15 Oct 2026

SMBC: A trusted partner for the long term

Here at SMBC Group, we want to help you find the next step in your career so read on to discover if this opportunity is the one for you. We like to recognise potential in our people, so we welcome your application even when your experience doesn’t perfectly align with the job description. Whilst we’ll always strive to be better, we’re proud of our inclusive culture, and encourage our applicants and colleagues to be their authentic, unique selves.

Who we are

United by a sense of purpose towards our customers – to be a trusted partner for the long-term – and our universal banking platform in EMEA, SMBC Group has an international growth agenda and award-winning products, meaning we provide exciting opportunities to work on a diverse range of projects and initiatives. We deliver a full suite of corporate finance products and solutions to our customers as well as investment banking and advisory services, and a range of innovative solutions in global capital markets. Read on to find out how you could enhance your skills and gain valuable experience, by joining us to support our clients transition to a sustainable future.

Role Summary

The Legal Counsel will be a key member of the Corporate Banking Legal team within STPD-Legal Group. The role will involve leading on the drafting, reviewing and advising on a broad range of finance documentation - with a particular focus on trade finance documentation - and supporting and advising on the structuring and execution of such transactions in accordance with internal requirements and policies and external regulations.

Success is demonstrated through sound judgement, responsiveness, attention to detail, and the ability to adapt to changing business and team priorities. The Legal Counsel will also both lead on and support a broad range of legal and departmental initiatives and projects as required, contributing where needed to help the team achieve its objectives.

Business Area

The role operates within the EMEA Legal team, collaborating with Front Office across multiple EMEA offices (notably DIFC, Paris and Frankfurt), ensuring alignment with global standards. The role will be based in the Corporate Banking Legal sub-team operating out of London.

The person will be liaising with stakeholders of a broad range of seniority across various groups in the Bank as well as customers of the Bank where required in relation to a broad range of transactional documentation and legal issues, as well as representing the STPD-Legal Group in important bankwide projects and committees where relevant.

Geographic Scope: Role operates from London and interacts across all EMEA offices.

Portfolio / Process Volume: Responsible for between 10 and 20 matters at any one time.

Team Size / People Impact: Works within a sub-team of six and a wider team of c.40.

Time Horizon: Output will affect Front Office’s ability to transact; efficiency of service is therefore critical.

Regulatory Impact: Bank’s activities subject to PRA/FCA oversight and internal and external audit.

Position Description

Accountable for providing legal support to the Trade Finance business, so that the transaction, structures and documents are in line with bank’s risk appetite/policies, market practice and all relevant laws/regulations;

Reviewing, drafting and negotiating a broad range of trade finance documentation, including letters of credit, guarantees, supply chain finance arrangements, receivables purchase agreements, trade loans, risk participations, commodities finance, facility agreements, security documents, indemnities, legal opinions and related customer documentation, as well as other general banking and lending documentation for business stakeholders across the EMEA region with and without support from external legal counsel;

Advising on legal, structuring, due diligence and execution issues in connection with such transactions, and liaising closely with business promotion groups and operational and back office teams on such matters;

Leading on a significant trade finance templating update/creation of minimum standards including instructing and overseeing external counsel where appropriate;

Monitoring and advising on regulatory matters and market developments relevant to trade finance;

Training and overseeing junior colleagues on the above as relevant;

Ensuring documentation and related processes comply with internal policies, governance requirements and applicable law/regulations;

Applying legal knowledge and sound judgement to identify, assess, escalate and mitigate legal, regulatory and reputational risks with appropriate solutions;

Building strong working relationships across the Bank and wider SMBC Group, working with stakeholders to achieve timely and effective outcomes;

Identifying and contributing solutions to governance, process improvements, legal know-how and other initiatives that enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the legal function, including integration of AI within the legal team;

Taking on general finance and commercial work, both transaction and project based, undertaken by STPD-Legal Group as and when required, which may include confidentiality agreements, term sheets, engagement letters and release/reliance letters and/or may be in relation to participating in a working group on matters such as ESG, defaults, capital solutions, etc; and

Taking ownership of assigned matters and providing flexible support on legal, transactional and operational priorities as required by the STPD Legal Group

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Essential: 

Qualified lawyer with 4+ years’ post qualification experience, with solid experience in trade finance and general banking gained at a top tier law firm and/or financial institution.

Strong track record of dealing with complex trade finance deals across multiple jurisdictions globally

Solid, demonstrable working knowledge of market standard trade finance documentation (BAFT, LMA, etc), structures, products, services and rules (incl. ICC rules, SWIFT formats, etc) and ability to structure complex/bespoke trade transactions.

Excellent written and verbal communication in English, and the ability to explain complex legal issues/concepts to non-native English speaking stakeholders globally attention to relevant details.

Expected to attend CPD training courses in order to keep updated in relation to market documentation and product developments; new and emerging legal issues, particularly in the context of trade finance.

Legal is changing and the successful candidate will be AI proficient with experience of co-pilot, co-counsel or other AIs as a minimum with a track record for creative problem solving.

Ability to work under pressure, managing a large number of issues/reviews/projects concurrently. The ability to prioritise matters and manage stakeholders is essential.

Pro-active with the ability to build great stakeholder relationships and demonstrate value as a trusted advisor to the business.

Risk awareness: able to identify and escalate risks, mitigants and appropriate solutions, operating with a high degree of autonomy.

Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues both within and outside of the legal team.

Desirable: 

Experience working in an in-house environment.

Experience in drafting, negotiating and advising on transaction banking documentation