Legal Counsel

Societe Generale’s Investment Banking Division operates in all major markets with close to 12,000 staff in more than 30 countries.  The development of its capital markets activities continues at a steady pace, driven by the ambition to grow market share.  Keys to future successes are the continuous development of client on-boarding capability, the successful embracing of an increase in market sophistication and the intelligent adaptation to the challenges of ongoing regulatory change.

This position is based in the Montreal office of Societe Generale, and sits within SG’s U.S. Legal Department.  In this role, the person will work closely with attorneys and other legal professionals in New York to support the activities and operations of SG’s U.S. Legal Department.

Societe Generale’s U.S. Legal Department works in collaboration with a global team with main hubs in London, Paris, Hong Kong and Bangalore.  The Legal Group has strong alignment with business and operational activity globally and therefore plays a key role in the success of Societe Generale’s capital markets ambitions.  The Legal Group interacts directly both with external counterparts and with members of internal business divisions while also coordinating the efforts of credit, risk, operations and collateral teams who share responsibility for the success of SG’s client on-boarding activities.

As the new Legal Counsel, your Responsibilities will be : 

·       Providing legal coverage to SG’s structured products activities in the U.S. and Latam with a view to reducing legal, regulatory and reputational risks for SG

·       Support SG’s structured notes issuance programs in the United States. Primary legal responsibilities include:

o   Drafting product specific disclosure materials

o   Drafting and negotiating distribution agreements

o   Working with team members on document execution

o   Participating in and coordinating scheduled diligence updates and other regulatory renewals for the structured notes program

o   Supporting senior attorneys in providing legal guidance on and solving regulatory issues relating to the structured notes program

o   Solving novel documentation and regulatory issues associated with new structured products, and

o   Managing the general administrative tasks relating to structured products program

·       Develop understanding of U.S. securities laws, broker-dealer regulations, and best market practices as they relate to securities offerings

·       Identify new ways to improve the existing legal process associated with legal execution of structured notes offerings

·       Work with internal and external legal counsel on regulatory and tax issues and complex transactions

·       Conduct legal review of marketing materials relating to the structured products program 

·       Draft and negotiate confidentiality agreements with external counterparties

·       Support SG’s digital transformation projects to the extent they relate to structured products

Technical Skills:

·       Strong communication skills

·       Strong interpersonal skills

·       Strong research skills

·       Strong aptitude for and understanding of complex payoffs and financial products

·       Strong skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Competencies:

·       strong multi-tasking abilities by effectively managing and prioritizing multiple tasks and deadlines simultaneously

·       Detail oriented

·       Result orientation and client focus

·       Ability to work under pressure and manage deadlines

·       Ability to coordinate across teams and jurisdictions

·       Ability to follow instructions and provide new ideas

Languages:

·       Bilingual in English and French: Ability to communicate fluently in French and in English, both orally and in writing, is a requirement as the person in this position will need to collaborate regularly with colleagues and partners in the United States

Experience preferred:

·       1-3 years of experience at a major law firm and/or in-house legal or compliance at a bank or other financial services institution with similar businesses as Societe Generale

·       Early-career lawyers are welcome to apply if they demonstrate:

o   a strong motivation to gain legal experience in U.S. securities laws, capital markets and related legal practices; and

o   A commitment to professional growth within the organization, with a dedication to developing their career as an in-house attorney

Educational Requirements:

·       Law degree from a US or Canadian law school

·       Canadian Bar and, Ideally, member of New York State Bar

Due to US Federal Securities law applying to this position, candidates who will apply for this position will be required to submit to an enhanced background screening, including the collection of their fingerprints by a third-party vendor selected by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA")

OUR BENEFITS:

WHAT WE DO DIFFERENTLY AT SOCIÉTÉ GÉNÉRALE

Competitive compensation & benefits offering, including but not limited to:

• Minimum of 20 Vacation days + 4 personal days 
  • Supportive Maternity, paternity, parental and adoption leave policy 
  • Health spending ($2,000/year) and personal spending ($1,000/year) accounts with 75+ eligible reimbursement categories (health, training, electronics etc.)

Fully sponsored virtual healthcare assistance and Employee Assistance Program to you and your immediate family

Various Employee Resource Groups (ERG) to engage with such as Pride and Allies, American Women Network, Black Leadership Network, One planet, etc.

• A culture of continuous development by encouraging our employees various training programs (online training and coaching platform such as Coursera, GoFluent, Pluralsight, First Finance, and others)

Societe Generale is committed to offering an inclusive recruitment experience to all candidates. If you require any reasonable accommodations during the recruitment process, please do not hesitate to let our Recruiters know.

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. For more information about our Culture and Conduct initiatives, please visit this link (https://americas.societegenerale.com/en/careers/get-know-culture/)

D&I: 
Our Diversity & Inclusion 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 Diversity & Inclusion 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

For more information about our D&I initiatives, please visit this link (https://americas.societegenerale.com/en/societe-generale-about/diversity-and-inclusion/)

HYBRID WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Societe Generale offers a hybrid work arrangement that offers employees the flexibility to work remotely, as well as on-site, in order to promote interaction and collaboration with colleagues while adhering to all SG standard protocols.  Hybrid work arrangements vary based on business area.  The applicable business lines will determine and communicate the work arrangements that best meet their business needs.