Director, Hong Kong Legal

Role Overview:

Director, Hong Kong Legal plays a critical leadership role within the Hong Kong legal team, providing strategic commercially focused advice on Hong Kong law and legal and regulatory matters affecting Citi's Hong Kong franchise. Partnering closely with senior business leaders and control functions, the role supports business objectives while effectively managing legal and regulatory risk. Reporting to and supporting the Japan Asia North and Australia Cluster Legal Head who also serves as Hong Kong General Counsel, the position provides leadership and oversight to members of the Hong Kong legal team and helps coordinate the effective delivery of franchise legal support across Hong Kong. The role also collaborates extensively with regional and global legal colleagues on complex regulatory governance transactional and contentious matters in a dynamic and highly regulated environment.

What you'll do:

• Responsible for providing legal counsel to the Citi Country Cluster Head, Citi Country Officer and country senior management, control functions and businesses on legal, regulatory and franchise matters associated with Citi’s business activities in the countries covered; ensuring that Citi is appropriately addressing legal, regulatory and franchise risks in these countries, consulting with Regional Country Counsel as appropriate
• Support strategic initiatives of the businesses and functions in countries covered by providing subject matter expertise and interpretations of relevant laws, rules, regulations, and industry practices, and advising business management/leadership on all manner of legal matters impacting the business
• Manage a team by providing guidance, evaluating employee performance, and providing recommendations for pay increases, promotions, terminations, personnel-related matters, as applicable
• Drive the provision of internal and external legal support to Citi’s local businesses in Hong Kong, working closely with the relevant Regional General Counsel (or his or her designee) to ensure that Citi’s legal needs are met in a cost‐effective manner
• Develop a broad understanding of Citi’s businesses in the Hong Kong and of the major legal and regulatory risks facing those businesses and/or the Citi franchise
• Ensure business decisions are made with legal guidance; applying institutional knowledge against industry standard, widely accepted business practices, laws, rules, and regulatory guidelines; identifying when to escalate when necessary
• Drive collaboration across internal lines of business and control/support functions to achieve coordinated and efficient outcomes on matters of common interest; coordinate closely with other legal team members, as appropriate
• Advise (or arrange for the provision of legal advice by other internal or external counsel to) business management on legal and regulatory risks affecting Citi’s businesses in the Hong Kong, as well as franchise and reputational risks, to help ensure that Citi is appropriately addressing those risks
• Provide legal advice to the Citi Cluster Head and/or Citi Country Officer and country management to drive Citi’s maintaining good relations with local regulators and all other local regulatory bodies that are relevant to Citi business activities
• Assure that key legal and regulatory developments that may impact or otherwise be relevant to Citi’s businesses in the country – including those involving other financial institutions – are appropriately monitored and that country management is apprised of significant developments
• Take an active role in any relevant country‐level or cluster‐level governance committees (directly or through his/her team), e.g., country coordinating committee, business risk & controls committee; act as lawyer providing support to the country in any matter.
• Manage day-to-day legal activities as a subject matter expert in area of responsibility and provide senior advisory services to business partners
• Appropriately assess risk when business decisions are made, demonstrating particular consideration for the firm's reputation and safeguarding Citigroup, its clients and assets, by driving compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, adhering to Policy, applying sound ethical judgment regarding personal behavior, conduct and business practices, and escalating, managing and reporting control issues with transparency, as well as effectively supervise the activity of others and create accountability with those who fail to maintain these standards

What we need from you:

• Chinese language proficiency is an advantage
• Hong Kong legal qualification is preferred
• 15+ years of specific relevant industry experience with some experience working in an in-house legal role in financial services; 8-10+ years' managerial experience
• Excellent leadership, interpersonal, organizational and relationship management skills
• Excellent command of local languages
• Proven ability to manage multiple assignments simultaneously in a demanding, fast-paced environment
• Comprehensive knowledge of international, multi-jurisdictional laws and practices while staying abreast of regulatory and legal environment, internal policies and industry trends that impact the business
• Effective communication and negotiation skills and ability to build and maintain trusted relationships
• Bar license in good standing to practice law
• Prior experience in supporting consumer banking/wealth business is an advantage

Education:

Juris Doctorate or equivalent law degree

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## Job Family Group:

Legal

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## Job Family:

Legal - Country

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## Time Type:

Full time

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## Most Relevant Skills

Please see the requirements listed above.

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## Other Relevant Skills

For complementary skills, please see above and/or contact the recruiter.

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