Associate Banking & Finance Attorney (GMRA, GMSLA, ISDA)

About the role

A specialist legal team supporting a global banking client in Cape Town is looking for a mid-level Banking & Finance Attorney in a highly technical, documentation-focused role. The position suits someone experienced in banking and finance, derivatives documentation, repo, securities lending or asset management, who can review complex legal documents and apply sound legal judgement on close-out netting, enforceability and financial markets documentation. It involves collaboration with stakeholders across EMEA and the US on large-scale legal documentation and regulatory projects. The job is permanent and hybrid.

Key responsibilities

• Review and analyse existing repo and securities lending master agreements against internal banking policies and legal opinion requirements
• Assess master agreements governed by English and New York law, including GMSLA, GMRA, MSLA and MRA
• Conduct close-out netting analysis and enforceability assessments across legal entities and jurisdictions
• Undertake due diligence and netting reviews across counterparty legal entity structures, applying risk assessment and escalation protocols
• Provide practical legal recommendations aligned with market and regulatory requirements
• Draft, review, negotiate and execute legal documentation, including amendment agreements, and support remediation and repapering of legacy documentation
• Liaise with Legal, Credit, Operations and Front Office teams, and work with global teams across EMEA and the US
• Manage documentation review workflows, ensure quality control and report on milestones and legal review progress

Required profile

• Admitted attorney (essential)
• BCom LLB (essential)
• 3+ years' post-admission experience in banking and finance, asset management, derivatives documentation or financial markets
• Experience drafting, reviewing and/or negotiating derivatives documentation, repo agreements, securities lending master agreements and banking documentation
• Strong understanding of close-out netting and enforceability concepts
• Experience with documentation remediation, repapering or large-scale regulatory projects is advantageous

Required skills

• Strong legal analysis and interpretation
• Risk assessment and problem-solving
• Attention to detail, accuracy and strong organisational and workflow management
• Ability to handle multiple matters in a fast-paced, documentation-heavy environment
• Stakeholder engagement and communication, and ability to work in global teams

What we offer

• Market-related remuneration
• Hybrid working model based in Cape Town
• Exposure to sophisticated global banking and financial markets work
• Collaboration with international stakeholders across EMEA and the US