Description:
As Senior Banking Counsel, your primary duties will involve advising internal clients on matters pertaining to A Washington-Chartered Commercial Bank consumer, small business, and mortgage banking activities and operations. Our branches are located in Washington, Oregon, California and Idaho, and internal inquiries often raise both federal and state legal and regulatory questions. You will be expected to prepare and communicate related legal analysis while exercising sound judgment and common sense. In addition, you will manage a wide range of litigation matters, supervise the processing of related insurance claims, and supervise our department's processing of third-party legal information requests. Strong attention to detail and project management skills are essential.As Senior Banking Counsel you will have the opportunity:
Education & Certifications
Experience:
8 or more years of experience as an attorney advising banks and/or credit unions, preferably with 2 or more years of experience managing outside counsel in relation to litigation matters
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Provide legal support for various internal banking teams, primarily consumer, small business, mortgage, and banking operations. May also support commercial banking and commercial real estate teams. Advise on a range of client-related agreements, disclosures and procedures, including in relation to deposit and credit relationships and consumer regulatory compliance. Respond to ad hoc internal inquiries to aid front-line staff in mitigating legal risk. Proactively identify areas of potential risk and develop strategies to mitigate risk and educate relevant staff.
- Coordinate a range of litigation matters and manage outside counsel representing A Washington-Chartered Commercial Bank in various jurisdictions. Work with counsel to develop litigation and settlement strategies. Review and comment on various pleadings; draft and review dispute resolution letters and settlement agreements. Oversee the discovery process. Assist with investigations. Provide direction and legal advice to internal clients to help resolve dispute involving bank customers or vendors.
- Oversee preparation of monthly litigation report for submission to the Board of Directors and its Risk Committee.
- Oversee preparation of monthly legal expense accrual reports for submission to internal Finance and Accounting team.
- Advise the bank in relation to a wide range of contracts, such as non-disclosure agreements, master service agreements, license agreements, and other vendor contracts.
- Review, develop and /or memorialize standardized procedures to support consistency and accountability and ensure regulatory compliance.
- Manage legal support staff in areas of responsibility.
- JD; Accredited law school required
- Bachelor's Degree
- State Bar Admission(s) for one or multiple states required: WA, OR, CA, ID
Experience:
8 or more years of experience as an attorney advising banks and/or credit unions, preferably with 2 or more years of experience managing outside counsel in relation to litigation matters
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Be familiar with the laws and regulations relevant to consumer and mortgage banking, such as UDAAP, FCRA, GLBA. EFTA, ECOA, TILA, TISA, SCRA, MLA, RESPA, FHA, HMDA and SAFE Act.
- Be proficient in the areas of account control agreements, powers of attorney, deceased customer procedures, and trust and estate fundamentals.
- Have experience managing litigation or managing outside litigation counsel.
- Be intellectually curious and enjoy continuous learning. Be a proven team player, results oriented and customer-service driven. Exercise sound judgment and maintain appropriate discretion in relation to highly sensitive information. See beyond specific questions presented in order to advise on greater impacts or risks, and develop related solutions.
- Possess initiative as well as analytical, critical thinking and problem-solving skills and an ability to develop clear solutions to complex or nebulous issues. Be able to handle day to day inquiries with minimal supervision and determine when escalation of matters is appropriate.
- Possess proven writing skills with strong attention to details along with demonstrate strong oral and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to advocate effectively.
