Corporate & Commercial Legal Counsel

Main purpose of the role:

Member of a collegiate legal team, who will be principally servicing Cantor Fitzgerald Group's EMEA and APAC global investment banking business.

This is a visible role with regular interaction with senior business people and management, in particular with the rapidly expanding operations in Hong Kong and other Asian jurisdictions. There is a genuine global dimension to the remit, as well as substantial autonomy and responsibility. The environment is fast paced and therefore the role requires a person who is able to deal with pressure, can commit to deadlines and work at a good pace. The contractual hours are 9 am to 6 pm, although the individual will be expected to work the hours necessary to satisfy the Group's requirements.

The primary focus of the role is the Cantor Fitzgerald Group's debt capital markets and debt trading teams in Hong Kong and London, although the role will also cover other offices and other workstreams, depending upon the Group's requirements at any particular time. The role will also include a certain amount of commercial contract work pertinent to a full service investment bank.

Key responsibilities:

• Debt - reviewing and negotiating agreements in relation to loan notes and bond issuance by corporate clients, syndicated loans for corporate clients, debt trading in the secondary market, in each case in Hong Kong and London.
• Equity - reviewing and negotiating agreements in relation to primary and secondary offerings by corporate clients in Hong Kong and London.
• Commercial - reviewing, drafting and negotiating a wide range of agreements and providing legal advice on business issues. Agreements include introducing brokerage agreements, commission sharing and netting agreements, terms of business, confidentiality agreements, intra group agreements, bank guarantees, clearing, custody and collateral agreements and marketing agreements.
• M & A - periodically assisting M & A practice as part of a team, including confidentiality, SPA and related documents.
• Projects - periodically advising on corporate projects, which may include corporate acquisitions, new offices, reorganisations and joint ventures.

Skill / experience required:

• English or Commonwealth qualified lawyer with approximately 6 years post qualification experience.
• Experience of working within the financial sector particularly welcome, although would also consider candidates with other relevant in house or private practice experience.
• Experience in dealing with any of debt capital markets, syndicated loans, debt trading agreements, structured products and/or corporate finance essential.
• The department is always very lively and busy so the candidate should be able to deal with competing demands in a mature and sensible fashion. The candidate will quickly build up their own internal clients, in particular in Hong Kong, and will be exposed to matters of strategic importance to the firm and the wider Group so discretion is essential.
• Experience at providing guidance to all levels of business important.
• Ability to work both autonomously and with others in a small team.
• Robust but engaging personality essential. This will be a visible role with very close interaction with other departments both in the front and back office.
• Good academics required.