Simon Leifer

Simon Leifer is co-partner at D2 Legal Technology LLP (D2LT) and a qualified lawyer specialising in derivatives and capital markets. Simon has over 25 years of experience in the investment banking industry. At D2LT Simon advises clients on their strategic management of capital markets and derivatives documentation, and how technologies can be employed to automate, streamline, and enhance existing operational systems. Simon also advises on solutions for the creation of a source of data to drive more efficient and consistent risk management and regulatory compliance and reporting. Previous roles include Head of Legal at Libra Bank (1987-1990); Head of Legal, Treasury Division, at Kleinwort Benson (1994-1995); Director and Co-Head of Trading & Derivatives Legal Team at Dresdner Kleinwort (1995-2009); and Director of Legal Services at Commerzbank AG (2009-2012). FollowingDresdner Kleinwort's merger with Commerzbank he led a global project to integrate the two banks' master trading agreements. He has brought cases involved in the Hammersmith and Fulham local authority swaps litigation twice to the House of Lords (Hazell v Hammersmith and Fulham LBC; Westdeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale v Islington LBC). He is also the author of the legal chapter (European Perspective: Legal Issues relating to the ISDA Master Agreement) in Paul Harding's 'Mastering the ISDA Master Agreement' book published by the Financial Times.