Head of International Legal Services (EVP)
Position Summary:
The Head of International Legal Services (International), reports directly to the General Counsel for State Street and is responsible for oversight of any and all legal matters across the company outside of the North American region. The role covers all business units (with the exception of SSGA), and manages legal teams and staff outside of North America dedicated to these businesses. The role serves as the primary legal advisor to the regional business areas’ executive teams. This role is responsible for managing risk by providing proactive commercial legal advice and counsel regarding business strategy and initiatives, controls infrastructure and other matters affecting the State Street Corporation and its related legal entities.
The Head of International Legal will be expected to advise and lead support for a wide variety of topics impacting the international jurisdictions including but not limited to; major contracts, new products, strategic transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic alliances, operations, control and risk management frameworks, regulatory matters; and related litigation.
The Head of Legal International is responsible for ensuring that the operations of the legal function outside of North America works collaboratively with all other senior Legal management executives and their teams in managing legal resources to provide a consistent approach to legal matters to achieve optimal commercial outcomes. Throughout the regions support includes the following areas, corporate functions, back office products such as custody, accounting, regulatory reporting, investor services, performance and analytics; middle office products such as investment book of record, transaction management, loans, cash, derivatives and collateral services, record keeping, client reporting and investment analytics; investment manager and alternative investment manager operations outsourcing; performance, risk and compliance analytics; financial data management to support institutional investors; foreign exchange, brokerage and other trading services; securities finance, including prime services products; and deposit and short-term investment facilities.
The Head of International has direct line management responsibility for International legal professionals with the exception of SSGA and Poland contract operations.

Additional responsibilities include:

• The Head of International Legal serves as part of the Legal Executive Management Team and other Internationally based business executive teams or committees as determined in consultation with the General Counsel
• Partner with the International business and control functions to advise on strategic initiatives, business practices, and legal issues
• Advise required executive management on the legal, regulatory and reputational risks of possible business decisions; provide proactive advice with respect to emerging legal and regulatory risks associated with business practices; develop strategy with inside and outside counsel (as appropriate) in response to litigation and regulatory inquiries
• Negotiate, document and implement with inside and outside counsel (as appropriate) a wide variety of complex agreements or activities
• Provide innovative commercial legal solutions to internal and external client problems, anticipate and mitigate the impact of global regulatory change on the business, including its operating model, and enable the organization to innovate and effectively compete in a timely and efficient manner
• Constructively challenge other senior leaders and modify perspectives with the benefit of insights presented by others, distilling a broad range of legal issues into a commercial legal strategy to support client and State Street requirements
• Ensure timely reporting of relevant risks to Legal Executive Management, other senior management and the legal entity or corporate Boards, as appropriate
• Chair applicable company or business unit-wide committees
• Hire, develop, manage and engage an experienced team of professionals
• Develop and manage the planning and budgets for associated functions; provide oversight to outside counsel engagement and expenses

Qualifications and Skills include:

• Lawyer with a minimum of 20 years of related global experience including significant tenure within the financial services industry in an executive capacity
• Demonstrated experience practicing at a law firm, in-house, or at a government agency within financial services industry; preference for candidates that have experience working in-house with Fortune 500 public companies
• Understanding of the asset servicing business through experience in acting as legal adviser to asset servicing, investment management or fintech firms
• Extensive stakeholder management capabilities at the executive level include experience providing legal advice for services in developing and maintaining client relationships, product development or strategic relationships
• Demonstrated track record of supervising experienced senior lawyers who provide strategic counsel
• Proven interpersonal and communication skills at the executive level
• Highly organized with extensive problem-solving, influence and negotiation skills
• GSIB experience an asset

Are you the right candidate? Yes!
We truly believe in the power that comes from the diverse backgrounds and experiences our employees bring with them. Although each vacancy details what we are looking for, we don’t necessarily need you to fulfil all of them when applying. If you like change and innovation, seek to see the bigger picture, make data driven decisions and are a good team player, you could be a great fit.
About State Street
What we do. State Street is one of the largest custodian banks, asset managers and asset intelligence companies in the world. From technology to product innovation, we’re making our mark on the financial services industry. For more than two centuries, we’ve been helping our clients safeguard and steward the investments of millions of people. We provide investment servicing, data & analytics, investment research & trading and investment management to institutional clients.
Work, Live and Grow. We make all efforts to create a great work environment. Our benefits packages are competitive and comprehensive. Details vary by location, but you may expect generous medical care, insurance and savings plans, among other perks. You’ll have access to flexible Work Programs to help you match your needs. And our wealth of development programs and educational support will help you reach your full potential.
Discover more at StateStreet.com/career

• The Head of International Legal serves as part of the Legal Executive Management Team and other Internationally based business executive teams or committees as determined in consultation with the General Counsel
• Partner with the International business and control functions to advise on strategic initiatives, business practices, and legal issues
• Advise required executive management on the legal, regulatory and reputational risks of possible business decisions; provide proactive advice with respect to emerging legal and regulatory risks associated with business practices; develop strategy with inside and outside counsel (as appropriate) in response to litigation and regulatory inquiries
• Negotiate, document and implement with inside and outside counsel (as appropriate) a wide variety of complex agreements or activities
• Provide innovative commercial legal solutions to internal and external client problems, anticipate and mitigate the impact of global regulatory change on the business, including its operating model, and enable the organization to innovate and effectively compete in a timely and efficient manner
• Constructively challenge other senior leaders and modify perspectives with the benefit of insights presented by others, distilling a broad range of legal issues into a commercial legal strategy to support client and State Street requirements
• Ensure timely reporting of relevant risks to Legal Executive Management, other senior management and the legal entity or corporate Boards, as appropriate
• Chair applicable company or business unit-wide committees
• Hire, develop, manage and engage an experienced team of professionals
• Develop and manage the planning and budgets for associated functions; provide oversight to outside counsel engagement and expense