Vice President - Legal Counsel (gn) - Fixed term (18 months)

Vice President - Legal Counsel (gn) - Fixed term (18 months)

For our client, a leading global universal bank with its European headquarters in Frankfurt, we are currently looking for a Vice President - Legal Counsel (gn) to strengthen the team, firstly for a fixed term of 18 months.

Purpose of the job

The role is responsible for providing corporate legal advice to all internal functions and lines of business operated by the Bank, its branches and its subsidiary, covering first, second and third line of defence. Furthermore, it combines deep expertise in the legal and regulatory framework for financial institutions in Germany and the EU to ensure sound legal guidance and effective engagement with internal and external stakeholders.

Tasks

• Providing legal counsel on banking and corporate law for internationally active financial institutions, including EU regulatory developments on digitalisation and new technologies such as operational resilience and AI.
• Monitoring legislative, case law and market developments and advising on their implications for the organisation across different jurisdictions.
• Partnering with stakeholders to support strategic, regulatory and sustainability-related initiatives and projects.
• Drafting, reviewing and advising on legal documents (e.g. agreements, legal opinions, policies and procedures) in line with business requirements and applicable laws across the organisation and its affiliated entities.
• Liaising with business units to identify legal needs and deliver practical solutions for specific tasks and projects.
• Coordinating with and overseeing external legal advisors to ensure high-quality advice while managing costs efficiently.
• Maintaining close cooperation with other legal teams to ensure consistent and efficient legal guidance for stakeholders.
• Representing the organisation in industry forums, ensuring its positions are conveyed clearly and consistently in consultations and advocacy efforts.

Requirements

• Qualified lawyer with relevant legal education and professional qualifications
• Several years of relevant experience in the financial sector, gained either in a law firm or in an in-house legal function within a financial institution
• Strong analytical, organisational and communication skills
• Ability to convey complex legal matters clearly to non-legal audiences
• Collaborative team player with a commercially oriented mindset
• Comfortable engaging with stakeholders at various levels and across different cultural backgrounds