Description

A leading global investment bank is seeking an experienced Director, Legal Counsel to join its Tokyo Legal team. This senior-level position offers the opportunity to advise on complex domestic and cross-border financing transactions while partnering with senior stakeholders across Japan, APAC, Europe, and the Middle East.

As a trusted legal advisor, you will provide strategic guidance on financing, banking, and regulatory matters while helping the business navigate legal risks in a rapidly evolving financial services environment. This role is ideal for qualified lawyers seeking exposure to sophisticated investment banking transactions and high-profile international projects.
Key Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice and support across a broad range of financing, lending, and banking transactions.
• Draft, review, negotiate, and approve complex financing agreements and transaction documentation.
• Advise business stakeholders on legal, regulatory, and reputational risks while recommending effective mitigation strategies.
• Monitor developments in Japanese banking laws, financial regulations, and market practices.
• Manage relationships with external legal counsel and oversee legal spend and budget allocation.
• Develop, maintain, and improve legal templates, policies, and internal documentation processes.
• Partner with senior management and regional stakeholders across APAC, Europe, and the Middle East on strategic business initiatives.
• Support governance, regulatory, compliance, and legal matters impacting the Japan business.

Required Skills and Qualifications Experience:

• Qualified lawyer in Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, or another recognized jurisdiction.
• Approximately 6+ years of post-qualification experience within banking, finance, investment banking, capital markets, or related legal functions.
• Strong knowledge of Japanese financial regulations, banking laws, and market practices.
• Extensive experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex financing and banking documentation.
• Experience advising on domestic and cross-border financing transactions.
• Experience working with senior stakeholders within financial institutions or multinational organizations.

Soft Skills:

• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
• Ability to work independently and manage competing priorities effectively.
• Strong organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail.
• Commercial mindset with the ability to provide practical legal solutions.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, international environment.

Language Requirements:

• Japanese: Fluent.
• English: Fluent.

Preferred Skills & Qualifications

• Experience mentoring or supporting junior legal professionals.
• Exposure to international banking, corporate banking, or investment banking environments.
• Broad financing experience across acquisition finance, project finance, asset finance, structured finance, or capital markets products.
• Experience managing external counsel relationships and legal budgets.
• Experience working closely with executive leadership and senior business stakeholders.

About the Company
Our client is a leading global investment bank and part of one of France's largest banking groups. With a strong international presence and an expanding platform in Japan, the firm provides advisory, financing, corporate banking, and capital markets solutions to corporations, financial institutions, sponsors, and public sector organizations worldwide.

The legal team works closely with business stakeholders across Tokyo, APAC, Europe, and the Middle East, offering exposure to sophisticated cross-border transactions, strategic initiatives, and complex financing structures within a highly collaborative international environment.
Why You'll Love Working Here

• Work on high-profile domestic and international financing transactions.
• Gain direct exposure to senior management and global decision-makers.
• Collaborate with legal and business teams across APAC, Europe, and the Middle East.
• Develop expertise across acquisition finance, project finance, asset finance, structured finance, and capital markets transactions.
• Join a highly visible legal team with significant influence on business strategy.
• Build a long-term career within a globally recognized financial institution.
• Enjoy daily interaction with international stakeholders in a truly global environment.
• Opportunity to work on complex, market-leading transactions that shape the financial industry.

Don't Miss Out - Apply Now!