Counsel, Banking Regulation & Policy - Legal

Federal Reserve Board; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 145,000 - 259,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation provided

Job summary

The Federal Reserve Board seeks an experienced attorney to work within the Banking Regulation and Policy group (BRPG). The role involves advising on regulation and supervision of banks and related entities, drafting memoranda and regulatory documents, and presenting analyses to the Board.

Strong research and communication skills are essential, with extensive experience in related laws. Applicants must hold a JD from an ABA-accredited school, be an active member of the bar, and have at least six

Qualifications

• Licensed attorney with JD and active bar membership.
• Minimum of six years as a practicing attorney in private practice or government with relevant legal experience.
• Expertise in banking law, administrative law, or related practice areas.

Responsibilities

• Handles complex legal projects in BRPG areas, coordinating junior staff.
• Drafts memoranda, regulations, testimony, and legal documents for Board actions.
• Provides legal opinions and responds to inquiries from Board and public.
• Assists in drafting and reviewing Board meeting materials and presentations.
• Researches and analyzes bank mergers, and other regulatory matters for BRPG.
• Represents the Board in litigation support, settlements, and enforcement actions.
• Reviews requests under FOIA and coordinates with staff on disclosures.

Skills

Legal drafting

Regulatory analysis

Oral advocacy

Communication skills

Education

Juris Doctor

Job description

Always verify and apply to jobs on the official Federal Reserve Board career site or through verified Federal Reserve Board social media channels.

Minimum Education

Juris doctor

Minimum Experience

6

Summary

Handles assignments in one or more of the following areas: Banking Structure, Monetary Affairs, Litigation and Enforcement, International Banking, Legal Services. Drafts memoranda to the Board, orders, staff opinion letters, legislative and regulatory proposals, court pleadings etc. Furnishes legal opinions and advice and responds to System and public inquiries concerning Federal statutes, interpretations and opinions concerning the supervision and regulation of banks, regulatory responsibilities of the Board, Reserve Bank matters, etc.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Generally, assumes significant responsibility for complex legal projects in a particular area of the Division's work such as member bank activities, permissible activities for bank holding companies, foreign banking operations or bank affiliate relationships. Coordinates and reviews the work of junior staff members assigned to such projects.
• Prepares legal memoranda to the Board, presenting analysis of legal issues and proposing alternate courses of action. Drafts regulations implementing Board policy or new legislation. Assists in drafting testimony for Board members and officers to present before Congressional committees. Prepares other legal documents, including letters for the signature of Board members, interpretations of general applicability to be published in the Federal Register and special studies required by law or requested by Congressional committees. Reviews the work product of junior staff assigned to such projects.
• Prepares and reviews items for consideration at Board meetings, may make presentations to the Board, and answers questions from Board members regarding those items.
• Provides explanations and advice in response to inquiries from Board members and other System clients, other federal and state agencies, members of Congress and Congressional staff, private counsel, and the public, concerning federal statutes, regulations and interpretations regarding the regulation and supervision of, and business transactions involving, banking organizations. Reviews explanations of, and provides advice to, junior staff regarding such inquiries.
• Participates with Division management and senior staff of other divisions in the formulation of policy recommendations to the Board in particular areas of substantive expertise.
• Analyzes proposals presented to the Board, including complex merger and acquisition transactions, involving consideration of federal and state banking law, securities and antitrust law, and corporate and accounting issues. Reviews analysis of junior staff regarding these issues.
• Prepares documentation for and researches legal issues related to bilateral and multilateral bridge loans in consultation and coordination with other agencies, international organizations, foreign central banks, and counsel representing debtor countries. Coordinates and reviews work of junior staff assigned to such tasks.
• Handles all aspects of appellate and trial court litigation, including researching and drafting appellate briefs and pleadings, preparing administrative records, negotiating agreements with opposing counsel, and advising and coordinating with counsel for parties supporting the Board's action with respect to litigation strategy. Presents oral arguments before appellate courts.
• Assists in the initiation and prosecution of administrative enforcement actions against bank holding companies and state member banks, and officers and directors thereof, in cease and desist, civil money penalty, and removal actions; participates in advising the Board with respect to final actions required on cases prosecuted before an administrative law judge; and assists in defending the Board in court proceedings challenging decisions in such actions.
• Represents the Board at various meetings or conferences, often in order to justify or defend the Board's position on significant or controversial issues.
• Reviews paralegal work responding to Freedom of Information Act requests.

About The Job

The Attorney will work in the Banking Regulation and Policy group (BRPG) of the Board’s Legal Division. Attorneys in BRPG advise the Board of Governors, the General Counsel, and other Federal Reserve staff on a variety of legal and policy issues related to the regulation and supervision of banks, bank holding companies, savings and loan holdings companies, and foreign banks. Provide legal advice on matters involving the interpretation of financial statutes, regulations, standards, and guidance; proposed financial legislation; bank supervisory issues, including international banking issues; and applications and related matters involving domestic and foreign banking organizations. Draft memoranda to the Board, staff opinion letters, legislative and regulatory proposals, and similar documents. Furnish legal opinions and advice and respond to System and public inquiries concerning Federal statutes, interpretations, and opinions regarding the supervision and regulation of financial institutions, regulatory responsibilities of the Board, Reserve Bank matters, and related issues. Make oral presentations at meetings with Board members. Review and analyze complex bank mergers and consolidation transactions, proposals by bank holding companies to engage in novel nonbanking activities, requests for interpretation of various Federal banking laws, proposed amendments to the Federal banking laws and regulations, and other matters handled by BRPG.

Requirements For FR-28

Requires a law degree (JD) from an ABA accredited law school; and must be an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico prior to and throughout duration of employment as an attorney. Requires a minimum of six years as a practicing attorney in private practice or government agency with relevant legal experience, with extensive skills and expertise including laws, regulations and policies that apply to the practice area (e.g., banking law, administrative law, or other practice areas).

Requirements For FR-29

Requires a law degree (JD) from an ABA accredited law school; and must be an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico prior to and throughout duration of employment as an attorney. Requires a minimum of eight years as a practicing attorney in private practice or government agency with relevant and extensive legal experience with extensive skills and expertise including laws, regulations and policies that apply to the assigned practice area (e.g., banking law, administrative law, or other practice areas).

Requirements At All Levels

Must demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills, strong analytic and interpersonal skills (including the ability to interact effectively with management and staff at all levels of the organization), personal initiative, and adaptability in working across legal disciplines. Must be able to produce work products that generally do not need extensive revision. Must also possess excellent attention to detail and strong organizational skills (including ability to handle multiple assignments and organize projects and see through their successful completion with minimal supervision). Requires sound judgment and a high level of discretion as will have access to highly sensitive information. In addition:

• U.S. citizenship required.
• Successful completion of background check required.

Job Type

Regular

Job Exempt

Yes

Relocation Provided:

Yes

Compensation Grade(s)

FR PAY GRADE 28 - FR PAY GRADE 29

Pay

$144,500.00-$258,500.00

Rehabilitation Act

The Board complies with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and provides job applicants with disabilities reasonable accommodations to assist them in applying for jobs at the Board. If you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a job at the Board, please call 202-452-3880 or e-mail [e-mail].

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or application, membership, or service in the uniformed services.

Privacy

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Paperwork Reduction Act

OMB No. 7100-0181

Approval Expires October 31, 2029

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 0.26-0.71 hours per response, including the time to gather and maintain data in the required form and to review instructions and complete the information collection. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to: Secretary, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, DC 20551; and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (7100–0181), Washington, DC 20503. The Federal Reserve may not conduct or sponsor, and an organization (or a person) is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.