SVP - Senior Lead Counsel - Markets Legal, Spread Products - Sales & Trading

SVP- Senior Lead Counsel - Markets Legal, Spread Products - Sales & Trading

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Job Overview

This is a Senior Lead Counsel position within Markets Legal, specifically supporting Spread Products - Sales & Trading, based in Wilmington, DE. The term "Spread Products" at Citi refers to the business known as "Credit Trading" at many other firms, with legal coverage separated between Sales & Trading and Financing & Securitization. This role is responsible for providing expert legal guidance and thought leadership to the business, with a primary focus on ensuring the legal soundness and compliance of complex debt trading activities. The overall objective of this role is to provide critical legal support, advice, and guidance, ensuring the firm's adherence to all relevant laws and regulations.

This role requires a pragmatic, proactive attorney with a thorough understanding of the Spread Products business, combined with a solid conceptual and practical grounding in the laws and regulations for the geographies in which we operate. The successful candidate will provide input into strategic decisions, exercising sound legal judgment to develop proactive, risk-appropriate, and commercially practical business-oriented solutions.

Responsibilities

Provide expert legal counsel and strategic guidance to the Spread Products Sales & Trading business, with a primary and immediate focus on debt trading (including par loans, distressed loans, bankruptcy claims, private equity and 1145 equity, and illiquid assets). This includes interpreting relevant laws, rules, regulations, and industry best practices, particularly regarding LSTA (Loan Sales & Trading Association) documentation and secondary loan trading.

Offer secondary coverage for other products within the broader Spread Products – Sales & Trading business, such as credit derivatives (both stand-alone and embedded) in both developed and emerging markets, providing an opportunity for candidates familiar with loan trading to broaden their experience.

Objectively evaluate business proposals by applying institutional knowledge and risk appetite against industry standards, widely accepted business practices, laws, rules, and regulatory guidelines, escalating as appropriate.

Collaborate across internal lines of business and control/support functions to achieve coordinated and efficient outcomes on matters of common interest; coordinate closely with the Legal team on a regional and global basis.

Participate in business planning and development initiatives; contribute to business objectives by providing thought leadership using knowledge of industry, laws, and regulations.

Proactively identify, evaluate, and contribute to the appropriate management of legal, regulatory, and reputational risk by collaborating with ICRM & Risk, following relevant legal developments, participating in internal projects, escalating as appropriate.

Manage day-to-day legal activities as a subject matter expert in area of responsibility and provide advisory services to business partners.

Monitor management of complex legal issues and transactions, escalating when necessary.

Appropriately assess risk when business decisions are made, demonstrating particular consideration for the firm's reputation and safeguarding Citigroup, its clients and assets, by driving compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, adhering to Policy, applying sound ethical judgment regarding personal behavior, conduct and business practices, and escalating, managing and reporting control issues with transparency, as well as effectively supervise the activity of others and create accountability with those who fail to maintain these standards.

Qualifications

10+ years of direct, hands-on legal experience in financial services, with demonstrable expertise in loan trading, including LSTA (Loan Sales & Trading Association) documentation and secondary loan trading. Candidates must be able to contribute effectively from Day 1 in this highly specialized area.

Banking or financial industry experience, including laws related to banking regulations.

Knowledge of international laws, regulations and practices while staying abreast of regulatory and legal environment, internal policies and industry trends that impact the business.

Proven experience advising on and structuring complex debt trading deals (e.g., par loans, distressed loans, bankruptcy claims, private equity, illiquid assets), with a strong ability to analyze intricate legal issues and develop commercially practical solutions.

Effective communication and negotiation skills and ability to build and maintain trusted relationships.

Excellent interpersonal, organizational and relationship management skills.

Proven ability to apply sound judgment while managing assignments in a demanding, fast-paced environment.

Bar license in good standing to practice law.

Juris Doctorate or equivalent law degree