JOE  VARRIANO is senior legal advisor in financial markets for the National Bank of Canada.  He works extensively in derivative products, repurchase transactions and securities lending activities for the bank and its affiliates in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. Following the financial crisis of 2008 Joe has been actively involved in assessing legislative reforms and providing guidance on the new regulatory landscape of over-the-counter financial markets.  Outside the bank Joe was an active participant of the legal working group that oversaw rule changes for the implementation of the Canadian Derivatives Clearing Corporation’s fixed income services, which is Canada’s first central clearing counterparty for repurchase transactions. He currently co-chairs a national legal committee for the fixed income client clearing initiative and the development of a Canadian industry standard for client clearing agreements.  Joe holds a law degree from the Université de Montréal and is a member of the Barreau du Québec.