CMC Markets are hiring! We are currently recruiting for a Senior Legal Counsel (8-10 PQE) to join our APAC Legal team in January 2025 on a permanent basis. Please note this role is only open to Sydney based candidates with full working rights (Citizen/Permanent Resident).

CMC Markets is a global leader in CFD trading and share investing. Our vision is to provide the ultimate online trading experience so everyone can achieve their financial potential. Since our launch in London in 1989, we’ve expanded globally with offices across Europe and Asia Pacific. Over 1.2 million clients make 67 million trades with us every year, and we’re still growing.

Role

The purpose of the role is to consistently deliver high quality legal services to the CFD and Stockbroking business of CMC Markets in Australia and the APAC region and advise the business in relation to legal risks in order to protect the reputation and business of CMC Markets.  This role is a close report to the Head of Legal APAC and will be entrusted and empowered to deputise on a range of matters.  The ideal candidate will have strong legal skills, will be commercially astute and will possess the maturity to navigate various matters.

Please note that we operate onsite working and would require you to come into our Barangaroo office 5 days per week.

Key responsibilities

• Report to and maintain a close working relationship with the Head of Legal, APAC.  Effectively identifying key issues that may arise, with the drive to take things forward, with a problem-solving and forward-thinking mentality.  
• Experience in and demonstrated excellence in management of a team, including the supervision of junior lawyers’ work and mentoring of softer skills, with a view to fostering a collaborative and effective legal team, to support the wider APAC Senior Management team to deliver the region’s objectives.
• Drive to preserve the effective function of a legal team which may involve the steering or the development of internal processes or policies, including a dispute handling process agreed with the Disputes Team and other stakeholders, from time to time.
• Experience in engagement of external legal firms.  Ability to effectively manage these relationships ensuring that quality advice is always provided within approved budget.
• Strong legal skills in general commercial contract review and complex negotiation.  Experience in either OTC derivatives or non-leveraged securities trading will be highly regarded, including with respect to drafting of client legal terms, consideration of regulatory matters and /or disputes.  
• Assist with the management and review of CMC Markets legal disclosure documents and other terms for both the CFD and stockbroking businesses in Australia and the APAC region including PDSs, FSGs and Stockbroking terms and conditions.
• Experience in matters relating to aspects of the Corporations Act, ASIC Act, Privacy Laws and IP.   
• Exposure to issues pertaining to financial services licensing, privacy laws and general regulatory reform, and the ability to assist the business in navigating these issues, including within the framework of a project.
• Strong and clear communicator of legal advice to a range of audiences, including to APAC Senior Management.
• Provide training (including delivering presentations) and support to staff on legal issues as required.
• Provide legal input as required into Global or APAC policies and procedures, as required from time to time.
• Provide legal advice to other areas of the business including marketing, PR, HR and IT.
• Provide guidance and negotiation in disputes, including client disputes and debtors.  General dispute and litigation dispute, as required from time to time.

Key Skills And Experience:

Essential:

• Practising solicitor with an unrestricted licence with at least 8 PQE.  A mix of solid in-house and private practice experience.
• Demonstrated ability to manage junior lawyers.
• Strong legal skills in contract review, the provision of advice in any form and transactional or project work.
• Excellent organisation, analytical and negotiation skills.
• Ability to effectively deputise and support the Head of Legal, APAC, with prior experience in a similar role.
• Willingness to learn and tackle new challenges.
• Solid understanding of the laws and regulations that cover the financial services industry including but not limited to knowledge of the Corporations Act and other equivalent legislation.

Desirable:

• Experience of the Australian or New Zealand financial services industry.
• CFD and/or stockbroking product knowledge.

Special requirements

• Current Practising Certificate

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Charity give-back days.
• 1 extra annual day of leave for your birthday.
• CMC Benefits hub, Social Club, Women@CMC, LinkedIn Learning + more.

CMC Markets is powered by our people. We are an equal opportunities employer and are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, where our people feel confident to be themselves, feel valued and are able to do their best work. We don’t just value differences and unique perspectives, we seek them out and we invite them in, because we know it will lead to better outcomes for everyone