Legal Counsel - (Equity Derivatives, Trading Documentation)

Responsibilities

• Provide legal coverage for the equities sales and trading business, including equity derivatives and structured equity finance transactions.
• Draft, review, and negotiate ISDA Master Agreements, Initial and Variation Margin CSAs, master confirmation agreements, and related trade confirmations.
• Advise on regulatory and documentation requirements related to uncleared margin rules and other derivatives regulations.
• Support trading activity across equity swaps, options, and forwards.
• Draft and negotiate securities financing documentation, including MRAs and MSLAs maintain and enhance standard documentation templates.
• Partner closely with Credit, Market Risk, Collateral Management, Operations, and other internal stakeholders to address legal, operational, and risk matters.
• Provide legal support for additional equity‑linked products, including structured notes, corporate equity derivatives (e.g., ASRs and ATM issuer forwards), custom indices, quantitative investment strategies (QIS), and exotic equity options.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited U.S. law school.
• Member in good standing of the New York State Bar.
• 5+ years of relevant legal experience within a financial institution or top‑tier law firm.
• Strong understanding of Title VII of the Dodd‑Frank Act and related derivatives regulations.
• In‑depth knowledge of derivatives markets, including cleared and uncleared products, margin requirements, and business conduct standards.
• Proven ability to manage multiple complex matters and tight deadlines in a trading‑floor environment.
• Proactive, resourceful, and able to operate independently while exercising sound judgment.
• Detail‑oriented, collaborative team player with strong interpersonal skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, organizational, and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated professionalism and strong work ethic.
• #LI-Hybrid
• #LI-NR1
• Other requirements
• Company Overview
• Mizuho Americas offers a competitive total rewards package.
• We are an EEO/AA Employer - M/F/Disability/Veteran.
• We participate in the E-Verify program.
• We maintain a drug-free workplace and reserve the right to require pre- and post-hire drug testing as permitted by applicable law.
• #LI-MIZUHO

Benefits

Additional Information

Legal Counsel - (Equity Derivatives, Trading Documentation) Role Summary Mizuho Americas is seeking an experienced Legal Counsel to support its equity sales and trading platform, with a focus on equity derivatives and structured equity finance (equity repo, securities lending, delta 1 swaps). This role works closely with front‑office, risk, and operations partners to manage legal and regulatory risk, negotiate complex trading documentation, and support a broad range of equity and equity‑linked products in a fast‑paced markets environment.

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