Senior Associate Master Agreements, Global Markets Legal APAC

What is this position about?

This is a full time role to support the review, drafting and maintenance of documentation for derivatives and securities activities undertaken by the Global Markets business line in APAC, focusing on master agreements and credit support documentation.

What would be your typical day at BNPP Paribas look like?

Primary Role Responsibilities

• Work on legal analysis and provide documentation solutions to relevant internal stakeholders in connection with OTC derivatives master agreements and ancillary credit support / security agreements for counterparties onboarded or to be onboarded for OTC derivatives trading and securities financing transactions (including both cleared and uncleared trading, and flow as well as structured transactions).
• Provide proactive support to the Head of MA LEGAL, APAC. Provide comprehensive legal risk analysis and recommendations on non-product specific derivatives issues to business, management and relevant internal stakeholders.
• Draft and negotiate OTC derivatives master agreements with counterparties in the Asia Pacific region based on requests received, following the playbooks, guidelines and procedures prescribed by the relevant LEGAL team in Hong Kong or Singapore.
• Draft and negotiate execution agreements and other ancillary agreements and addenda which may be required where OTC derivatives transactions are traded on a cleared basis, following the playbooks, guidelines and procedures prescribed by the relevant LEGAL team in Hong Kong or Singapore.
• Draft and negotiate margining agreements and other ancillary agreements which may be required where OTC derivatives transactions are traded on an uncleared basis, following the playbooks, guidelines and procedures prescribed by the relevant LEGAL team in Hong Kong or Singapore..
• As part of the process of negotiating OTC derivatives master agreements: (i) review, comment on and assist in drafting, as appropriate, ancillary credit support and other security documents; (ii) maintain relevant legal data for the agreements in applicable systems used by the APAC LEGAL Master Agreements team.
• Review legal issues pertaining to OTC derivatives master agreements (including counterparty capacity and authority, enforceability of netting and collateral arrangements, and Asian jurisdiction specific issues), liaise with external legal advisers where and as directed by the relevant LEGAL team in Hong Kong or Singapore, and keep legal opinions and template documents updated in reference libraries.
• Follow developments in Europe and Asia Pacific jurisdictions in relation to OTC derivatives related regulatory topics, contribute to derivatives regulatory projects and work with internal lawyers to conduct impact analysis with a view to devising and implementing related documentation solutions.

Other contributions

• Participate in identifying process automation and improvement opportunities, and building, testing and implementing solutions.
• Participate in the collection and compilation of information in response to internal surveys and regulatory / audit enquiries in relation to the use of OTC derivatives master agreements in the Asia Pacific region.
• Provide inputs into projects relating to master agreements, as directed by the relevant LEGAL team in Hong Kong or Singapore.
• Contribute to knowledge management and training programmes and the sharing of know-how in relation to CCFR transaction documents within LEGAL.
• Liaise with the LEGAL team in Hong Kong and Singapore on deviations and exception issues.

What is required for you to succeed?

Experience required

1. Knowledge of general principles of contract law and its practical application.

2. Knowledge of derivatives and securities across multiple asset classes.

3. Knowledge of green, social or sustainability-linked derivatives and securities would be advantageous.

4. Strong drafting and communication skills are essential.

5. Working knowledge of Microsoft office applications. Knowledge and experience with the use of artificial intelligence tools / large language models would be advantageous.

6. Excellent written and spoken English. Knowledge of other Asian languages would be advantageous.

Required education/certification/licenses

Lawyer qualified in common law jurisdiction, with more than 5 years of post-qualification experience in derivatives and securities, gained in an international financial institution and/or law firm.

About BNP PARIBAS

As the leading European Union bank, and one of the worlds largest financial institutions with an uninterrupted presence in the region since 1860, BNP Paribas offers a wide range of financial services for corporate, institutional and private investors spanning corporate and institutional banking, wealth management, asset management and insurance.

We passionately embrace diversity and are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where all employees are valued and encourage applicants of all backgrounds, including diversity of origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion applicants who may be living with a disability. We have a number of internal employee networks in place to empower our staff to act and challenge the status quo.

• BNP Paribas PRIDE is highly active in favour of the LGBTQIA+ community
• BNP Paribas MixCity which fosters better representation of women at all levels of the organization
• Ability, the mutual aid network for employees with a disability or a disabling or chronic illness
• BNP Paribas CulturAll which celebrates diverse backgrounds

BNP is committed to financing a carbon-neutral economy by 2050. The Group is a founding member of the Net-Zero Banking Alliance and has set up its own Low Carbon Transition Group to support its clients through their energy transitions.

More information:

BNP Paribas - Diversity & Inclusion Journey

BNP Paribas - The Bank Of Green Changes

Award Obtained:

BNPP has won Top employer Europe award in a 10th consecutive year.