Donna Rix – GC Powerlist
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United Kingdom 2019

Donna Rix

Fintech, Sponsors and Investors | Citadel Europe

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United Kingdom 2019

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Donna Rix

Fintech, Sponsors and Investors | Citadel Europe

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Team size: 12
Major law firms used: Arthur Cox, Latham & Watkins, Lewis Silkin, Linklaters, Matheson, Norton Rose Fulbright, Sidley Austin, Simmons & Simmons, Slaughter and May

Donna Rix, GC for Europe at US hedge fund Citadel, has been working on critical regulatory tasks since joining the company in 2016. She leads the legal and compliance function for Citadel’s asset-management operations in Europe, and is based in London.

Amid Brexit uncertainty, Rix and a team of around 12 lawyers in London and Dublin have been making contingency plans to ensure the company can continue trading on all outcomes of the political deal. The Chicago-headquartered firm operates two businesses: Citadel, one of the largest alternative asset managers in the world with over $28bn in assets under management, and its trading business Citadel Securities.

Rix says there is more regulatory change to come over the next few years following the publication of the European Banking Authority’s report on investment firms in December 2015, which reviewed the prudential standards to ensure investment firms manage their business risks responsibly.

The company does not operate a formal panel but works with a small group of advisers that Rix says are familiar with Citadel and understand its culture. ‘It’s my preference not to spread work too thinly but to use a small number of experts who know us and our business model well.’

This past year Rix has instructed her team to reflect more on how tasks can be better performed, including making better use of technology in the workplace. She is optimistic about tech and its ability to support legal and compliance teams, but does not play down the importance of good communication between colleagues and business partners.

‘I encourage members of my team to be proactive and work closely with regional counterparts and leaders across the business, which is essential in a fast-moving organisation like ours.’

She appreciates the diverse workload that invariably comes with the job of GC: ‘I like the varied nature of the role; one day you’re reviewing employment contracts and the next you’re creating a new legal framework for new operations in Dublin, so you’re never bored.’

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