An exciting opportunity exists for an experienced and self-starting financial services lawyer to join the Optiver team in Singapore as the organisation continues to grow and develop new trading opportunities. Singapore is a strategically important location and represents a key part of the Optiver business plan both regionally and globally. Optiver Singapore has a commercial remit to engage in cash, ETF equity derivatives, index, foreign exchange and commodity derivatives trading on Singapore and other Asian and global exchanges and trade directly with institutional counterparties.
WHO OPTIVER IS:
Optiver is a leading global electronic market making and proprietary trading business, focused on pricing, execution and risk management. We provide liquidity to financial markets using our own capital, at our own risk, trading a wide range of products.
The APAC region supports trading activities globally from our APAC offices in Sydney, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mumbai, Shanghai and Singapore.
Optiver is proud of its unique organisational culture, which is highly focused on performance and innovation. Optiver has undergone rapid growth in the last 5 years and is now seeking to integrate a globally aligned business model whilst continuing to explore opportunities in new products, new markets and with new counterparties. It is increasingly expanding its capabilities beyond listed trading and into OTC derivatives and the institutional trading space, which leans heavily upon legal support.
WHO LEGAL IS:
The global legal function consists of approximately 30 lawyers, operations specialists and paralegals based variously in Europe, the US and APAC.
Legal has evolved to become a key business partner and advisory function, playing a unique role in both business enablement and risk management.
It supports all first line Trading and Technology business objectives as well as to second line functions such as Compliance, Risk and HR. It advises management on risk and governance and it also provides Company Secretarial services to relevant legal entities.
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
As the primary legal adviser in Singapore, you will join the APAC Legal team, a team of 10 professionals in the region (including lawyers and corporate secretarial and legal operations specialists). In this role, reporting to the APAC General Counsel (based in Sydney) you will be working with Legal colleagues globally and with the local Singapore management team as well as with local and regional colleagues such as Corporate Strategy, Trading, Compliance and Risk teams.
You will provide subject matter expertise, legal advice and execution support on a range of commercial business initiatives and matters, notably in respect of:
- Legal structuring, risk assessments, regulatory advice, product approvals, contract negotiation/drafting and execution, particularly in respect of the MAS Licensed Singapore trading entity initiatives. This may include onboarding financial intermediaries (clearers/brokers) and counterparties to scale the business.
- Commercial contracting, including software contracts, IT supply contracts and market data contracts.
- Support OTC Product expansion and execution. This may typically include equity options or total return swaps, with a range of underlyings.
- Other strategic business initiatives (such as financing arrangements) to support capital efficiency and scaling.
- Regulatory advisory (working with Compliance teams on interpretation, scoping and risk assessments).
- Ad hoc advice to local management teams and other functions including Procurement, Business Operations, Tax and HR. This will include more general support from time to time on corporate and commercial matters such as employment, IP and data privacy.
- Working with Legal colleagues regionally and globally and contributing on know-how sharing and alignment initiatives, operational matters such as risk control frameworks, counsel engagement, document management, reporting, process improvements, policy-design and governance.
WHO YOU ARE:
An agile lawyer with an entrepreneurial and self-starting inclination, looking to test yourself in a less commoditized environment and in broader business domains. Excited by the prospect of working in a dynamic and fast-paced organization and capable of juggling multiple matters across a range of stakeholders.
- As the sole legal practitioner in Singapore, you will have the experience and maturity to be the key point of contact in the jurisdiction and handle a broad range of familiar financial, corporate and commercial legal topics but willing to grow with this role and test yourself in new areas.
- A Singapore qualified financial markets or financial services lawyer with at least 10 years’ experience in a top tier law firm and/or in-house (some previous in-house experience e.g. at an investment bank or buy-side is a strong preference).
- Strong interest in legal problem solving and using technology to create solutions
- Excellent communication skills; eagerness to learn; questioning disposition; attention to detail; agility and willingness to adapt to the needs of a rapidly expanding business
- Experience with the ISDA contractual framework, Master, Schedule, CSA, Master confirmations, netting opinions etc, in particular in equity derivatives products.
- Sound working knowledge of key financial services and regulatory principles and laws relevant to a markets business in Singapore
- Ability to operate semi-independently in the location but also as part of a distributed global legal team and work cross-border
WHAT YOU’LL GET:
You’ll join a culture of collaboration and excellence, where you’ll be surrounded by curious thinkers and creative problem solvers. Driven by a passion for continuous improvement, you’ll thrive in a supportive, high-performing environment alongside talented colleagues, working collectively to tackle some of the most complex problems in the financial markets.
In return for your expertise, you will have access to a range of Optiver perks, including:
- A performance-based bonus structure unmatched anywhere in the industry. We combine our profits across desks, teams and offices into a global profit pool, fostering a truly collaborative environment.
- The chance to work alongside diverse and intelligent peers in a rewarding environment.
- Training, mentorship and personal development opportunities.
- Daily breakfast and lunch.
- Weekly in-house chair massages.
- Corporate health insurance.
- Regular social events, including a company trip every two years.
Optiver is committed to diversity and inclusion. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, and welcome requests for reasonable adjustments during the process.
Questions? Get in touch with the recruitment team at [email protected].
Skills Required
- Singapore qualified financial markets or financial services lawyer
- At least 10 years' experience in a top tier law firm and/or in-house
- Experience with the ISDA contractual framework including Master, Schedule, CSA, confirmations and netting opinions, particularly for equity derivatives
- Sound working knowledge of key financial services and regulatory principles and laws relevant to a markets business in Singapore
- Experience in commercial contracting, including software contracts, IT supply contracts and market data contracts
- Ability to operate semi-independently as sole local counsel while collaborating with a distributed global legal team
- Some previous in-house experience (e.g. at an investment bank or buy-side)
- Strong communication, attention to detail, agility and willingness to adapt in a fast-paced trading environment
Optiver Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Optiver and has not been reviewed or approved by Optiver.
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Career-Linked Recognition & Rewards — Pay is considered highly competitive in trading, quantitative, and engineering paths, with performance-linked bonuses materially elevating total earnings for strong contributors. High performers are described as seeing outsized upside when firm and team results are strong.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is depicted as comprehensive, including medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance, alongside HSA/FSA options and mental-health support. Some locations note unlimited therapy access through a partner platform.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — U.S. roles are often described as offering 25 days of paid vacation plus market holidays, alongside generous parental leave. This breadth of time off is highlighted as helping to offset a high-intensity environment.
Optiver Insights
What We Do
Optiver’s story began over 30 years ago, when we started business as a single trader on the floor of Amsterdam’s options exchange. Today, we are at the forefront of trading and technology as a leading global electronic market maker, focused on pricing, execution and risk management.
Why Work With Us
People at Optiver love challenges, welcome collaboration, and strive to be better tomorrow than they are today. Improving the market is an extraordinary challenge that requires a carefully crafted approach. Optiver provides a collaborative working environment to tackle these challenges. In fact, it is this way of working that sets us apart.
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