Legal Counsel (Hong Kong or Sydney)

Job description

We’re building a relationship-oriented bank for the modern world.

We need talented, passionate professionals who are dedicated to doing what’s right for our clients.

At CIBC, we embrace your strengths and your ambitions, so you are empowered at work.

Our team members have what they need to make a meaningful impact and are truly valued for who they are and what they contribute.

To learn more about CIBC, please visit CIBC.com (https://www.cibc.com/en/about-cibc.html)

**STRATEGIC BUSINESS UNIT DESCRIPTION**

The Administration group is comprised of Legal, ESG & Corporate Governance and Government Relations.

Collectively, this group enables CIBC’s core purpose: to help make our clients’ ambitions a reality by providing legal advice across CIBC and by protecting the legal rights and legal relation between CIBC and our clients and employees.

The Legal Department provides independent legal advice, as well as related transactional, regulatory and litigation support, across all lines of CIBC's business globally.

This position, based either in Hong Kong or Sydney principally supports CIBC’s Capital Markets’ businesses and activities in the Asia Pacific Region.

CIBC Capital Markets in the Asia Pacific Region spans Corporate Banking, Global Markets and Investment Banking businesses.

**JOB PURPOSE & ACCOUNTABILITIES**

+ Reports to Head of Legal in Asia Pacific Region.

Value Added Partner

+ Provide legal advice in the early stages of business management’s strategy development and key decisions, and help to ensure proper implementation of those plans, consistent with legal and regulatory objectives.
+ Provide legal advice and related governance to support CIBC’s businesses in Asia, and oversight over legal and regulatory changes impacting the Asia Pacific Region, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo and mainland China.
+ Identify legal risks, and significant incidents of non-compliance, and escalate these to global Legal team and Asia senior management as appropriate, and ensuring such risks are properly understood by relevant stakeholders, and where possible, propose appropriate risk mitigation.

Operational/Business Effectiveness

+ Ensure that solutions are tailored to meet operational as well as regulatory requirements.

Require ongoing coordination among multiple functional groups and executive management and cross-border deals committees and a solid working knowledge of the financial, operational and technology specifications supporting a product or service.

**CROSS-FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS**

+ Frequent contact with business and regional management to identify and discuss business issues and needs and to provide consistent and time-sensitive advice, including interaction with senior management, sales and trading desks, relationship managers and Risk Management, Compliance and Business Management.
+ Regular contact with industry peers, both individually and through industry associations, to discuss emerging concepts, practices and experiences and to strategize on approaches to proposed regulatory actions or change practices.
+ Regular contact with local counsel throughout the regions to ensure clear advice, manage costs and keep abreast of legal and regulatory reforms regionally.

**AUTHORITIES/DECISIONS**

+ Operate within established CIBC organizational framework.

Escalate issues where appropriate to Head of Legal and/or relevant Heads of business.

**JOB** **CHALLENGES/COMPLEXITIES**

+ Managing the conflicting objectives and priorities of different parties to transactions (e.g., management, sales/traders acting for clients, etc.).
+ Ensuring the maintenance of the highest standards, subject to the close scrutiny of internal auditors, external auditors, regulators, etc.
+ Exposure to a wide range of banking and financial product types.

**KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS**

+ LL.B. degree, and qualifications in England & Wales, Australia, and/or Hong Kong with a minimum of 6 years of post-qualification experience.

Prior experience gained either at a law firm or financial institution in fixed income products, particularly debt capital markets and/or structured credit experience is preferred.
+ Sufficient technical knowledge of financial products and securities laws and regulations to provide effective solutions to resolve issues.

Prior exposure and technical knowledge gained working in the Australia financial services sector is preferred.
+ A sufficient working knowledge of laws and regulations relevant to banks and financial institutions.
+ Excellent communication and interpersonal/interactive skills.

Able to make technical presentations to non-specialists, and work very closely with senior management.
+ Excellent organizational and time management skills to deal with multiple and sometimes conflicting requirements and time constraints.

Excellent adaptability and flexibility to deal with a rapidly changing environment.
+ Management/leadership skills sufficient to motivate and guide a diverse workforce faced with frequent organizational and operational change and increased demands on services.

**WORKING CONDITIONS**

+ Situate either in Hong Kong or Sydney.

Operates within a normal office environment
+ Working within a matrix of reporting lines and client relationships.

**What you need to know**

+ CIBC is committed to creating an inclusive environment where all team members and clients feel like they belong.

We seek applicants with a wide range of abilities and we provide an accessible candidate experience.

If you need accommodation, please contact Mailbox.careers-carrieres@cibc.com
+ You need to be legally eligible to work at the location(s) specified above and, where applicable, must have a valid work or study permit

**Job Location**

2 Queens Road Central

**Employment Type**

Regular

**Weekly Hours**

37.5

**Skills**

Business Contracts, Business Transactions, Contract Negotiations, Critical Thinking, Decision Making, Legal Consulting, Litigation, Strategic Advice

At CIBC, we are in business to help our clients, employees and shareholders achieve what is important to them.

Our ability to create value for all CIBC stakeholders is driven by a business culture based on common values: Trust, Teamwork and Accountability.

Working with CIBC makes you a part of a work environment committed to our clients, employees and communities - a place where you can excel.

Every day, our 44,000 employees help our clients achieve their financial goals, because what matters to our clients, matters to us.

Required Skill Profession

Other General