** Work Arrangement/Location: This is a hybrid position requiring in-office work and the finalist for this position will be based in an M&T Bank office in Buffalo, NY, NY, NY or Wilmington, DE.

Overview:

The successful candidate will be located in either Buffalo, NY, New York, NY or Wilmington, DE and will be supporting Wilmington Trust’s corporate and institutional trust (Global Capital Markets) division (“GCM Division”), including matters relating to its role as trustee, agent and/or other capacities on capital markets transactions (e.g., syndicated debt, corporate debt, public finance, distressed debt, municipal and re-insurance collateralization, mergers and acquisitions, large and complex trusts etc.) and structured finance transactions (e.g., securitizations, equipment finance, project finance etc.).  Such capacities might include, for example, acting as owner trustee, indenture trustee, paying agent, disbursement agent, administrative agent, registrar, calculation agent, exchange agent, security trustee, escrow agent and/or collateral agent. 

Primary Responsibilities:

• Perform a variety of complex or specialized legal activities to protect the organization and help ensure it complies with all relevant laws and regulations.

• Provide legal advice within area of expertise to relevant managers to ensure their activities, policies, business practices, and transactions comply with all relevant laws and regulations.

• Make recommendations to senior management on how to respond to legal issues or proposed changes in laws and regulations.

• Review and approve legal contracts, letters of agreement, and other documents related to a variety of trade, commercial, financial, and operational matters to protect the organization's legal and business interests.

• Partner with Compliance, Risk and Audit groups on supported divisional/departmental matters, as appropriate.

• Develop and implement streamlined and strategic policies and procedures for the legal support of supported division/department(s).

• Prepare or review more complex materials for external legal counsel.

• Understand and adhere to the Company’s risk and regulatory standards, policies and controls in accordance with the Company’s Risk Appetite.  Identify risk-related issues needing escalation to management. 

Scope of Responsibilities:

This position is responsible for providing analysis and counsel on complex legal issues for departments supported. Incumbent should be able to anticipate and guard against legal risks facing M&T, develop and recommend corporate policy and positions on legal issues and conduct and coordinate research into a variety of legal issues. This is a senior level position that requires interaction with senior and executive management on a regular basis. Specifically, the Corporate Trust Associate General Counsel will assist in the following:

• Serving as legal advisor to the GCM Division, including providing ongoing day-to-day legal advice and support for the GCM division;
• Negotiating client agreements for services offered by the GCM division;
• Identifying, evaluating and escalating legal and regulatory risks affecting the GCM Division;
• Overseeing external counsel used to support the GCM Division, and supporting GCM’s transaction management officers;
• Providing legal support for special projects, such as revising and rationalizing template contracts used by the GCM division;
• Partnering with the organization’s compliance, risk and audit groups on GCM Division matters;
• Providing legal analysis of new business opportunities and new service offerings;
• Providing legal support to the GCM Division for enterprise-wide projects and matters; and
• Keeping senior management and other personnel up to date on pertinent legal and regulatory developments, including legal risks.

Education and Experience Required:

• J.D. from an accredited law school
• Minimum of 7 years' experience as an attorney or other relevant legal experience
• Minimum of 5 years' work leadership experience, including demonstrated experience in leading others, both through direct relationships and/or indirectly (influencing without direct authority)
• New York State or applicable state bar admission
• Corporate Trust/Capital Markets subject matter expertise; Experience advising on capital markets transactions (e.g., syndicated debt, corporate debt, public finance, distressed debt, reinsurance trusts, mergers and acquisitions, and large and complex trusts) and/or structured finance transactions (e.g., securitizations, equipment finance, project finance, etc.)
• Ability to handle multiple tasks, take on new responsibilities and prioritize work in a deadline-intensive environment; experience in leading and facilitating change
• Ability to understand and integrate details of business/operational/systemic environment in applying legal and policy requirements
• Strong desire to support the identification, evaluation and escalation of legal risk issues
• Strong communication skills to deal with internal and external constituencies, including senior executives; outside counsel; risk, compliance, and audit counterparts; counterparts at other companies; and industry representatives
• Exceptional written and verbal communications skills; ability to communicate and relate at all levels of the organization
• Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills and ability to influence through collaboration

M&T Bank is committed to fair, competitive, and market-informed pay for our employees. The pay range for this position is $184,400.00 - $307,400.00 Annual (USD). The successful candidate’s particular combination of knowledge, skills, and experience will inform their specific compensation.

Location

Wilmington, Delaware, United States of America