Legal Counsel, Capital Markets

Application Deadline:

10/29/2026

Address:

151 W 42nd Street

Job Family Group:

Legal

This opportunity is ideal for a lawyer with experience in derivatives and capital markets who thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced financial services environment. As a member of BMO's Derivatives Legal Group within the Capital Markets Legal Team, you will provide strategic legal and regulatory advice on a broad range of derivatives, structured products, and trading-related matters. You will partner closely with trading, sales, risk, compliance, and operations teams to support business objectives while effectively managing legal and regulatory risk. The role offers exposure to complex transactions and regulatory developments, including margin requirements and evolving derivatives frameworks, and requires extensive experience drafting and negotiating key market documentation such as ISDA Master Agreements, CSAs, Control Agreements, Risk Participation Agreements, and related trading documentation. This is an excellent opportunity for a commercially minded legal professional who combines strong technical expertise, sound judgment, and exceptional negotiation skills with the ability to deliver practical, business-focused solutions in support of BMO's global capital markets franchise.

• Recommends and implements solutions based on analysis of issues and implications for the business.

• Identifies emerging issues and trends to inform decision-making.

• Exercises judgement on moderate to complex decisions falling within standard policies and regulatory requirements.

• Identifies and resolves routine issues.

• Determines courses of action within procedural and policy guidelines & standards.

• Delivers legal advice, instructs external counsel and ensures compliance with internal policies & procedures for a single or small number of function(s).

• Acts as a subject matter expert on relevant laws, regulations and policies.

• Resolves daily issues and/or escalates with appropriate analysis and/or recommendations.

• Identifies risks and implements appropriate actions to mitigate them.

• Implements areas of improvement to ensure consistency with market place.

• Builds effective relationships with internal/ external stakeholders.

• Geographic scope: up to global.

• Focus is primarily on business/group within BMO; may have broader, enterprise-wide focus.

• Provides specialized consulting, analytical and technical support.

• Exercises judgment to identify, diagnose, and solve problems within given rules.

• Works independently and regularly handles non-routine situations.

• Broader work or accountabilities may be assigned as needed.

Qualifications:

• Less than 7 years of legal practice or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Degree in law (LLB or JD) and license to practice law in relevant jurisdiction.

• Private practice, in-house experience or experience at regulatory body relating to the regulation of business/group activities may be required.

• Responsible for advising on a variety of derivatives and other trading products related matters.

• Experience drafting and negotiating derivatives documentation including ISDA's, CSA's, Control Agreements, Confidentiality Agreements, Risk Participation Agreements, Master Confirmation Agreements, Long-Form Confirmations, and other derivatives documentation ancillary thereto.

• Responsible for advising the business on regulatory issues related to derivatives, including initial and variation margin.

• Participate in project-related matters within Derivatives Legal Group (within the Capital Markets Legal Team) from time to time

• Knowledge in legal field, typically with a functional or business line specialization.

• Knowledge of business and regulatory environment in which BMO Financial Group operates.

• Proficient knowledge of subject matter legal requirements and the operations of a single client group.

• Negotiation skills - in depth.

• Deep knowledge and technical proficiency gained through extensive education and business experience.

• Verbal & written communication skills- In-depth.

• Collaboration & team skills- In-depth.

• Analytical and problem solving skills- In-depth.

• Influence skills- In-depth.

• Data driven decision making- In-depth.

• Work model requires 3 days a week in the Chicago or NY office.

Salary:

$90,000.00 - $180,000.00

Pay Type:

Salaried

The above represents BMO Financial Group's pay range and type.

Salaries will vary based on factors such as location, skills, experience, education, and qualifications for the role, and may include a commission structure. Salaries for part-time roles will be pro-rated based on number of hours regularly worked. For commission roles, the salary listed above represents BMO Financial Group's expected target for the first year in this position.

BMO Financial Group's total compensation package will vary based on the pay type of the position and may include performance-based incentives, discretionary bonuses, as well as other perks and rewards. BMO also offers health insurance, tuition reimbursement, accident and life insurance, and retirement savings plans. To view more details of our benefits, please visit: https://jobs.bmo.com/global/en/Total-Rewards

About Us

At BMO we are driven by a shared Purpose: Boldly Grow the Good in business and life. It calls on us to create lasting, positive change for our customers, our communities and our people. By working together, innovating and pushing boundaries, we transform lives and businesses, and power economic growth around the world.

As a member of the BMO team you are valued, respected and heard, and you have more ways to grow and make an impact. We strive to help you make an impact from day one - for yourself and our customers. We'll support you with the tools and resources you need to reach new milestones, as you help our customers reach theirs. From in-depth training and coaching, to manager support and network-building opportunities, we'll help you gain valuable experience, and broaden your skillset.

To find out more visit us at http://jobs.bmo.com/us/en

BMO is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. We evaluate applicants without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or any other legally protected characteristics. We also consider applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law.

BMO is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to BMOCareers.Support@bmo.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

Note to Recruiters: BMO does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. Any unsolicited resumes sent to BMO, directly or indirectly, will be considered BMO property. BMO will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume. A recruiting agency must first have a valid, written and fully executed agency agreement contract for service to submit resumes.