Associate Director & Senior Counsel, Equity Derivatives

What is the opportunity?

As Senior Counsel in RBC?s US Capital Markets Law Group, based out of NYC and Jersey City, you will provide legal coverage for several business lines within US Global Equities and Global Investment Banking, with a focus on equity derivatives, margin loans and structured notes. Together with the senior lawyer covering these products, you will be responsible for identifying and explaining legal, regulatory and contractual risks for proposed transactions, collaborating with the business and other functions in developing solutions to mitigate risk and drafting and negotiating agreements in relation thereto.

What will you do?

• Advise RBC?s Strategic Equity Solutions group on issuer call spreads/capped calls, ASRs, ATM Forwards, 10b5-1/10b-18 plans, structured margin loans and various affiliate and restricted stock hedging and monetization derivatives
• Support RBC?s registered USMTN structured notes program and 144A program by advising on new products, distribution channels, marketing materials and limitations imposed under applicable rules, automation efforts, governance and more
• Advise RBC?s Structured Derivatives Documentation team and Trading on questions arising from negotiations with counterparties to OTC equity derivative transactions
• Engage with clients, distributors, service providers and their counsel on various types of agreements, including OTC equity derivative confirmations, distribution and marketing agreements for structured notes, listed options execution agreements and agreements relating to RBC?s Quantitative Investment Strategies (QIS) business
• Stay informed on legal and regulatory developments and maintain and update documentation as needed based on such developments
• Regularly engage in discussions with Sales, Trading, Structuring, Risk, Tax and others in relation to transaction structuring, execution, risk mitigation, internal approvals and lifecycle events
• Assist with ad hoc issues, projects, regulatory/legal changes and new business initiatives

What do you need to succeed?

Must-have

• Law Degree and member in good standing of the bar of a U.S. state with 2-5 years of legal experience
• Knowledge of ?33 and ?34 Act
• Familiarity with relevant ISDA documentation and framework (in particular, the 2002 Equity Definitions)
• Strong drafting, analytical and problem solving skills

Nice-to-have

• Experience covering equity derivatives (ideally corporate equity derivatives) and/or structured notes at a major investment bank and/or law firm
• Understanding of the economics of common derivative products, market practices and regulatory framework (e.g., Title VII of Dodd-Frank)
• Experience with margin loans and/or other fund financing transactions
• Knowledge of Articles 8 and 9 of the UCC and US Bankruptcy Code

What?s in it for you?

We thrive on the challenge to be our best, progressive thinking to keep growing, and working together to deliver trusted advice to help our clients thrive and communities prosper. We care about each other, reaching our potential, making a difference to our communities, and achieving success that is mutual.

• A comprehensive Total Rewards Program including bonuses and flexible benefits, competitive compensation, commissions, and stock where applicable
• Leaders who support your development through coaching and managing opportunities
• Ability to make a difference and lasting impact
• Work in a dynamic, collaborative, progressive, and high-performing team
• Flexible work/life balance options
• Opportunities to do challenging work
• Opportunities to take on progressively greater accountabilities
• Access to a variety of job opportunities across business

The good-faith expected salary range for the above position is $210,000-240,000 depending on factors including but not limited to the candidate?s experience, skills, registration status; market conditions; and business needs. This salary range does not include other elements that comprise our total compensation package, which includes the following: commission sharing eligibility for select roles, a discretionary bonus, a paid time-off plan, our 401(k) program with company-matching contributions, and our health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance.

RBC?s compensation philosophy and principles recognize the importance of a highly qualified global workforce and plays a critical role in attracting, engaging and retaining talent that:

• Drives RBC?s high performance culture
• Enables collective achievement of our strategic goals
• Generates sustainable shareholder returns and above market shareholder value

Job Skills

Additional Job Details

Practice Areas & Specialty

Banking, Compliance/Regulatory, Corporate, Derivatives, Securities