Citi

Outside Counsel Management Lawyer, International - Senior Vice President

Are you looking for a career move that will put you at the heart of a global financial institution? This role will give you a key position within Legal Operations at Citi, at the forefront of our outside counsel management program and driving efficiency through innovation, collaboration and legal and strategic thinking.

By joining Citi, you will become part of a global organization whose mission is to serve as a trusted partner to our clients by responsibly providing financial services that enable growth and economic progress.

Team/Role Overview

The Outside Counsel Management Lawyer, International - Senior Vice President sits in the Outside Counsel Management and Third-Party Team within Citi’s Global Legal Solutions (GLS) organization. Primarily, this role will focus on driving Citi’s strategy on how we engage and assess outside counsel, managing multi-party (e.g., outside counsel, alternative legal service providers) compliance with both internal and external legal policies and procedures, including Citi’s Outside Counsel Terms of Engagement, and identifying opportunities to drive cost-saving and optimization.

The Outside Counsel Management Lawyer, International - Senior Vice President will be responsible for leading relationship management for Citi’s global law firms (excluding those headquartered in North America and Latin America), alongside Citi’s premier global law firms. This includes all aspects of relationship management, including rate negotiations and sourcing secondments. Integral to the role will also be generating Performance Evaluation assessments of law firms and leading delivery discussions with global law firm relationships. This role will be based in London with daily interaction with Citi lawyers and law firm partners.

With a critical focus on spend management, we are looking for an individual with the ability to strategize innovative solutions to optimize spend and efficiency. The Outside Counsel Management Lawyer, International - Senior Vice President will therefore oversee the Alternative Fee Arrangement (“AFA”) and competitive tendering process, including working with and guiding Citi attorneys in the drafting and negotiation of all AFAs and management of Citi’s competitive tendering platform. The attorney in this role will also be tasked with testing and challenging AFA assumptions and pricing structures which will require the knowledge and experience of a qualified attorney. You will also be responsible for law firm compliance with Citi’s Outside Counsel Billing Guidelines and management of the Legal Bill Review program.

This role will also be responsible for leading Citi’s Conflict Waiver Review program for law firm conflicts, managing and overseeing Citi’s Conflicts Attorney, and exercising legal judgment and providing advice related to conflict waivers.

Reporting into the Global Head of Outside Counsel Management and Operations, and Third Party, you will be based in London and will manage a global team based in Belfast, Mumbai and Tampa, FL.

What you’ll do

Primarily, this role will support various initiatives to support the overall goals and strategy of Citi Legal.

Duties include, but are not limited to, the below:

• Negotiate rates and fee structures with outside counsel to ensure competitive and cost-effective arrangements. This includes benchmarking analysis with peer firms and presenting financial impact findings to senior management. Oversee the creation of formal confirmations of rate agreements with law firms.
• Analyze financial data to optimize law firm selection and management. Monitor and analyze market trends in legal pricing and provide recommendations for cost savings and efficiencies.
• Partner with Citi lawyers to align on counsel selection based on specific needs, analyzing legal issues and strategic decision-making.
• Manage the Legal Bill Review program. Interact and train internal and external stakeholders to ensure legal bills are following established standards and guidelines.
• Lead the Alternative Fee Arrangement process for Citi Legal, including the drafting, negotiating and validating all AFAs to ensure within policy and scope. Develop and manage alternative pricing strategies to ensure cost-effective legal services. Challenge AFA structures and proposals, evaluate costs and engage with Citi attorneys to strategically align with priorities.
• Hold regular meetings with internal stakeholders to review legal bills and pricing models.
• Manage and expand the competitive tender / Request for Proposal (RFP) process by identifying high value matters or groups of matters suitable for competitive tender, scoping and drafting RFPs (including relevant matter-specific questions), coordinating law firm responses, assisting in the selection process, and delivering training to internal stakeholders.
• Manage and advise both internal and external stakeholders on questions and issues related to outside counsel management. Exercise independent legal judgement on the review of law firm contracts and terms, including but not limited to engagement letters.
• Lead Citi’s Conflict Waiver Review program for law firm conflicts, managing and overseeing Citi’s Conflicts Attorney, and exercising legal judgment and providing advice related to conflict waivers. Drive innovative methods to improve the process.
• Strategize and manage the use of outside counsel on Citi’s Legal Panel and Network.
• Strategically source secondments from panel law firms to develop firm relationships.
• Develop, implement and manage law firm panels in APAC and MEA.
• Develop, implement and manage a panel of Alternative Legal Service Providers (“ALSPs”) to drive value and efficiency to Citi Legal.
• Leverage technology and automation where possible to continue to drive efficiency.

The Outside Counsel Management Lawyer, International - Senior Vice President, will work in close daily collaboration with Citi attorneys, Law Firm partners, and GLS teammates at all levels across functions including Finance, Technology, Project Management and Operations while adhering to GLS program goals and priorities, evaluating complex legal and operational issues and impact to Citi businesses and Citi’s broader legal organization.

What we’ll need from you

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent, qualified lawyer with license to practice in the UK
• Experience as a practicing lawyer, preferably in a large financial institution with a global footprint.
• Experience in legal operations and legal spend management.
• Practical knowledge of common legal matters facing financial institutions from a transactional and disputes perspective, including progression (e.g., course of litigation, basic procedure, basic corporate or financial transactions).
• An ability to understand complex legal issues to right-place strategic contributions to support.
• An ability to lead and influence people across cultures at a senior level using sound judgment, successful execution of strategies, and an understanding of how to operate effectively across diverse businesses.
• Project management skills, including the capability to prioritize work and deadlines effectively, file conflicts requests and update stakeholders as required.
• Exceptional data analysis skills, including advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Exceptional written communication skills, including advanced proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint and Microsoft Word.

What We'll Need From You:

• Significant, relevant industry experience, preferably with some experience working in an in-house legal role within financial services
• Proven ability to manage complex documentation with organization and detail
• Must possess excellent interpersonal and project management skills, as well as the ability to interact and communicate effectively with Senior management
• Knowledge of legal customs and practices
• Knowledge and understanding of the financial services industry

What we can offer you

We work hard to have a positive financial and social impact on the communities we serve. In turn, we put our employees first and provide the best-in-class benefits they need to be well, live well and save well.

By joining Citi London, you will not only be part of a business casual workplace with a hybrid working model (up to 2 days working at home per week), but also receive a competitive base salary (which is annually reviewed), and enjoy a whole host of additional benefits such as:

• Generous holiday allowance starting at 27 days plus bank holidays; increasing with tenure
• A discretional annual performance related bonus
• Private medical insurance packages to suit your personal circumstances
• Employee Assistance Program Pension Plan
• Paid Parental Leave
• Special discounts for employees, family, and friends
• Access to an array of learning and development resources
• Alongside these benefits Citi is committed to ensuring our workplace is where everyone feels comfortable coming to work as their whole self every day. We want the best talent around the world to be energized to join us, motivated to stay, and empowered to thrive.

Sounds like Citi has everything you need? Then apply to discover the true extent of your capabilities.

Job Family Group:

Legal

Job Family:

Legal - Enterprise

Time Type:

Full time

Most Relevant Skills

Please see the requirements listed above.

Other Relevant Skills

For complementary skills, please see above and/or contact the recruiter.

Citi is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you are a person with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation to use our search tools and/or apply for a career opportunity review Accessibility at Citi.

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