DWS - (Senior) Legal Counsel - Derivatives Specialist (m/f/d)

The legal team is a friendly, collegiate and dynamic team. We are looking for a team-player who enjoys working with lawyers and non-lawyers alike. An ability to build relationships with business colleagues and quickly win their confidence is of paramount importance. The successful candidate will need to be able to manage matters autonomously (under the supervision and direction of senior colleagues). The position also offers the opportunity to work with DWS Legal and business colleagues in multiple jurisdictions, including the US, APAC, Germany and Luxembourg. 

Role Details   

As a (Senior) Legal Counsel (Derivatives Specialist) you will (be): 

• Draft, review, and negotiate ISDA Master Agreements, CSAs, MCAs, ACAs, Pledge Agreements, Futures Clearing Agreements, MRAs, MSFTAs, GMSLAs, and related documentation and confirmations 

• Provide legal support for derivatives and securities lending transactions across FX, equities, commodities, and fixed income asset classes 

• Liaise with external counsel and internal stakeholders (e.g., Capital Markets, Product Legal, Risk, Collateral Management, Compliance) to ensure commercial, enforceability and regulatory alignment 

• Maintain oversight of contract repositories and ensure proper documentation storage and retrieval protocols 

• Maintain procedures and negotiation guides in line with internal and regulatory requirements 

• Advise on regulatory developments (for example, EMIR, Dodd-Frank, UCITS, SEC, CFTC and NFA) and other jurisdictional requirements 

• Participate in global working groups and contribute to the implementation of regulatory changes 

• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to support derivatives disclosure and reporting 

We are looking for   

• Preferably a qualified lawyer with 5+ years of experience in derivatives and trading documentation within a financial institution or law firm 

• Deep understanding of ISDA architecture and repo/securities lending frameworks 

• Familiarity with fund structures and investment platforms (e.g., SICAVs, Irish PLCs, ICAVs, CCFs, FCPs, 1940 Act US registered funds) 

• Strong grasp of regulatory regimes across the EU, UK, and US 

• Excellent drafting and negotiation skills 

• Fluent in English; German or other language skills are a plus 

• Experience with electronic confirmation systems, S&P Markit (Counterparty Manager, ISDA Amend), and contract lifecycle management tools 

• Exposure to cross-border legal issues and multi-jurisdictional documentation 

• Prior involvement in centralizing legal workflows or process optimization initiatives 

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; and 

• Good commercial sense 

Posting period: 01.08.2025 until further notice

What we’ll offer you: 

Without the ambitions of our people, our achievements wouldn’t be possible. And it’s important to us that you enjoy coming to work - feeling healthy, happy and rewarded. At DWS, you’ll have access to a range of benefits which you can choose from to create a personalised plan unique to your lifestyle. Whether you’re interested in healthcare, company perks or are thinking about your retirement plan, there’s something for everyone. 

Some of our core benefits: 
 

• Physical and Mental Health Well-Being benefits including (but not limited to) Statutory Health Insurance (BKK), sickness benefit allowance and support helplines for employees  

• Family friendly benefits including generous parental leave packages (supporting all variations of family set-ups) and support in finding childcare options including DWS’s own kindergarten service 

• A wide selection of pension plans, Personal Budget Accounts to enable sabbaticals or early retirement and capital-forming benefits 

• The opportunity to support our CSR strategy which is focused on combatting climate change & achieving greater social justice. You can make donations to our partnered organisations or take part in corporate volunteering opportunities in your local communities by providing on hand support. 

DWS’ current Hybrid Working model is designed to find the balance between in-person collaboration & engagement in the office, which is core to our working culture, whilst still remaining focused on supporting our employees with flexibility. We are committed to support flexible and hybrid working agreements across the globe. Depending on the location or role you are applying for, the split between working in the office and at home will be discussed and made clear as part of your application and interview process. 

We will continue to review and evolve our working environments and methods to ensure that we are working in the best way possible for our people. 

If you require any adjustments or changes to be made to the interview process for any reason including, or related to a disability or long-term health condition, then please contact your recruiter and let us know what assistance you may need. Examples of adjustments include providing a change to the format of the interview or providing assistance when at the DWS office. This will not affect your application and your recruitment team will discuss options with you.   

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