Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX)
Legal Counsel, Regulatory
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Senior Regulatory Legal Counsel – Assistant Vice President (AVP)
Shift Pattern & Location
- Standard 40-hour week (United Kingdom)
- Location: UK-London
- Corporate Grade: D – Assistant Vice President
- Reports to: (UK Division) Legal & Company Secretariat
About The Role
This is a rare opportunity for an ambitious lawyer to join The London Metal Exchange (LME), the world’s leading industrial metals marketplace that sets global reference prices. The LME stands out due to:
- The efficiency and trust in its marketplace,
- The financial clout of London’s wider financial sector,
- The strength and robustness of London’s legal system.
You will join the LME’s regulatory (legal) team as an AVP, working alongside the team manager and the General Counsel, to deliver practical legal advice across the organisation. The team is responsible for advising on metals trading and associated products, supporting both core business operations and the development of new products in a highly regulated environment.
Right from the start, you will own matters of genuine consequence, providing high-value legal advice to stakeholders at all levels. Your work will span:
- Regulatory matters
- Public law and LME Rules
- Commercially sound risk analysis
You will operate with autonomy, engaging directly with various LME business teams to resolve queries on topics such as:
- Trading
- Position management
- Market data licensing
- Benchmark regulation
- LME member on-boarding
- Rules interpretation
Additionally, you may collaborate on clearing, commercial, and contractual issues.
What You Will Gain
- Early ownership of complex, high-value projects, helping you develop:
- Analytical, drafting, negotiation, and presentation skills
- The opportunity to advising business teams independently or collaboratively
- Mentorship and guidance from senior lawyers and the General Counsel
- Expertise across a unique combination of:
- Regulatory law
- Public law
- Contract law
- Commodity derivatives contracts
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For ambitious lawyers interested in financial services regulation within commodities, this is a rare and impactful opportunity.
Responsibilities
- Provide regulatory advice, both independently and as part of cross-functional teams, on LME products and services
- Collaborate with stakeholders across the organisation, including:
- Trading & Business Development
- Market Surveillance
- Market Access
- Market Structure
- Market Data & Regulatory Compliance
- to deliver practical, legal advice
- Advise on key regulatory changes impacting the commodity derivatives framework
- Respond to LME members on rules, compliance, and operational inquiries
- Monitor legal and regulatory developments, assess their impact on the LME, and draft responses to public consultations
- In collaboration with internal stakeholders and Corporate Communications
- Support the development of new products/projects/initiatives, including:
- Defining legal requirements
- Assessing potential risks
- Drafting legal documentation
- Manage external counsel to ensure optimal service delivery while controlling costs
Academic & Professional Qualifications Required
- Admission as a solicitor in England & Wales, or equivalent qualified in Scotland or a foreign jurisdiction
- 1 to 5 years post-qualification experience, though candidates outside this range are encouraged to apply
- Strong preference for candidates with experience at:
- Reputable UK City law firms
- Established foreign legal firms
- Financial services firms (banks, investment firms, financial market infrastructure)
- Trade bodies or regulators advising on wholesale financial regulation
- In-house positions are advantageous but not mandatory
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Required Knowledge & Experience
- Basic working knowledge of UK financial services law (for overseas-qualified candidates, experience in home jurisdiction + willingness to upskill in UK financial services law is critical)
- Practical experience in:
- Legal research & problem-solving
- Strong drafting & communication skills
- Commercial legal judgement (reasoned risk assessment)
- Drafting both legal advice and agreements
- Ability to work autonomously, with the wisdom to escalate where necessary
Desirable Knowledge
- Understanding of the commercial and regulatory landscape of the LME Group
- Experience in physical/financial commodities markets
- Familiarity with UK financial services regulations, including:
- MIFID/MIFIR
- FSMA
- Benchmark Regulation (UK BMR)
- Experience in contract law (though not the primary focus of this role)
Required Skills & Core Competencies
- Enthusiastic learnability — the role requires developing expertise in an agile manner alongside business demands
- Quick learner
- Exceptional attention to detail, analytical judgement
- Strong interpersonal skills & a collaborative mindset
- Clear, influential communication (across all hierarchical levels)
- Ability to balance teamwork with autonomy while managing workloads effectively
- Excellent drafting ability
- Commercial acumen, able to bridge legal advice with business strategy
A Note on Equality & Inclusion
The LME is committed to diversity and encourages candidates from all backgrounds—proudly valuing education, ethnicity, identity, experience, and perspective.
We endeavour to create an environment where open collaboration and mutual respect thrive.
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