LEGAL COUNSEL MANAGER - WATERFORD

FirstBank Florida; Miami (FL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

FirstBank Florida seeks a highly experienced Legal Counsel to oversee all legal activities in the Florida Region, including directing legal staff and providing forceful legal counseling to Management and regional departments. The role supports corporate matters, major transactions, and litigation with coordination to the General Counsel.

The incumbent will stay updated on new laws and regulations, advise on legal risks, and lead policy formulation.

Qualifications

• Must be a graduate of an accredited law school with at least ten years of increasingly responsible experience representing a financial institution
• Excellent legal research and writing abilities
• Ability to lead and direct others and manage budgets

Responsibilities

• Provides legal support in corporate matters and banking law for the Bank and Florida Region.
• Advises department managers on legal risks and assists in policy formulation for the region.
• Conducts comprehensive legal research on statutes, regulations, and case law relevant to the Bank.
• Manages relationships with outside counsel and coordinates with the General Counsel on corporate matters.
• Performs residential and commercial loan closings, documents drafting, and negotiation.

Skills

Bilingual English/Spanish

Analytical skills

Interpersonal communication

Computer proficiency

Education

Law degree from an accredited law school

Job description

Job Summary:

Responsible for all legal activities of the Bank’s Florida Region as well as directing activitiesof legal staff in the Florida Region. Assist in protecting the region’s legal interest and maintaining its operations within the scope established bylaw. Provides legal counseling and related supportto Management, and the departments, operational, business and administrativeunits of the Florida region. The Legal Counsel of the Florida region provideslegal support to the General Counsel in corporate related matters of theCorporation, such as comprehensive legal research, major corporatetransactions, and major litigation. Responsible for keeping management informedof new laws and regulations and changes in same.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Provides legal support in corporate related matters of the Bank andperforms research of local and federal banking laws.
• Assists the General Counsel in the generalmanagement of legal risk for the region, identifying and analyzing legalissues
• Advises department managers on legal risks and participatesas requested in the formulation of policy for the region
• Performs comprehensive research in specializedlegal topics by researching applicable laws and regulations, includingstatutes, procedural, administrative, or case law information, and byreviewing legal periodicals and materials relevant to a specialty area oflaw
• Provides legal counsel to the Bank on matters of development, training, employment, compensation, benefits, communications and other related issues in the region’s daily operations
• Assist with internal investigations as requestedby the General Counsel
• Offers legal assistance to Credit Officers incorporate/commercial financing agreements and amendments
• Perform residential and commercial loan closings,including loan documents drafting and negotiation
• Reviewing, drafting, analyzing, interpreting,advising, and negotiating a wide range of contracts and documents withrespect to vendors, partners, and clients, presenting clearrecommendations and assuring legal compliance
• Manages the relationship of the Bank with outsidecounsels and others having business with the Bank
• Acts as the agent of the Bank in real estate transactions, legislative and regulatory hearings, and other related areas.
• Assist in litigation cases of the region
• Assist regulatory and independent auditors and examiners, as necessary
• Reviews and approves documentation for billings, probate claims, title disputes and other related issues for the Bank
• Provide support to the Subpoenas & Legal Requirements Unit of the Bank on matters related to the Florida Region (Subpoenas and Legal Requirements served on the Bank by Law Enforcement Agencies, Government Agencies and Courts of Law)
• Review, analyze and respond to all notice of levies, writs of garnishment, subpoenas
• Actively managed the foreclosure Litigation cases for the Bank. Reviews accounts recommended for foreclosure
• Negotiate agreements for the sale of REO property
• Assists in the drafting of Policies &Procedures of the Legal Department for the region
• Assist in the preparation and management of the department and/or area budget
• Prepare and conduct training sessions for internal clients
• Represent theBank in business, government and community activities within the contextof the above stated responsibilities.

Independence of Judgment:

• The degree of judgment is related to the identification and definition of new problems of moderate complexity and recommendation of action or decision onspecialized and complex subjects of impact for important functions of theCorporation.

Impact of Errors:

• The impact of errors of this position could affect other department activities, as well as the Corporation’sreputation with the government entities, regulatory agencies, and the communityin general. It could also affect material activities for the Bank, either fromother divisions or departments, or within.

Competencies:

• Computer proficiency
• Fully Bilingual - Write, speak and comprehend English and Spanish
• Strong Analytical Skills
• Interpersonal communication skills

Initiative

• Striving for Excellence
• Teamwork and Diversity
• Negotiation skills
• Problem solving capabilities
• Good Analytical abilities
• General Banking and Business Knowledge

Physical Demands:

• The physical demands described here are representative ofthose that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essentialfunctions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enableindividuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Specificvision abilities required by this position include close and distance vision.While performing the duties successfully perform the essential functions ofthis position it is regularly required to sit; use hands and to finger, handleor feel, talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand andwalk. Able to handle pressure and juggle multiple priorities.

Education/Experience:

• Must be a graduate of an accredited law school with at least ten years of increasingly responsible experience representing a financial institution
  Familiar with a variety of the field’s concepts, practices and procedures
  Able to lead and direct the work of others
  Flexible work schedule

Disclaimer

• The above statements are intended to describethe general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to thisjob. They are not indented to be a anexhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills required of personnelso classified. The reportingrelationship may not reflect the most recent changes to the corporate reportingstructure.

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