Senior Legal Counsel

Legal Europe is a trusted partner to the business, playing a critical role in enabling commercial growth while managing legal and regulatory risk for Optiver’s European trading businesses. We are looking for an experienced financial markets lawyer who can operate as a trusted adviser to the business from day one. You’ll lead complex negotiations, advise senior stakeholders and take ownership of significant legal matters in a fast-moving environment where your advice has direct commercial impact.

As a Senior Legal Counsel, you will work closely with trading, compliance, risk, finance, operations and technology teams. You will support the businesses and trading desks covered by the Legal Europe team, including European listed derivatives, commodities and systematic trading businesses. The role is primarily focused on listed markets and market infrastructure. You will partner directly with traders and business leaders, developing a deep understanding of the products, markets and commercial objectives of the desks you support.

Your responsibilities will include leading legal support for key business initiatives and acting as the primary legal adviser to assigned trading desks; advising traders and business stakeholders on legal issues arising from market making, exchange trading, listed derivatives, clearing and related market infrastructure; challenging stakeholders where appropriate and helping shape commercial outcomes through clear, pragmatic legal advice; drafting, reviewing and negotiating trading and commercial documentation, including futures and options clearing agreements, prime brokerage agreements, execution, brokerage and market access agreements, exchange and market infrastructure documentation, market data, connectivity and trading technology agreements, and other commercial agreements supporting the trading business; providing pragmatic advice on market structure, trading regulation, market conduct and legal risk affecting the European trading business; working closely with compliance and risk teams to develop practical solutions that balance business objectives and legal risk; supporting strategic projects, including new market launches, legal entity expansions and growth initiatives; managing external counsel where specialist jurisdictional or product expertise is required; developing scalable legal processes, templates, playbooks and technology-enabled solutions; and contributing to the continued development of Legal as a proactive, commercially focused business partner.

Applicants must be qualified lawyers in England and Wales, with 8–15 years’ post-qualification experience, most of it focused on financial markets, derivatives or trading. Experience within the markets legal function of an investment bank or other financial markets participant is required; experience at a leading international law firm with a recognised financial markets, derivatives or trading practice is desirable. Candidates should have demonstrable experience advising trading businesses on legal and commercial issues, including trading regulation and close partnership with front-office trading businesses, as well as strong experience negotiating complex financial markets agreements. A strong understanding of financial market infrastructure, including exchanges, central counterparties, clearing brokers and execution models, is expected.

The role requires the judgement and confidence to lead negotiations independently, balance legal and commercial risk and provide pragmatic advice without close supervision. Candidates should have outstanding drafting, analytical and communication skills, the ability to explain complex legal issues clearly to traders, technologists and senior management, and the ability to manage multiple high-priority matters simultaneously. Intellectual curiosity, a genuine interest in the products, strategies and markets underpinning Optiver’s trading business, and a collaborative, low-ego approach are important.

Experience at a proprietary trading firm or market maker, experience supporting algorithmic or electronic trading businesses, familiarity with MiFID II, UK MiFIR and exchange rulebooks, experience implementing scalable legal processes or legal technology, and experience supporting strategic business projects would be advantageous.

Optiver’s mission is to constantly improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and acting as a stabilising force. As one of the largest market-making institutions, Optiver is a trusted partner of more than 70 exchanges across the globe.

The role offers a performance-based bonus structure through the global profit pool, 27 paid vacation days plus UK public holidays, daily breakfast and lunch, support with commuting expenses, private medical insurance, a pension scheme, ClassPass fitness membership, training and continuous learning opportunities including access to conferences and technology events, and international transfer opportunities for global career growth.