Senior Associate - Legal Specialist

To provide legal support to Global Transaction Services Department (“GTS”), Custody Business and DBS IFSC Banking Unit (“IBU”) in India.

Key Accountabilities

· Business Enabler - Provide pragmatic and effective legal advice to manage legal risk and achieve business objectives. Be a business partner to each business team/support team and establish close working relationship with them. Manage and build relationships with external legal advisers, including ensuring high performance levels and appropriate billing.

· Drafting and Negotiation – Ability to innovate and standardize documents to make them customer friendly. Draft, review, vet and negotiate the documentation with respect to GTS transactions, Custody Business and IBU.

· Anticipate and manage legal risk - Identify, evaluate, advise and manage the legal risk in transactions related to GTS, Custody and IBU.

· Customer Focus - Participate in the development of transparent and legally sound process and policies. Conduct risk reviews and develop procedures designed to reduce the legal risk.

· Think Strategically – Keep the team and units updated on changes in law.

Job Duties & responsibilities

· Advise, draft, review and negotiate the legal documentation with respect to GTS transactions which includes Account Receivable Purchase, Supplier Payment Services, LC, BG, Bill Discounting, Supplier Finance, Dealer Finance, BCIA, etc.

• Advise, draft, review and negotiate the documentation with respect to Cash Management arrangements and Escrow arrangements etc.

• Advise, draft, review, negotiate and finalize custody related agreements, POA, terms and conditions, etc in relation to DBS’s Custody related work in India.

• Advise, draft, review, negotiate and finalize the legal documentation with respect to IBU.

• Provide day-to-day legal support in the form of advisory to GTS, Custody, IBU and support units of the Bank.

• Work with compliance team to ensure effective interpretation and recommendations on SEBI and RBI regulations and policies affecting GTS, Custody and IBU.

• Annual review of the standard documentation and simplifying and standardizing the documents and setting up of processes for streamlining the day to day queries of business and support units.

• Adhere to the legal risk management policies of the Bank at all times and any prescribed legal standards.

• Identify and highlight legal risks appropriately while providing mitigating solutions.

• Liaise with consultants/law firms and advocates.

Required Experience

• Qualified lawyer with at least 7-8 years post qualification experience in GTS, Custody and IBU Legal commensurate with the required capabilities detailed above.

• Good knowledge of RBI and SEBI guidelines.

• Experience of commercial banking procedures and practice.

• Good academic grounding.

Education / Preferred Qualifications

A Graduate with LLB/ LLM or other recognized legal degree with experience in banking or financial services industry especially in Trade Finance, Transaction Banking, Custody and IBU.

Core Competencies

• Excellent diagnostic skills and rigorous approach to problem solving.

• Excellent analytical, communication and negotiation skills, especially drafting & writing skills.

• Ability to think creatively and identify innovative solutions for operational challenges.

• Strong formal presentation skills to gain acceptance to solutions, both internally and externally.

• Should be able to identify and forecast legal & compliance risks in line with proposed business growth & find solutions.

Technical Competencies

• Good knowledge of banking practices and financial services and all related laws in India especially India Contract Act, 1872, Companies Act, 2013, Transfer of Property, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and regulations issued by RBI, SEBI etc.

• Sound knowledge of the overall banking environment with specific emphasis to GTS, IBU Custody and FPI Regulations.

• Strong technical knowledge ability to grasp new technical areas of law quickly.

• Must have overview of the applicability of various statutes/ laws applicable.

Work Relationship

• Close working relationship with business, product owners & internal support functions.

• Close collaboration with Legal & Compliance team in India and Singapore