M&A and Capital Markets Lawyer

Role Purpose

Provide legal advice and execution support on M&A and Equity Capital Markets transactions (including equity-linked / convertible and hybrid instruments) for the Investment Banking Division (IBD) in Asia Pacific.

Key Responsibilities

• Advise IBD deal teams on legal, regulatory, structural and reputational issues across public and private M&A in Asia Pacific and equity capital markets transactions in Hong Kong and India, including IPOs, placements/block trades and equity-linked transactions (e.g., convertible bonds/notes, and exchangeables bonds/ notes).
• Draft, review and negotiate key transaction documentation, including engagement/mandate letters, confidentiality agreements, underwriting/placing/transaction documents and related closing deliverables.
• Work closely with senior management and internal control functions (including Compliance and Risk) to manage legal, regulatory and reputational risks; escalate material issues appropriately and support approvals and governance processes.
• Liaise with, instruct and supervise external counsel (including scope, timelines, quality and cost) and coordinate regulatory/stock exchange interactions where relevant.
• Maintain and enhance templates, standard forms and internal legal know-how to improve efficiency and consistency across transactions; contribute to training and knowledge sharing for IBD and Legal.
• Devise and implement relevant policies and procedures in response to regulatory developments impacting the IBD business.

• Qualified lawyer with a law degree and admission to practise; common law qualification preferred.
• Minimum 5 years’ post-qualification experience gained at a top-tier international law firm and/or leading financial institution.
• Strong transactional experience across M&A and equity capital markets, including equity-linked/convertible or hybrid instruments; familiarity with related execution mechanics and documentation is advantageous.
• Hong Kong public takeover experience preferred.
• Good knowledge of Hong Kong capital markets regulatory frameworks relevant to ECM/M&A (e.g., HKEX Listing Rules, SFO and Takeovers Code) and ability to work effectively with internal stakeholders on regulatory matters.
• Sound commercial judgment and strong analytical skills, with the ability to provide practical, solution-oriented advice in a fast-paced execution environment.
• Strong drafting and negotiation skills; excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Detail-oriented with strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple matters and deadlines.
• Fluency in spoken and written English and Chinese; Mandarin is an advantage (and Chinese drafting capability where required).
• Motivated and able to work independently while respecting reporting and escalation procedures.

Our Culture: 

At Societe Generale, we live by our 4 core values of commitment, responsibility, team spirit and innovation. We are engaged and demonstrate consideration for others. We act ethically and with courage. We focus our talent and energy on collective success. We experiment and propose new ideas. This way, we maximize our ability to serve client needs and anticipate market changes. Societe Generale is committed to strengthening bonds with colleagues, communities, and the world in which we live, because relationships are at the heart of how we operate. Please visit our APAC career website: https://www.societegenerale.asia/en/careers/building-your-career-with/ for more information.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I):

Our mission: Recruit, develop, advance, and retain a diverse workforce that is united in our efforts to enhance our competitive position and deliver innovative solutions to our clients.

Our vision:

• Engaged workforce that is demographically diverse in a way that reflects the communities in which we operate
• Inclusive culture and workplace that recognizes employees' unique needs and utilizes their diverse talents 
• Engage our community and marketplace, and position the organization to meet the needs of all its clients

Check out our DE&I initiatives: https://www.societegenerale.asia/en/careers/diversity-equity-inclusion-dei/

Societe Generale is committed to offering inclusive recruitment experience to all candidates.  If you require any reasonable accommodation of assistance during the recruitment process, please do not hesitate to let our HR staff know.

Department Description

The Asia-Pacific Legal division has a local presence in China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Australia, Taiwan and Singapore.