Description:
Position Overview:As a key member of the Legal team and a senior leader at A Banking Company, you will be part of A Banking Company's mission to support the people who feed the world. The SVP and General Counsel provides legal advice and to all levels of A Banking Company (Bank), Board of Directors and A Banking Company District executives, managers, and employees related to various legal and business matters impacting Bank and District strategies and operations.
Job Functions*
Business Guidance
- Provides legal advice to A Banking Company board, management and employees and oversees legal work by the department staff regarding bank business matters
- Weighs legal liability and risks against business costs and needs to advise A Banking Company board, management and employees on business activities
- Interprets legal and regulatory changes and provides advice to board and management regarding bank business operations
- Facilitates strategic dialogue between A Banking Company senior leadership, the Board of Directors and Association senior leadership
- Analyzes and communicates litigation risk versus financial or operational gain in the development and execution of business strategies and plans
- Manages all litigation for A Banking Company and provides defense of all claims against A Banking Company
- Provides counsel related to in-house legislative and lobbying activity
- Identifies, analyzes and develops key strategic initiatives to enhance A Banking Company's business model
Manages board operations and governance activities, including nominating committee, director elections, and director and senior officer and employee disclosures and standards of conduct disclosures and reporting
Litigation:
- Provides advice on litigation strategy and settlements
- Analyzes significant claims asserted against A Banking Company or associations
- Prepares reports for associations, the Farm Credit Administration, the Board and the Funding Corporation
- Drafts agreements, pleadings, and other documents as needed
- Selects, develops, motivates, and evaluates a legal team, including attorneys
- Determines division of responsibilities and provides work guidance and direction
- Communicates business expectations and goals to team and is responsible for team results
- Recommends and implements performance standards
Education and Experience:
- Juris Doctor from an American Bar Association accredited law school
- License to practice law in a state within the A Banking Company District
- 15+ years' legal practice or related experience
- Or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to perform the essential functions of the job
Knowledge:
- Expert knowledge of federal, state and local laws, judicial developments, enforcement matters
- Advanced knowledge of corporate governance, cooperative law, intellectual property, technology, litigation, tax, bankruptcy and creditors' rights and privacy regulations
- Advanced knowledge of real estate, banking, general corporate, agricultural and commercial lending transactions, and regulatory compliance
- Advanced knowledge of budgeting, business operations, and administrative duties
- Advanced knowledge of the Farm Credit Act and FCA regulations, proposed regulations, and advisory opinions
- Advanced knowledge of District and A Banking Company policies and procedures
- Working knowledge of current agricultural lending practices and the financial services industry
- Ability to make sound decisions based on analysis, discussion, experience and judgment
- Ability to anticipate emerging and future trends accurately based on broad knowledge and perspective
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with ability to communicate at all levels of the organization including with the board
- Experience negotiating complex agreements to achieve the best outcome for the organization
- Ability to appropriately protect the confidentiality, security, and integrity of the Bank's systems and data
Skills:
- Intermediate proficiency in office software Microsoft Office Suite
- Intermediate proficiency in utilizing online legal research platforms
- Responsible to appropriately protect the confidentiality, security, and integrity of the Bank's systems and data
Physical Requirements:
- Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer
- Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times
