Assistant General Counsel, Commercial Lending
About The Position
KeyBank National Association is seeking an attorney to lead its Commercial Lending team. The Assistant General Counsel serves as primary legal counsel to KeyBank's Small Business, Business Banking, Middle Market, SBA, and related commercial lending businesses. The role provides legal advice, risk management guidance, documentation support, regulatory interpretation, policy development, and strategic counsel across the full lifecycle of commercial lending products and operations. The position works closely with lending, credit, operations, compliance, risk management, closing, servicing, and technology teams, as well as outside counsel, to help ensure commercial lending activities are consistent with KeyBank's risk appetite. The preferred locations are Cleveland, Ohio, or Buffalo, New York. The position provides senior-level consultation on complex matters, offers proactive advice on business and corporate initiatives, and recommends responses to legal issues arising from proposed changes in laws and regulations. It is a recognized subject-matter expert role that supports governance through management committee involvement, partners with outside counsel when needed, and coaches and develops other attorneys. The position leads another attorney supporting Commercial Lending and actively supports employee engagement. Other duties may be assigned, and responsibilities may change with or without notice. The employee must comply with KeyBank policies and procedures, conduct business ethically and professionally, avoid conflicts of interest, and act in the best interests of KeyBank and its clients. This is a hybrid position with a work location category of three or more days in office. Key prioritizes in-office presence while providing flexible options when work can be performed effectively in a mobile environment. The position involves general office demands, including prolonged sitting, face-to-face and telephone communication, frequent computer use, and occasional lifting, pushing, or pulling of bags weighing up to 10 pounds.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree.
- Juris Doctor.
- Active state bar membership.
- At least 10 years of relevant experience in a law firm or in-house.
- Mastery of the assigned support area, including understanding the full commercial lending lifecycle from legal and operational perspectives.
- Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills.
- Experience providing proactive, solution-oriented advice on important legal, business, and regulatory issues.
- In-depth understanding of the banking industry and regulatory environment.
- Ability to work collaboratively and build relationships across a large organization, including at the most senior levels.
- Willingness to learn new areas of law, acquire new skills, and take on additional or new responsibilities.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and help manage demands according to organizational priorities.
- Management experience; the position leads another attorney supporting Commercial Lending.
- Ability to manage, train, and supervise junior attorneys and paralegals if relevant.
- Mature understanding of law firm billing and pricing practices to enable oversight of outside counsel.
Responsibilities
- Lead the Commercial Lending legal team and serve as primary legal counsel to Small Business, Business Banking, Middle Market, SBA, and related commercial lending businesses.
- Provide legal advice, risk management guidance, documentation support, regulatory interpretation, policy development, and strategic counsel across the commercial lending lifecycle.
- Provide senior-level consultation on complex matters that influence business outcomes.
- Develop solutions by applying legal and business knowledge, and develop problem-solving skills in others.
- Provide proactive counsel and advice that facilitates line-of-business and corporate initiatives.
- Recommend responses to lines of business, senior management, and the direct manager regarding legal issues and proposed changes in laws and regulations.
- Partner with outside counsel when needed and oversee outside counsel in light of law firm billing and pricing practices.
- Serve as a recognized Key subject-matter expert in legal areas within the role's scope.
- Support governance activities through management committee involvement.
- Coach and develop consultation skills in other attorneys, and manage, train, and supervise junior attorneys and paralegals if relevant.
- Actively lead and support employee engagement actions.
- Work collaboratively with internal stakeholders and other teams to help ensure commercial lending activities align with KeyBank's risk appetite.
- Comply with KeyBank policies and procedures, conduct business ethically and professionally, avoid conflicts of interest, and act in the best interests of KeyBank and its clients.
- Perform other duties as assigned; responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned.
Benefits
- Supportive team environment emphasizing professional development and work-life balance.
- Long-term career growth within Key's Legal organization.
- Eligible for incentive compensation, which may include production, commission, and/or discretionary incentives.
- Eligible for the benefits listed in the company's benefits information.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
