A solid grounding in
ISDA documentation and EMIR compliance is essential, especially for:
- Professionals working in banking
- law
- Asset management
- Compliance or collateral management
Suppose you're a beginner to the ISDA Master Agreement or are looking to refine your advanced negotiation capabilities. In that case, specialist training can provide the practical skills and technical knowledge necessary to operate in this space.
The ISDA Master Agreement: The Cornerstone of Derivatives Transactions
The ISDA Master Agreement forms the foundation of most over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives transactions worldwide. It standardises the contractual framework. Reducing documentation risk and ensuring legal certainty between counterparties.
Our foundational course, “
Derivatives & ISDA”, provides participants with a comprehensive overview of the structure, key provisions, and commercial implications of the ISDA Master Agreement. This includes its Schedule, Confirmations and the Credit Support Annex (CSA).
Participants learn exactly how to trade derivatives, understand the terminology (“jargon”) often used in ISDA trading and appreciate the operational mechanics of netting and collateralisation.
As global markets evolve, so too does the regulatory landscape. The ISDA framework continues to adapt to address the impact of new regulations, technological developments and the growing importance of digital assets. This makes continuous professional development in this area not only beneficial but essential.
EMIR in the UK and EU: Navigating Divergence and Compliance
Since the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union, both jurisdictions have continued to develop their own versions of the European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR). Although the core objectives remain aligned - promoting transparency, mitigating systemic risk, and standardising reporting obligations - there are now important distinctions between
UK EMIR and
EU EMIR that market participants must carefully manage.
Under both frameworks, institutions face obligations around clearing, trade reporting, portfolio reconciliation and timely confirmation of derivatives trades. A deep understanding of these requirements is particularly crucial when drafting or negotiating ISDA documentation. This is because EMIR compliance directly affects the representations, undertakings, and additional terms included in the Schedule to the Master Agreement.
Our “Derivatives & ISDA” course ensures participants gain a solid grasp of the EMIR obligations. How they interact with ISDA documentation and the incorporation of EMIR-related provisions, relevant ISDA protocols, and key operational procedures designed to ensure compliance across both the UK and EU regimes.
EMIR is inevitably relevant to non-UK and non-EU participants if and when they trade with EU and/or UK counterparties. In this course, we will discuss in detail which EMIR provisions will be relevant for non-EU and non-UK counterparties in these circumstances. We also include guidance on practical compliance.
Evolving Trends: Crypto Derivatives and Digital Assets
One of the most transformative developments in the derivatives market is the emergence of c
rypto derivatives and digital asset-linked financial products. Exchanges, brokers, and institutional investors are increasingly engaging with instruments that reference cryptocurrencies and tokenised assets.
While these products offer new opportunities for diversification and innovation, they also introduce unique legal, regulatory, and operational challenges. Key considerations include:
- The treatment of digital assets under the ISDA framework
- Enforceability of netting and collateral provisions
- The regulatory classification of such instruments under EMIR and MiCA (the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation)
Professionals operating in this sector must understand how traditional ISDA documentation principles apply, or fail to apply, to these new asset classes.
Both our “Derivatives & ISDA” and the “
Advanced ISDA Master Agreement Negotiations” courses equip participants with the analytical and drafting skills required to address these emerging market realities.
From Foundational Understanding to Advanced Negotiation
While the “Derivatives & ISDA” course builds the essential foundational knowledge base needed to understand the legal architecture of derivatives transactions, the “Advanced ISDA Master Agreement Negotiations” course takes participants to the next level. You'll develop the practical expertise required to negotiate ISDA Master Agreements with confidence.
Our advanced course will prepare you to be able to negotiate an ISDA Master Agreement in line with current market standards. It provides a detailed clause-by-clause analysis of the 2002 ISDA Master Agreement. As well as a comparative review of the 1992 and 2002 versions.
A practical case study is included. It allows participants to apply the theory in a realistic negotiation setting. It also examines the
Credit Support Annex (CSA) and key issues around
netting, valuation, and termination events.
Delivered by an expert practitioner with extensive experience at leading UK magic circle and US law firms and investment banks, this course combines legal precision with commercial insight. Participants will receive detailed checklists, negotiation tips, and practical examples. Bridging the gap between theoretical understanding and real-world application.
This course is particularly valuable for:
- In-house and private practice lawyers engaged in derivatives or structured finance
- Credit, risk and compliance professionals responsible for counterparty assessment and legal documentation
- Collateral management and operations teams managing margin calls and CSAs
- Traders, structurers, and asset managers involved in swaps, options, and other derivative instruments
Why Continuous Professional Training Matters
The derivatives market is in constant motion.
Regulatory expectations are increasing. Documentation standards continue to evolve. And digital innovation is introducing new complexities into traditional frameworks.
In an era defined by regulatory divergence, digital innovation, and heightened scrutiny, mastery of derivatives documentation and negotiation has never been more important. Whether you are advising on complex structured trades, managing counterparty risk or ensuring EMIR compliance, a deep understanding of the ISDA framework is essential.
Training provides not only the technical grounding necessary to remain compliant and commercially effective but also the opportunity to benchmark practices against market standards. The “
Derivatives & ISDA” course offers a robust foundation for understanding these principles, while the “
Advanced ISDA Master Agreement Negotiations” course delivers the deeper, practical insight required to negotiate in complex, high-value transactions.
Professionals who complete both courses gain a 360-degree understanding of the derivatives lifecycle - from documentation and negotiation to regulatory compliance and dispute resolution.