BNP Paribas is the European Union’s leading bank and a key player in international banking. We operate in 65 countries and employ 190,000 people, including nearly 145,000 in Europe. Our Group holds key positions in its three main fields of activity: Commercial, Personal Banking & Services; Investment & Protection Services; and Corporate & Institutional Banking (CIB) for corporate and institutional clients.
BNP Paribas’ CIB UK Legal department is a dynamic and integral part of the bank's activities, providing expert legal advice and support across a wide range of activities. Our teams work closely with the business on transactional, advisory and governance matters and on disputes. It is led by dedicated professionals who ensure that the bank's interests are protected while adhering to the highest legal, regulatory and ethical standards. The department is involved in various initiatives, including work experience programs, diversity and inclusion efforts, and legal technology advancements, reflecting its commitment to excellence, innovation and efficiency in the legal field.
Company purpose:
Our company purpose is to contribute to a responsible and sustainable economy by financing and advising clients according to the highest ethical standards.
Our employer promise is built around three pillars:
• Being a great place to work
• Committed to sustainability and having a positive impact
• Being dedicated to the development of our people
Business area
The Digital & IP, IT & Sourcing Legal team is a group within LEGAL comprising legal professionals providing legal support to business lines throughout the BNP Paribas Group in relation to digital legal issues including intellectual property, technology, data protection and cybersecurity. The team supports the Bank’s global innovative digital programme, advising on cutting edge issues such as blockchain, AI, big data and the metaverse. It also advises on internal and external outsourcing and purchasing solutions, third party risk management and contractual negotiation. The team is part of UK CIB LEGAL.
Positions within the Digital & IP, IT & Sourcing Legal team sit within the UK Legal Function, a team responsible for advising with a UK territory focus, but roles will include working and advising with Digital & IP Legal and IT & Sourcing colleagues globally across the BNP Paribas Group, as part of the Digital & IP Platform and IT & Sourcing Platform.
Job purpose
The Lawyer, Digital & IP, IT & Sourcing, Associate level role, works closely with other more senior members of the Digital & IP, IT & Sourcing Legal team to provide effective and timely legal advice, transaction assistance and project work for the business in order to ensure that the business is supported, and able to achieve its objectives, on all matters relating to Digital & IP, IT & Sourcing, whilst effectively identifying and managing legal risk. The work undertaken by the roleholder will be a mix of independent work and also assisting and supporting the work of more senior members within the team on more complex matters and projects.
Scope: UK focus with significant Global aspects.
Key responsibilities
• Intermediate / developing professional accountable for providing effective and timely legal advice, or small scale projects on matters relating to Digital & IP, IT & Sourcing, including:
o Contractual negotiations with third parties and advising on new products and services.
• Supports more senior members of the team with drafting legal documentation for the business, such as contractual documentation, advice or comments for new product approvals.
• Accountable for delivering personal targets and objectives to support the performance of the team under general guidance from senior members of the Digital & IP, IT & Sourcing Legal team.
• Assists with the structuring of transactions and drafting of negotiations. Will refer more complex and technical issues to more senior members of the team for resolution and advice in a timely manner, to ensure the business receives the appropriate level of support.
• Co-ordinates activity with other relevant Legal departments within LEGAL and workstreams to ensure the smooth delivery of operations processes and service levels in accordance with the established procedures and guidelines.
• Oversees the work of any more junior members of the team, reviewing legal documentation for more junior colleagues.
Requirements
• English and/or Scots law qualified lawyer (or other major jurisdiction) required with additional experience where relevant (qualification through extensive experience in a relevant technical area is acceptable).
• Knowledge of specific legal principles and processes relevant to Digital & IP, IT & Sourcing and able to translate knowledge and experience into recommendations to improve team operating practices.
• Sound working knowledge of policies, procedures, regulations and legislation within the Legal department and Bank-wide relevant to Digital & IP law.
• Strong personal focus on accuracy and attention to detail and able to review and improve work of more junior colleagues.
• Good written and oral English skills in order to articulate technical issues associated to work area.
• Able to coach and support more junior colleagues in their performance and development.
• Computer literacy and a good knowledge of standard computer software and able to learn and utilise specialist applications used by the Digital & IP Legal team at the relevant time.
And of course, we expect all our colleagues to embody and practice the Group values (alignment with the Bank’s strategy, commitment, work ethic, integrity and Code of Conduct).
A bit more about why you should join us
1. We’re a great place to work
We aim for optimal work/life balance (depending on role, this includes hybrid working, flexible working and agile)
We are proud of our award-winning flexible benefits and health & wellbeing strategy. Our flexible benefits include:
• Generous holiday allowance of at least 26 days (plus bank holidays) – with option to buy and sell holidays.
• Valuable financial plans – a 12% non-contributory pension which has been moved to sustainable investments*, life assurance*, income protection and personal accident insurance.
• Extensive wellbeing and mental health offering – one of the most advanced private medical schemes in the UK, dental cover, wellbeing app, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy support, subsidised gym memberships, bespoke health assessments including genetic testing, Private GP (including digital GP services to parents of employees), Employee Assistance Programme, menopause & fertility support (we are an accredited Menopause Friendly Employer), neurodiversity assessment and support.
• Key onsite services and facilities in Scotland – include free monthly massage and yoga, mental health first aiders and seasonal flu vouchers.
• Plus, emergency back-up care for dependants, green car leasing, season ticket loan, and a range of other benefits.
* Subject to relevant caps
2. As the eurozone’s largest bank, we are committed to having a positive impact in the world.
For example, we are committed to Net Zero in all of our financing and investment portfolios by 2050. By 2030, 80% of our energy production financing will be low carbon.
But impact for us means more than climate. It means empowering our people every day. Everyone gets four volunteering days each year - in 2023, we achieved over 18,000 hours of volunteering across the UK and reaching over 4,500 young people.
3. We believe in our people
We support our people to develop skills to adapt to the ever-evolving world of work and to prepare for the jobs of today and tomorrow. We do this through a comprehensive training offering, talent programmes, mentoring, career days and inhouse career tools.
We are proud of the number of our people who progress and secure new roles internally. In fact, in 2023, nearly half of our positions in UK CIB were filled internally.
Investing in our people also means we have a collaborative and inclusive culture:
• Direct feedback from our people shows that our internal culture sets us apart from our industry peers.
• Each year, nearly 30,000 employees globally are involved in professional networks that play an active role in promoting Diversity and Inclusion within the Group. These include our:
Pride Network, Ability Network (which supports disabled employees), MixCity (gender equality network), Women in Global Markets, Women in Global Banking, Women in IT, Diversity Equity & Inclusion in Technology, Early Careers Network, Multicultural Network and Parents & Carers Network.
Equal opportunities
BNP Paribas is committed to providing a work environment that fosters diversity, inclusion, and equal employment opportunity without regard to age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.
Adjustments
We don’t want anyone to be disadvantaged in our recruitment processes, so if you have a disability or health condition which may mean that you’d benefit from some adjustments or additional support, please let us know as early in the process as possible.
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