Senior Counsel, Asset Management

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce; Toronto; On-site; CAD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Incentive pay

Banking benefits

Defined benefit pension plan

Employee share purchase plan

Vacation offering

Wellbeing support

MomentMakers recognition program

Job summary

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce seeks a Senior Counsel, Asset Management to advise across investment products lifecycle, from design to distribution. You will partner with business teams, manage regulatory risk and draft critical documents.

This role reports to the Managing Counsel, Wealth Management and requires strong leadership and collaboration across the Legal Department. The position supports both Canada and cross-jurisdictional initiatives, with a mix of on-site and remote work

Qualifications

• Bar admission in Ontario; eligibility to practice law.
• Minimum 7 years of related experience at a leading law firm, major corporation, or asset management firm.
• Demonstrated ownership mindset and ability to collaborate across teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide practical, business-focused legal advice on securities law and fund regulation.
• Lead legal support for strategic projects, identifying legal and reputational risks.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to deliver time-sensitive matters and build trusted relationships.
• Draft, review, and negotiate offering documents and contracts with high accuracy.
• Support product and service development with legal and regulatory guidance.
• Escalate material legal or reputational issues and oversee external counsel when needed.

Skills

Legal advice

Strategic leadership

Collaboration

Drafting and negotiation

Business partnership

Risk management

Education

Bar admission in Ontario

US admission an asset

Job description

We’re building a relationship-oriented bank for the modern world. We need talented, passionate professionals who are dedicated to doing what’s right for our clients. At CIBC, we embrace your strengths and your ambitions, so you are empowered at work. Our team members have what they need to make a meaningful impact and are truly valued for who they are and what they contribute. To learn more about CIBC, please visit CIBC.com

What you'll be doing

CIBC’s Legal Department supports the bank’s strategic priorities by providing practical, business-focused legal advice across a broad range of matters. As Senior Counsel, Asset Management, you’ll advise and support CIBC’s asset management business throughout the full lifecycle of investment products, from design and structuring through launch and distribution. You’ll work closely with business and functional partners to provide guidance on regulatory requirements and developments, support client-facing materials, and help identify and manage legal and regulatory risk. This role spans publicly and privately offered products, including mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), pooled funds, and alternative or private market strategies, and includes support for initiatives in Canada and other jurisdictions. You’ll also help strengthen legal precedents, processes, and procedures while addressing new and emerging issues with sound judgment, professionalism, and a solutions-focused mindset. Reporting to the Managing Counsel, Wealth Management, you’ll deliver high-quality legal advice and bring strong drafting, advocacy, leadership, and organizational skills to the role. At CIBC we enable the work environment most optimal for you to thrive in your role. Details on your work arrangement (proportion of on-site and remote work) will be discussed at the time of your interview.

How you'll succeed

• Legal Advice - Provide practical, business-focused legal advice on securities law, investment fund regulation, governance matters, and emerging regulatory issues that are increasingly important to CIBC and its subsidiaries.
• Strategic Leadership - Lead legal support for strategic projects and initiatives by identifying legal and reputational risks, recommending mitigation strategies, and advising on the impact of legislative, regulatory, and case law developments.
• Collaboration - Partner closely with colleagues across the Legal Department and with internal stakeholders to deliver on complex, time-sensitive matters while building strong, trusted relationships across the organization.
• Drafting and Negotiation - Prepare, review, and negotiate offering documents, commercial agreements, and other product-related materials with a high degree of accuracy, judgment, and professionalism.
• Business Partnership - Support product and service development by providing legal and regulatory guidance, anticipating business needs, and helping teams make informed, risk-aware decisions.
• Risk Management - Escalate material legal or reputational issues when appropriate, oversee relationships with external counsel as needed, and ensure compliance with applicable CIBC policies, standards, guidelines, and control requirements.

Who you are

You’re a certified professional. You’ve been called to the Bar in Ontario and are qualified to practice law. It’s an asset if you’re admitted to practice in one or more jurisdictions in the United States.

You have relevant experience. You bring a minimum of 7 years of related experience gained at a leading law firm, major corporation, or asset management firm.

You act like an owner. You thrive when you’re empowered to take initiative, go above and beyond, and deliver results. You look beyond the moment. You know what you do will make a difference today and tomorrow. You look for new opportunities to define what’s possible. You’re motivated by collective success. You work effectively with partners across teams and functions, and you know strong relationships help deliver better outcomes. Values matter to you. You bring your real self to work, and you live our values - trust, teamwork, and accountability.

#LI-TA

What CIBC Offers

• competitive salary
• incentive pay
• banking benefits
• a benefits program*
• defined benefit pension plan*
• an employee share purchase plan
• a vacation offering
• wellbeing support
• MomentMakers, our social, points-based recognition program

At CIBC, your goals are a priority. We start with your strengths and ambitions as an employee and strive to create opportunities to tap into your potential. We aspire to give you a career, rather than just a paycheck. We work to recognize you in meaningful, personalized ways including a competitive salary, incentive pay, banking benefits, a benefits program*, defined benefit pension plan*, an employee share purchase plan, a vacation offering, wellbeing support, and MomentMakers, our social, points-based recognition program. Our spaces and technological toolkit will make it simple to bring together great minds to create innovative solutions that make a difference for our clients. We cultivate a culture where you can express your ambition through initiatives like Purpose Day; a paid day off dedicated for you to use to invest in your growth and development. *Subject to plan and program terms and conditions

What you need to know

CIBC is committed to creating an inclusive environment where all team members and clients feel like they belong. We seek applicants with a wide range of abilities and we provide an accessible candidate experience. If you need accommodation, please contact [e-mail] CIBC is committed to clarity in our hiring process. All roles posted are opportunities we’re actively recruiting for, unless stated otherwise. You need to be legally eligible to work at the location(s) specified above and, where applicable, must have a valid work or study permit. We may ask you to complete an attribute-based assessment and other skills test (such as simulation, coding, French proficiency). We use artificial intelligence tools during the recruitment process. Our goal for the application process is to get to know more about you, all that you have to offer, and give you the opportunity to learn more about us.

Job Location Toronto-81 Bay, 20th Floor

Employment Type Regular

Weekly Hours 37.5

Skills Business Contracts, Business Transactions, Contract Negotiations, Critical Thinking, Decision Making, Legal Consulting, Legal Issues, Legal Strategies, Litigation, People Management, Regulatory Compliance, Strategic Advice