Senior Lead Counsel, Custody Legal, SVP

Citi is seeking a qualified senior attorney for the North America (NAM) Custody legal team supporting Citi’s global Securities Investor Services business. The role supports the custody business and interacts with regional and global businesses and control functions (including product and regulatory legal, risk, and compliance). It requires a pragmatic, proactive attorney with knowledge of securities transactions, clearing, settlements, and operations, preferably in connection with a custody business or similar businesses, e.g. prime brokerage or fully disclosed clearing.

The overall objective of this role is to provide legal support, advice and guidance across a broad range of practice areas, assisting the business with strategic decisions and the development of proactive, risk‑appropriate, and commercially practical business‑oriented solutions.

• Responsible for providing legal counsel to the business, participating in strategic initiatives, providing subject matter expertise and interpretations of relevant laws, rules, regulations, and industry practices, and advising business management on legal matters impacting the business.
• Manages day‑to‑day legal activities as a subject matter expert in area of responsibility and provide advisory services to business partners.
• Partner with business/functional line management in recommending, developing and executing business initiatives within permissible statutory and regulatory frameworks.
• 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.
• 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.
• Negotiate, coordinate and monitor management of complex legal issues and make key decisions and provide strategic vision.
• 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.
• 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 supervising the activity of others and creating accountability with those who fail to maintain these standards.

• 7+ years of relevant industry experience, preferably in financial services.
• Banking or financial industry experience, including laws related to national banks.
• Securities and secured transactions law experience, including UCC Articles 8 and 9 or similar international laws.
• An understanding of the service requirements for a securities intermediary (settlement, clearing, safekeeping, asset management, data, and financial operations).
• Familiarity with digital assets services developments preferred.
• Proven analytical and organizational skills.
• Consistently demonstrate clear and concise written and verbal communication for consumption by business persons.
• Knowledge of international laws, regulations and practices while staying abreast of regulatory and legal environment, internal policies and industry trends that impact the business.
• Effective communication and negotiation skills and ability to build and maintain trusted relationships.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational and relationship management skills.
• Bar license in good standing to practice law.

• Juris Doctorate or equivalent law degree.

Legal

Legal - Product

Full time

Tampa Florida United States

$ - $

In addition to salary, Citi’s offerings…