JOIN THE WAITLIST
The ISDA Lab is the first online course of its kind that not only teaches you all you need to know about an ISDA® Master Agreement, but gives you all the information you need to negotiate it like a pro!
Enrolment for the ISDA Lab will be opening soon with a limited number of seats available for the VIP study. Go ahead and join the waitlist and I will notify you when the ISDA Lab opens!
The ISDA Lab
Your ultimate step-by-step practical guide to understanding and negotiating the ISDA® Master Agreements
What Is the ISDA Lab?
The ISDA Master Agreement (“ISDA”) is the most frequently used trading agreement for documenting over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivatives. It is used by banks, hedge funds, corporates and even individuals who meet the required eligibility criteria. Despite its popularity, the ISDA is commonly taught in-house, with only a few courses available on the market.
The ISDA Lab is designed to provide you with a full overview of the most important aspects of negotiating ISDAs. It is the first online course that provides a holistic, practical approach to the ISDA documentation, including explaining the structure of the agreement, addressing the key operational, KYC on-boarding processes and providing an overview of the most frequently negotiated provisions.
The ISDA Lab is taught in short, digestible lessons, to allow you pick, choose and consume content as you want and need it. All in the comfort of your own home and at your own pace. If you decide to take the course, you will gain access to a wealth of practical knowledge and experience, including real examples, drafting modifications and negotiation tips.
With over a decade of experience in the financial services industry, I’ve taken everything I’ve seen and learnt, from managing an international team of paralegals and ISDA negotiators for Credit Suisse in Poland, to heading a busy team of lawyers at Man Group in London, and turned into the ISDA Lab. Think of it as the ultimate ISDA roadmap and key resource for “all things ISDA”, to help you understand the key features of the agreement and give you the tools to negotiate it with full confidence!
What is the ISDA Lab promise?
The ISDA Lab is a step-by-step practical ISDA knowledge guide and negotiation course, designed to:
- Help you understand what is ISDA, how it’s structured and why we need it;
- give you an overview of the entire agreement and its key concepts;
- provide you with a summary of the most frequently negotiated provisions;
- outline the key operational and on-boarding considerations when negotiating ISDAs;
- give you some practical examples that you may immediately use in your own negotiations!
The ISDA Lab offers both a buy-side and a sell-side perspective and is packed with plenty of useful, practical tips, drafting examples and lessons learnt!
What is inside the ISDA Lab course?
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Module One
Building Your ISDA Foundation
Inside of module one, I will walk you through what is ISDA, how it works, its key features and benefits and why do we use it. We will talk about the close-out netting mechanism and the importance of legal opinions. I will also explain the overall ISDA documentation architecture. This module gives you a unique perspective on the fundamentals of the world of ISDA.
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Module Two
Understanding the 2002 ISDA Documentation
In module two, we will discuss the 2002 ISDA in more detail and I will present a section-by-section overview of the entire agreement. I will also provide you with a summary of the main differences between the 1992 and 2002 versions of the ISDA and share some tips on how to decide which version to use. This module will leave you prepared for the ISDA negotiations ahead!
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Module Three
Negotiating the ISDA Schedule
Inside of module three, I will discuss the structure of the ISDA Schedule and walk you through the most frequently negotiated provisions, including some practical examples of the common amendments, with the main focus on the termination events. I will share my top drafting tips and tell you how to make sure that your negotiation is always a success story!
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Module Four
The Behind the Scenes of ISDA Negotiations
Module four is all about operational and on-boarding considerations when negotiating ISDAs. We will discuss the on-boarding process, forms that need to be completed, KYC challenges and the execution of documents. Understanding what happens “behind the scenes” and begin able to navigate your way around any ISDA related issues will give you an additional advantage!
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Module Five
The Industry Secrets
Every industry has its secrets, like airline companies raise the price on their website every time you come back or the fact that most computer problems can be fixed by turning it off and on again. Inside of module five, I will share some tricks of the trade, unique drafting tips and negotiation techniques; all the methods I’ve tried, tested and perfected over the years - all to help you achieve success in your career ahead!
