Associate Counsel - Onsite - Key West, Florida

First State Bank•Key West, FL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

First State Bank of the Florida Keys is seeking an Associate Counsel to provide strategic analysis and legal counsel, anticipate and guard against legal risks, recommend corporate policies and positions on legal issues, and conduct or coordinate research into a variety of legal matters. The role supports a regulated financial institution and advises on corporate governance, banking regulation, operational matters, litigation, contracts, vendor management, and complex commercial real estate loan workouts. The position is onsite in Key West, Florida. The Associate Counsel advises branch personnel on Bank policies and procedures, works with outside counsel, and helps ensure compliance with state and federal regulatory standards and the Bank’s risk appetite. Essential job functions include analyzing and interpreting complex data, resolving problems, communicating with internal and external customers, and preparing precise written documentation. The employee must be able to remain in a stationary position 60 percent of the time.

Requirements

J.D. from an accredited law school.
Admission to the Florida state bar.
Preferred candidates should have 2–4 years of experience.
Ability to identify legal issues, evaluate legal risks, and offer solutions.
Strong negotiation, interpersonal, organizational, analytical, decision-making, writing, and verbal skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Proficiency with Westlaw and Lexis.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Ability to communicate complex matters concisely and effectively in oral and written form.
Ability to examine and analyze cases and documents for inherent legal risks.
Keen attention to detail, reliability, responsiveness, self-initiative, and the ability to collaborate and meet demanding deadlines in a fast-paced, changing work environment.
Experience reviewing, drafting, and negotiating loan documents, modifications, forbearance agreements, and similar documents; conducting and managing legal due diligence; and managing and closing complex commercial real estate loan workout transactions.

Nice To Haves

Banking and finance associate experience with 4 or more years in the practice of law, preferably at a law firm, bank, financial services company, or in-house legal department.
Experience focused on corporate or transactional and regulatory matters.
Strong corporate governance experience involving regulated financial institutions.
A strong understanding of bank and bank holding company regulation at the federal and state levels, and of bank regulatory and examination processes.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic legal analysis and counsel, anticipate and guard against legal risks, and develop and recommend corporate policies and positions on legal issues.
Conduct and coordinate research into legal, regulatory, and operational matters.
Advise on corporate governance matters for regulated financial institutions.
Advise banks and bank holding companies on day-to-day operational matters, including due diligence reviews.
Represent the organization in litigation, collaborate with outside legal counsel on complex matters, and assist with litigation management.
Draft, manage, and negotiate contracts and support vendor management.
Provide branch personnel with guidance on Bank policies and procedures.
Adhere to state and federal risk and regulatory standards and Bank policies and controls; identify risk-related issues requiring escalation to management.
Manage outside counsel relationships and engagements, including providing strategic direction.
Review, draft, and negotiate loan documents, modifications, forbearance agreements, and similar documents.
Review, analyze, and manage legal due diligence, including organizational documents and structure, title, survey and lease review, and legal opinions.
Manage and close complex commercial real estate loan workout transactions.
Handle, investigate, and respond to subpoenas, levies, writs of execution, and other court-issued documents.
Manage special projects and multiple competing priorities while meeting demanding deadlines.