Assistant General Counsel - Ag Lending

Compeer Financial•Rochester, NY

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Compeer Financial is seeking an Assistant General Counsel to provide senior legal counsel, advice, analysis, and support on complex matters affecting assigned business units or functions. The role independently manages legal matters and serves as a strategic legal advisor to executives, leaders, and team members, tailoring recommendations to business needs and organizational priorities. The position provides primary legal support to agricultural lending teams and related financial services, including insurance, tax, accounting, appraisal, and consulting. It also supports complex commercial markets and syndicated lending. The role drafts, negotiates, reviews, and interprets contracts and other legal documents, including documents concerning loans, leases, and insurance, while maintaining template lending and contractual documents. The Assistant General Counsel advises on legal and compliance risks, regulatory developments, and industry trends; provides legal opinions and recommendations on significant issues; and works with leaders to develop practical solutions that balance legal risk and business objectives. The position also supports training and direction on legal and compliance topics and contributes to the legal team’s priorities and goals. The position offers a hybrid work option of up to 50% from home and may be based at any Compeer office in Illinois, Minnesota, or Wisconsin. Compeer Financial is a member-owned cooperative serving agriculture and rural communities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and a JD from an American Bar Association-accredited law school.
Professional license to practice law in Minnesota, Wisconsin, or Illinois.
Expert-level experience in a law firm, corporate legal department, government agency, or regulated financial institution, or equivalent legal and directly relevant professional experience sufficient to perform the role’s essential functions, including substantial experience relevant to the assigned practice area.
Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws and regulations affecting legal and compliance issues in the financial industry and relevant to Compeer Financial.
Knowledge of agricultural and commercial lending, real estate, bankruptcy, contract, equipment leasing, and/or corporate law.
Skill in applying legal principles to individual cases and problems.
Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
Analytical, critical-thinking, and decision-making skills.
High level of integrity and flexibility in a fast-changing environment.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build effective working relationships and influence others through tact, sound judgment, and collaboration.
Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to explain complex topics, negotiate, and write legal contracts and documents.
Strong computer skills, including MS Office applications, software used to originate and service loans and leases, and legal research sites.
Creative problem-solving ability and objectivity in balancing business needs and risk.
Ability to prioritize assignments and work independently in a timely manner.
Authorization to work for any employer in the United States; Compeer cannot sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa.

Nice To Haves

Experience with agricultural finance, the Farm Credit System, or another regulated financial institution.
Relevant professional experience or credentials in an adjacent discipline aligned with the assigned practice area, such as accounting, finance, banking, credit, compliance, or governance.

Responsibilities

Independently manage complex legal matters affecting assigned business units and align legal advice with strategic priorities.
Draft internal legal documents, including memoranda analyzing facts and legal issues, and provide legal opinions and recommendations on significant issues.
Negotiate, draft, and interpret complex contracts and other legal documents involving loans, leases, insurance, and related matters, consistent with legal, regulatory, and organizational policies.
Provide primary legal support and strategy to agricultural lending teams on collateral, legal interpretation, loan structure, borrower eligibility, and servicing actions.
Manage template lending and other contractual documents to maintain consistency, quality control, and effective legal protections.
Provide primary legal support for related financial services, including insurance, tax, accounting, appraisal, and consulting.
Support complex commercial markets and the syndicated lending portfolio.
Advise executives, leaders, and assigned departments on complex matters and anticipate legal and compliance risks related to strategies and initiatives.
Monitor, research, and analyze industry trends, regulatory compliance, proposed and existing laws, and policies, and advise on their organizational impact.
Provide guidance on complex or sensitive legal and compliance matters requiring significant legal judgment or interpretation.
Partner with business leaders and provide training and direction to team members on legal and compliance topics.
Contribute to the development of legal team priorities and goals.

Benefits

Hybrid work option up to 50% from home.
Flexible schedules, including ample flexibility in summer months.
Up to 9% toward 401(k), comprising a 3% fixed Compeer contribution and up to 6% match.
Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
HSA/FSA.
Life and AD&D insurance.
Short-term and long-term disability insurance.
Wellness program and EAP.
Vacation, sick leave, holidays, and floating holidays.
Parental leave.
Paid volunteer time off.
Learning and development programs.
Mentorship programs.
Cross-functional committee opportunities.
Professional membership and certification reimbursement.
Variable compensation.