Exhibit 5.1
October 24, 2016
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
270 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10017
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to JPMorgan Chase & Co., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-209681) (as amended, the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the issuance by the Company of $2,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Floating Rate Notes due 2023 (the “Notes”), pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, dated October 17, 2016 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), between the Company and the several underwriters named therein. The Notes are being issued under the Indenture, dated as of October 21, 2010 (the “Indenture”), between the Company and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (the “Trustee”).
We have examined the Registration Statement; the Indenture; duplicates of the global notes representing the Notes; and the Underwriting Agreement. We also have examined the originals, or duplicates or certified or conformed copies, of such records, agreements, documents and other instruments and have made such other investigations as we have deemed relevant and necessary in connection with the opinions hereinafter set forth. As to questions of fact material to this opinion, we have relied upon certificates or comparable documents of public officials and of officers and representatives of the Company.
In rendering the opinion set forth below, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as duplicates or certified or conformed copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. We also have assumed that the Indenture is the valid and legally binding obligation of the Trustee.
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Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that the Notes have been duly authorized, executed and issued by the Company and, assuming due authentication thereof by the Trustee or The Bank of New York Mellon, as authenticating agent under the Indenture on behalf of the Trustee, and upon payment and delivery in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement, the Notes will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
Our opinion set forth above is subject to (i) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
We do not express any opinion herein concerning any law other than the law of the State of New York and the Delaware General Corporation Law.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 24, 2016 and to the use of our name under the caption “Legal Opinions” in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT LLP