Overview
SVP, Country Legal Counsel Jobs in Tokyo, Japan at Morgan McKinley
Title: SVP, Country Legal Counsel
Company: Morgan McKinley
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Senior Vice President, Country Counsel – Japan Legal
Position Overview
A leading global financial institution is seeking an experienced lawyer to join its Japan Legal Department as Senior Vice President, Country Counsel. This role provides legal support to the firm's broker-dealer and banking businesses in Japan, with a primary focus on Securities Services and Commercial Cards.
This is a highly visible position offering the opportunity to work closely with senior business stakeholders while advising on a broad range of commercial, transactional, and regulatory matters. Although the initial focus will be on these two business lines, the scope of the role is intentionally flexible, allowing exposure to a wider range of legal work depending on the successful candidate's experience and business needs.
Business Coverage
Securities Services
Provide legal support for a global securities services business covering:
- Custody
- Settlement and clearing
- Asset servicing
- Fund administration
- Collateral management
- Securities lending
Commercial Cards
Support a leading commercial payments business that provides corporate card and expense management solutions to multinational companies and institutional clients.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide legal advice to the Securities Services and Commercial Cards businesses in Japan
- Draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreements and client documentation
- Advise on Japanese banking, securities, and financial regulatory matters
- Support new products, strategic initiatives, and business expansion
- Identify legal and regulatory risks and recommend practical solutions
- Work closely with Compliance, Risk, Operations, and other internal stakeholders
- Coordinate with external counsel where appropriate
- Collaborate with regional and global legal teams on cross-border projects
- Monitor regulatory developments and advise the business on legal implications
Requirements
Essential
- Qualified lawyer admitted to practice in Japan
- 5+ years of financial services legal experience, either in private practice or in-house
- Experience advising on banking, securities, capital markets, or other regulated financial services
- Strong drafting and negotiation skills
- Native-level Japanese and business-level English
Preferred
- Experience supporting securities services, custody, clearing, or payment-related businesses
- Experience within an international financial institution
- Strong commercial judgment and stakeholder management skills
Why Join?
This is an excellent opportunity to join the legal team of a leading global financial institution in a broad, commercially focused role. While the primary responsibilities cover Securities Services and Commercial Cards, the position offers exposure to a wider range of legal matters as the business evolves.
You will work closely with senior management in Japan while collaborating with regional and global legal teams, gaining valuable cross-border experience in a highly international environment. The role is well suited to lawyers seeking to build long-term expertise in financial services while working on strategic, business-facing legal matters.