FAQ
Is the ISDA Lab right for you?
ISDA Lab is for you if you are…
- A student or a graduate, trying to figure out your next career move, especially if you’re considering joining the banking and finance industry.
- An existing ISDA negotiator, wanting to either brush up on your knowledge or take your expertise to the next level.
- A paralegal or a training solicitor, working in a busy in-house environment or for a law firm, trying to upskill and increase your knowledge to take your career to the next level.
- An in-house lawyer, legal executive or a trading documentation specialist who has experimented with the ISDA in the past (or keeps coming across it), but hasn’t quite mastered the art of the ISDA negotiations.
- A credit office, collateral management or an on-boarding or project management specialist, who wants to gain a good working understanding of the ISDA to enhance your existing skill set.
- A curious individual, who is seeking to pursue and develop a new career in ISDA documentation and banking / financial services industry.
From graduates to existing industry professionals - there is room for you at the table!
Why should you choose the ISDA Lab?
- If you have ever come across me, you will know that I am very passionate about what I do. I’m a dual qualified derivatives lawyer who has a well-rounded, and over a decade long experience within the financial services industry, ranging from working in private practice, on the sell-side and the buy-side. I’m a subject matter expert who has gained experience whilst working at companies such as Credit Suisse and Man Group plc. Having left the corporate world to start my own consultancy business - FIT Legal Solutions, I have launched this course to share my unique ISDA negotiation know-how with you! You can find out more about me here.
- The ISDA Lab is the only online course on the market that covers end-to-end processes involved in negotiating ISDAs. This course not only explains the structure of the ISDA documentation and the commonly negotiated provisions, but also explains the negotiation and on-boarding processes and provides you with some real drafting tips and examples.
- The ISDA Lab is the only online course on the market that covers end-to-end processes involved in negotiating ISDAs. This course not only explains the structure of the ISDA documentation and the commonly negotiated provisions, but also explains the negotiation and on-boarding processes and provides you with some real drafting tips and examples. If the course does not live up to our promise, we will provide you with a 100% refund within 30 days of purchase. This is because I firmly believe in the value of the content. You can read more on that here.
What is the course like?
The course is an online training, which consists of short and digestible lessons wrapped into 5 core modules delivered over the course of 5 weeks. Each lesson is a set of presentation slides with the pre-recorded audio.
Depending on the study option that works best for you, you can either choose to learn independently or go through a “live” course experience over 5 weeks. ISDA Lab goes “live” a few times a year – to sign up for enrolment updates, please join our waiting list here.
When you join ISDA Lab, you will get immediate access to the fist module where you’ll start building your ISDA knowledge foundation. This module will set you up for success and prepare for more in-depth discussions.
From there, you will be given access to one module per week, so that you have ample time to dive into the lessons and try, test and execute that portion of the knowledge before moving onto the next. I do this to protect your time, attention and focus, while sparing you from the overwhelm.
How much is the ISDA Lab?
The cost of the ISDA Lab varies depending on the option that works best for you. The Independent Study, which includes the entire digital course starts at £388. Please head over to the Derivatives Lab Academy for more information.
Have more questions about the ISDA Lab?
Please head over to the Contact page and send us a message!
ISDA® is a registered trademark of the International Swaps and Derivatives Association. Derivatives Lab online training courses are not sponsored by or affiliated with the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc.
Terms and conditions apply, please see our Terms of Use
JOIN THE WAITLIST
The ISDA Lab™ is the first online course of its kind that not only teaches you all you need to know about an ISDA® Master Agreement, but gives you all the information you need to negotiate it like a pro!
Enrolment for the ISDA Lab will be opening soon with a limited number of seats available for the VIP study. Go ahead and join the waitlist and I will notify you when the ISDA Lab opens!
