STPD - Transaction Legal - Director

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation -
London

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Job details

Benefits

Annual leave
Private medical insurance

Qualifications

Financial services
Banking

Full job description

12 Jun 2026

London, LND, GB, EC2M 2AT

SMBC: A trusted partner for the long term

Here at SMBC Group, we want to help you find the next step in your career so read on to discover if this opportunity is the one for you. We like to recognise potential in our people, so we welcome your application even when your experience doesn’t perfectly align with the job description. Whilst we’ll always strive to be better, we’re proud of our inclusive culture, and encourage our applicants and colleagues to be their authentic, unique selves.

Role Summary

We have an exciting opportunity for a sanctions lawyer (with experience in financial crime helpful) with a minimum of six years post qualification experience to join a highly collaborative and energetic SMBC Legal team in London which provides advice to the SMBC Group for the EMEA region.

The role will report to the Head of Group Affairs and Structured Finance (MD). The person will be required to work both autonomously and collaboratively with a broad range of stakeholders to advice on the impact of sanctions regimes (including UK, EU and other sanctions regimes with external counsel support, as required) in relation to SMBC's corporate strategy and risk appetite framework. The role will be at the Vice President or Director level (depending on candidate's experience).

The following are important requirements for the role:

Experience in working well with a broad range of senior stakeholders across Legal, Compliance, business departments, committees and management where required.
Qualified lawyer with preferably a minimum of 6 years, post-qualification, who has solid experience in a broad range of sanctions and financial crime and good understanding of banking, finance and capital markets products.
Background in a financial services firm, corporate or a reputable law firm.
Excellent knowledge of UK and EU sanctions law (and familiarity with US sanctions helpful) and regulations as part of the overall financial services regulatory environment, and financial crime laws helpful too.
Experience in the payments and operations infrastructure of financial services firms which may impact the analysis of sanctions regimes is preferable.

Who we are

United by a sense of purpose towards our customers – to be a trusted partner for the long-term – and our universal banking platform in EMEA, SMBC Group has an international growth agenda and award-winning products, meaning we provide exciting opportunities to work on a diverse range of projects and initiatives. We deliver a full suite of corporate finance products and solutions to our customers as well as investment banking and advisory services, and a range of innovative solutions in global capital markets. Read on to find out how you could enhance your skills and gain valuable experience, by joining us to support our clients transition to a sustainable future.

Business Area

The lawyer will be a member of the STPD-Legal Group which forms part of the wider Strategic Planning Department and currently consists of around 40 lawyers based in London. In addition, within the EMEA region, there are around 10 lawyers based in Frankfurt, Paris, Dubai Branch and Dublin Branch.

The person will work across a broad range of legal, compliance (including sanctions and financial crime), business, risk management, operations and other staff across the EMEA region. The lawyer will also work closely with external counsel as and when required and will be required to ensure that they provide efficient and effective advice.

The person will also be expected to be the main STPD-Legal representative on sanctions and financial crime matters and related cross-departmental projects.

What we offer

For all the expertise and experience you bring to help us make a difference, it’s only sustainable if we support you to build your career and be your best self so we offer competitive company benefits, centred around promoting positive well-bring and work-life balance. We also believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, where all team members perspectives and contributions are valued. Initiatives in place which promote a diverse and inclusive culture and healthy work life balance include hybrid working, Sport & Social Clubs and Diversity and Inclusion networks.

As an employee of SMBC you have access to a host of both useful and exciting benefit offerings. See below some of the benefits on offer to you:

Hybrid and flexible working
Competitive paid leave days
Benefits to support your physical wellbeing, including private medical insurance and life and invalidity insurance
Various policies to support your mental wellbeing, including a robust behavioural health network with counselling and coaching services
Access a wide range of learning and development opportunities and career progression opportunities
Ambitious remuneration package

So, if you like a challenge and want to continuously grow and develop in a role where you will be supported along the way by a dynamic and diverse team, apply today!!

We recognise our role as a bank to support social change and welcome all applications, including those from groups often under-represented in financial services. We value the uniqueness of professional and personal, backgrounds and perspectives as they play a vital role in continuing the sustainable growth of our organisation. We’ll ensure reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process are offered due to a disability or long-term condition whenever requested.

About SMBC

A trusted partner for the long term
United by a sense of purpose towards our customers - to be a trusted partner for the long-term - and our universal banking platform in EMEA, we deliver a full suite of corporate finance products and solutions to our customers, including corporate, structured and trade finance, leveraged finance, loan market and treasury products. We can also provide investment banking and advisory services and a range of innovative solutions in global capital markets.
about what we do and who we are at https://www.smbcgroup.com/emea/careers

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Role Summary

Who we are

Business Area

What we offer

About SMBC

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