Hybrid Assistant General Counsel – Commercial Lending

at M&T Bank

• Job title: Assistant General Counsel – Commercial Lending
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Mid level, Senior
• Salary: $139,700 - $232,900 per year
• Degree requirement: Professional Certificate
• Location requirements: Hybrid, Buffalo, United States

About the role

• Join M&T Bank providing legal counsel in the Commercial Lending practice group. Handle commercial lending transactions and regulatory compliance initiatives in a hybrid role.

Responsibilities

• Promptly address day-to-day legal and other related risk issues arising in connection with proposed, new and existing commercial lending transactions, including advising bank officers at various levels and across various functions
• Drafting, reviewing, negotiating and revising commercial loan documents
• Maintaining and enhancing template commercial lending agreements and related forms (both home-grown and vendor-based) for use in documenting commercial lending transactions
• Interface with and assist with the management of approved outside legal counsel
• Drafting and coordinating guidance and communications with outside legal counsel used to close commercial lending transactions
• Advising internal clients on the development, implementation and expansion of new credit products, services, markets and distribution channels (e.g., digital lending and electronic signatures)
• Monitoring and advising internal client groups on any relevant federal and state laws, regulations and guidelines relating to commercial lending (e.g., UCC Article 9 and related articles, ECOA and Regulation B, FCRA, Fair Lending, Anti-Tying Regulations, Reg H Flood Insurance, etc.) and providing support to enterprise-wide compliance efforts
• Proactively identifying, evaluating and escalating legal and regulatory risks relating to commercial lending business activities, and working collaboratively and cohesively with first-line and second-line risk functions to effectively address and mitigate risks
• Providing Legal Department representation and support for various Commercial Division committees, project teams and working groups, as needed
• Monitoring industry developments and participating in industry groups/committees, as needed
• Developing and maintaining trusted working relationships with M&T Legal Department colleagues and internal clients, including loan officers, managers, risk management, compliance and audit partners, loan operations areas and other internal support partners.
• Contribute to the development and presentation of commercial lending training programs for internal clients
• Execute on strategic direction, policies and guidelines for the M&T Legal Department

Requirements

• J.D. degree from an accredited law school
• Admitted and in good standing with the state bar of New York and/or other states in the M&T footprint
• Minimum of 4 years' experience as an attorney or other relevant legal experience
• Experience in a lead counsel, client-facing role in the commercial lending space required
• Strong familiarity with commercial lending documents of various types required
• Self-motivated and strong/proactive work ethic
• Ability to effectively, efficiently and independently identify legal issues, evaluate legal risks, and offer practical recommendations and solutions
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills
• Effective collaborator and team player
• Strong analytical and decision-making skills
• Excellent writing and verbal skills.

Benefits

• medical and retirement benefits
• forty hours of paid volunteer time each year