Assistant General Counsel

Role Overview

The position reports to the Associate General Counsel and Managing Director EMEA. This role provides broad, hands‑on legal support to the S&P DJI business, including legal advice and support to internal clients; drafting, reviewing and negotiating contracts and other legal documents related to licensing indices, data licensing, joint marketing, consulting agreements, and more; reviewing marketing material; conducting legal research; managing external legal resources; and training employees on legal issues and contracting procedures.

Responsibilities

• Partner with business stakeholders to align product and commercial strategy; draft, review, and negotiate a wide variety of commercial agreements on licensing indices for financial products, data subscription and distribution, inbound data and technology, custom calculation services, web‑based services, and consulting relationships.
• Advise on creation and publication of thought‑leadership and marketing materials, factoring in financial regulations.
• Provide regulatory interpretation and guidance on UK and European financial regulations including the Benchmarks Regulation, UCITS, MiFIDII, DORA, GDPR; monitor regulatory developments and translate them into actionable business guidance.
• Support engagement with regulatory authorities (FCA, ESMA, EU national competent authorities) and policy teams; respond to regulatory consultations, prepare submissions, and liaise with authorities.
• Advise sales and business teams across regions on legal risk and provide business‑oriented legal solutions related to complex index licensing, insurance, and bank hedging OTC products.
• Advise on corporate governance matters, including board and committee support, governance frameworks, corporate secretarial matters, and entity management.
• Collaborate with the S&P DJI Legal Team to provide strategic and legal input on matters across business areas.
• Advise compliance on policies and procedures such as confidentiality and insider trading, and support RFPs, customer due diligence, risk questionnaires, and audits.
• Undertake special projects as assigned by management.

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor or barrister in England and Wales, or an equivalent qualification in a European jurisdiction (e.g., Irish, Dutch, German, French). Dual qualification is especially welcome.
• 4‑7 years of post‑qualification legal experience, including meaningful in‑house experience within a financial services institution.
• Strong commercial contracts background with demonstrable experience negotiating and drafting complex agreements.
• Solid understanding of UK and/or European financial services regulation, including the Benchmarks Regulation, UCITS, and MiFIDII/MiFIR.
• Experience interpreting regulation and providing clear, practical guidance to business stakeholders.
• Experience engaging with policy and supervisory teams (FCA, ESMA, EU national competent authorities).
• Familiarity with data licensing, intellectual property principles, and business technology.
• Excellent drafting and negotiating skills; clear, confident communicator able to explain complex legal issues to non‑legal stakeholders.
• Highly organised, able to manage a high‑volume and varied workload in complex environments with sound judgment and adaptability.
• Ability to recognise and accommodate internal and external client needs while protecting S&P DJI’s interests and mitigating liability risk.
• Comfort operating across multiple jurisdictions and legal systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in corporate governance (board and committee support, entity management, governance frameworks).
• Familiarity with DORA, GDPR, and other pan‑European regulatory frameworks relevant to financial data and index providers.
• Experience with insurance‑linked or structured products.
• Prior experience advising or working in an index provider, exchange, or benchmark administrator.

Benefits

• Health & Wellness: Healthcare coverage designed for mind and body.
• Flexible Downtime: Generous time off to recharge.
• Continuous Learning: Access to resources for career growth and skill development.
• Invest in Your Future: Competitive pay, retirement planning, education program with company‑matched student loan contribution, and financial wellness programs.
• Family‑Friendly Perks: Benefits for partners and children, including discounts and family programmes.
• Beyond the Basics: Retail discounts, referral incentive awards, and other small perks.