Legal Counsel, Southeast Asia- Vice President

Role Summary

Lawyer working as part of a team reporting to Head of Legal (Institutional Services, Southeast Asia), supporting State Street's institutional services business, including trust and collective investment funds services, custodial and fund accounting services, investment manager outsourcing, performance and analytics, collateral services, transfer agency, software licensing and other administrative services in Southeast Asia (covering Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand and Indonesia), with some support required for other offshore jurisdictions. As part of a regional team of lawyers, the successful candidate may also be required to provide support to other aspects of State Street's business in region.
The role encompasses advising senior management on legal matters affecting the continued operation and expansion of the institutional services business in Southeast Asia; actively participating in onboarding new clients; assessing and developing new products, services and markets; advising on corporate and regulatory governance matters affecting trust and global custody activities; digital and crypto developments; and researching and analysing the impact of legislative developments on the business.

Key Responsibilities

• Advise on financial services and related laws applicable to the key business areas of trust and collective investment fund services, custody and administrative services, software licensing, and investment manager outsourcing, as well as corporate and governance matters.
• Advise on regulatory and governance matters affecting State Street's institutional services business in Southeast Asia (including in relation to Singapore VCCs and developments in the digital token / crypto industry) , although experience in all in-scope jurisdictions is not required
• Participate in the development of new products and services and expansion into new markets, including active participation in the new products approval process
• Participate in onboarding of new clients, including interacting and negotiating directly with prospects and contributing to RFP responses and deal team as needed
• Draft and negotiate key service agreements with customers and/or services providers (e.g. trust deeds, custody services agreements, administrative services agreements, transfer agency agreements etc.)
• Provide reporting as needed for legal department management and local governance committees
• Conduct regular and/or ad hoc educational seminars for employees on legal issues relating to the relevant business unit
• Provide miscellaneous legal advice as required over a range of issues affecting the business
• Participate in special projects as required
• Manage outside counsel as required

Experience / Qualification / Key Skills / Attributes

• Solicitor with a minimum of 4-6 years' experience (must be PQE) specifically in the financial sector and preferably with specific recent experience supporting trustee, unit trust and/or collective investment schemes operations, alternatives clients, and global custody services. A combination of in-house and law firm experience is desirable. A lesser period of PQE or legal experience in another sector may be acceptable, depending on the candidate's other skills, qualifications and experience. Must have experience and/or qualifications in a common law jurisdiction
• Ability to interact/negotiate as required directly with clients, prospects and regulators in country
• Keen understanding of current market practices applicable to unit trusts and collective investment schemes (including the Singapore VCC regime), and global custody services
• Interest/experience in the digital token / crypto industry will be an advantage
• Ability to work with the business units to develop practical solutions within applicable legal constraints
• Fluency in English and English drafting essential; Fluency in Mandarin and Chinese drafting highly desired.
• Ability to sustain strong relationships with internal and external clients, peers and staff and interact with multiple levels in the organization
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment
• Strong project management skills and deadline oriented, ability to prioritise and execute multiple tasks with attention to detail
• Flexible, with an ability to gain quick familiarity of the regulatory regime applicable to new products or services

The above cited duties and responsibilities describe the general nature and level of work to be performed by the successful candidate. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that an incumbent may be expected or asked to perform.