Description:

Role Description:
The Vice President - Counsel role for Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) will work within the Legal Department, reporting to the Executive Director and Head of the Technology, Operations and Procurement (TOP) Legal team.

Role Objectives

Primary responsibilities will involve strategic legal advice, and negotiation and documentation of third-party vendor contracts, working with the vendor risk assessment processes and teams, as well as the various business units, including but not limited to, Information Technology, Information Security, Operations, Procurement, Third-Party Risk, Human Resources, Capital Markets, Nikko (broker dealer), and Corporate Services. In particular:
Serving as a strategic legal advisor to the various business units on issues surrounding technology, outsourcing, intellectual property, data and related matters, and providing strategic, commercially pragmatic, and transparent advice to business clients.
Acting as a key legal advisor on SMBC Americas Division commercial vendor transactions.
Reviewing, negotiating, and documenting various technology agreements, procurement and vendor contracts, including, but not limited to: software (on-prem and SaaS/cloud), outsourcing, hardware, systems, facilities, telecommunications, and professional/consulting services; non-disclosure agreements; and various other vendor commercial agreements to support the business.
Providing general advice and counsel on financial services-related technology transactions to support the Bank's third-party sourcing and procurement efforts.
Issue-spotting, researching and appropriately escalating risks and concerns that may exist with any third-party contract.
Interpreting legal and regulatory developments and guidance impacting commercial vendor transactions.
Collaborating with other internal stakeholders to ensure appropriate awareness and escalation of issues as they arise.
Maintaining subject matter expertise in technology, operations and procurement regulatory requirements and keeping up to date with emerging technology legal issues, including cloud, artificial intelligence/machine learning, fintech, data etc.

Qualifications and Skills:

6-8 years minimum experience reviewing and drafting and negotiating technology and other vendor contracts and advising on technology and intellectual property laws and regulations. Prior in-house experience and/or experience with a financial services institution a significant plus.
Admission to the NY Bar (or clear qualification of eligibility for waiving in from another jurisdiction with which NY has reciprocity) and a member of good standing of such Bar.
Comfortable engaging with senior executives across a host of disciplines and businesses.
Significant project management skills to manage various stakeholders and issues.
Excellent communication skills, technical drafting skills, and issue-spotting skills.
Ability to work under pressure, operate comfortably in a fast-paced, demanding environment, and manage a significant workload with minimal supervision.
Ability to think creatively and propose commercially pragmatic solutions.
Ability to communicate complex legal advice in a clear and concise manner to business clients to support difficult decision making.
Ability to collaborate with and successfully contribute to cross-functional teams and work with people from regions around the world.

Additional Requirements:
D&I Commitment
Responsible for fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion, holding leaders accountable for creating an inclusive environment through awareness and practice of equity in recruiting, developing, and promoting diverse talent.