Legal Counsel – Investment Banking (APAC)

About the role

We are seeking a qualified Legal Counsel to join our Investment Banking Division, providing day‑to‑day legal support to bankers across Hong Kong and the broader APAC region. The role focuses on equity capital markets transactions, IPOs, placements, and M&A advisory work.

Key responsibilities

• Provide daily legal advice to the investment banking team on equity capital markets deals, including IPOs, block trades, placements and M&A transactions.
• Review, negotiate and draft transaction documents such as sponsor‑OC mandates, underwriting agreements, comfort letters, legal opinions and regulatory filings.
• Advise deal teams on legal, regulatory, structural and reputational issues throughout the transaction lifecycle.
• Prepare engagement letters, confidentiality agreements and maintain firm‑wide template agreements and standard forms.
• Collaborate with the Investment Banking Compliance team on securities law, listing rules and cross‑border regulatory matters.
• Monitor emerging legal and regulatory developments in APAC capital markets and provide timely guidance.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Law.
• Minimum 2 years post‑qualification experience as a capital‑markets lawyer qualified in Hong Kong, the United States or another major jurisdiction.
• Demonstrated HKIPO execution experience and solid knowledge of Hong Kong regulations (SFO, HKEx listing rules, Takeovers Code, SFC Code of Conduct).
• Understanding of the SFC sponsor regime and OC‑CMI regime applicable to investment banks.
• Ability to work with bankers at all levels, strong analytical and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent command of English and Chinese; must be able to draft and review documents in Chinese, conversational Mandarin required.

Required skills

• Legal drafting in Chinese
• Regulatory compliance – Hong Kong capital markets