If you are searching for opportunities to develop your career in the field of Corporate and Institutional Banking, challenges to boost your future career path, then BNP Paribas is the right place for you.
Joining BNP Paribas means joining a Group that's constantly transforming itself in order to adapt to our changing society and to build the world of tomorrow. Applying to work at BNP Paribas is not just about applying for a job, it's about giving meaning to your work and passion and desire to go deep in the finance world!
And to meet these challenges, we need skills and competencies at all levels.
What is the role?
The Senior Legal Counsel will primarily provide legal support to BNP Paribas Corporate and Institutional Banking ("CIB") activities in Romania.
The role requires a commercial, pragmatic and solution-oriented lawyer who can work closely with business lines and functions while ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations and BNP Paribas policies and procedures.
The Senior Legal Counsel will act as a trusted adviser to the CIB businesses and functions in Romania and will contribute to the identification, assessment and management of legal risks arising from the Bank's activities.
In addition to supporting CIB activities, the Senior Legal Counsel will assist the Head of LEGAL Romania in the provision of legal support to the Romanian branch and may, where required, provide legal support on matters relating to other BNP Paribas business lines and functions operating in Romania. The Senior Legal Counsel will contribute to local
governance, regulatory and strategic initiatives and promote collaboration across the Romanian LEGAL team.
The Senior Legal Counsel will have the following responsibilities:
Legal Advisory and Transaction Support:
- Provide timely, pragmatic and value-added legal advice to CIB business lines and functions in Romania;
- Advise on financing, capital markets, derivatives, transaction banking and other CIB activities, as applicable;
- Support the structuring, negotiation and execution of transactions;
- Draft, review and negotiate a broad range of legal documentation and contractual arrangements;
- Assist in the review and approval of new products, transactions and initiatives;
- advise business stakeholders on legal and regulatory developments affecting CIB activities in Romania;
- Coordinate with external counsel where required and assess the quality and relevance of external legal advice.
Legal Risk Management:
- Identify, assess and help manage legal risks arising from the Bank's activities;
- Escalate significant legal risks in accordance with BNP Paribas LEGAL governance and reporting requirements;
- Contribute to the implementation and monitoring of legal risk controls and permanent control actions;
- Support legal risk reporting and contribute to relevant governance processes and committees;
- Ensure compliance with applicable LEGAL policies, procedures and standards.
- Support to the Head of Legal Romania:
- Assist the Head of Legal Romania in ensuring appropriate legal coverage and support for the Romanian branch;
- Support legal, regulatory, governance and strategic initiatives affecting the Romanian operations more generally;
- Provide legal support, where required, in relation to business lines and functions operating in Romania outside the CIB perimeter;
- Contribute to the consistency of legal advice, legal risk management and implementation of BNP Paribas LEGAL policies across the Romanian platform.
Stakeholder Management:
- Develop strong working relationships with business lines and support functions, including Compliance, Risk, Internal Control, Finance and Operations;
- Act as a trusted legal partner for local management and business teams;
- Collaborate with regional and global LEGAL teams on cross-border matters and strategic initiatives;
- Participate in internal committees, working groups and governance forums where legal representation is required.
Regulatory and Corporate Support:
- Monitor legal and regulatory developments relevant to CIB activities and the Romanian branch;
- Assist in assessing the impact of legislative and regulatory changes on the Bank's activities;
- Support corporate governance, corporate law and regulatory matters affecting the Romanian operations;
- Contribute to regulatory reviews, audits, inspections and interactions with competent authorities when required.
Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement:
- Contribute to legal know-how, training and knowledge management initiatives;
- Support the development of legal templates, playbooks and best practices;
- Promote efficient ways of working and contribute to process improvement initiatives within LEGAL;
- Collaborate with other local, regional and global LEGAL teams.
What qualities do we look for?
- Law degree from a recognised university;
- Qualified lawyer in Romania or another relevant European jurisdiction;
- Approximately 7-10 years of post-qualification/professional experience;
- Experience gained within an international law firm and/or a financial institution;
- Knowledge of banking, finance and financial services regulation;
- Experience advising corporate and investment banking businesses;
- Familiarity with financing, capital markets, derivatives, transaction banking, securities services or custody activities;
- Fluent English and Romanian.
- Experience working in an international and matrix organization - nice to have;
- Experience managing external counsel and cross-border legal matters – nice to have.
General Skills we expect:
Technical Skills:
- Banking and financial services law;
- Contract drafting and negotiation;
- Legal risk assessment and management;
- Regulatory analysis;
- Corporate and commercial law;
- Legal project management.
Behavioural Skills:
- Client focus;
- Strong analytical skills;
- Sound judgement;
- Ability to simplify complex legal issues;
- Collaboration and teamwork;
- Communication and influencing skills;
- Ability to work autonomously;
- Adaptability and willingness to learn.
- Success Measures
- Performance will be assessed based on:
- Quality and timeliness of legal advice;
- Effective identification, escalation and management of legal risks;
- Quality of support provided to CIB and other stakeholders in Romania;
- Contribution to branch-wide legal, governance and regulatory initiatives;
- Collaboration with Romanian, regional and global LEGAL teams;
- Contribution to knowledge sharing, process improvement and strategic initiatives.
Why BNP Paribas?
- Progressive career development opportunities of a large multi-national bank;
- Talent Development opportunities within BNP Paribas Group;
- Employee culture that is focused on creating a great place to work;
- Multinational business environment;
- On-the-job training and networking opportunities.
