/compliance colleagues.
• Demonstrable ability to quickly analyse problems and to devise and deliver appropriate solutions.
• Flexible and adaptable working style to react to changing priorities.

The candidate should also have:

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Excellent drafting and negotiation skills.

Strong organisation skills.

Adept - quickly and confidently resolve complex issues in a pragmatic, non-legalistic way. Flexible and adaptable working style to react to demanding wo