ASSOCIATE COUNSEL - ONSITE - KEY WEST, FLORIDA

First State Bank•Key West, FL

3d•Onsite

About The Position

First State Bank is seeking an Associate Counsel to provide strategic analysis and legal counsel, anticipate and guard against legal risks, develop and recommend corporate policies and positions on legal issues, and conduct or coordinate research on a variety of legal matters. The role supports a regulated financial institution and advises on corporate governance, bank and bank holding company regulation, operational matters, contracts, litigation, lending, and regulatory issues. The position represents the organization in litigation and works with outside counsel on complex matters. It also advises branch personnel, supports policy and procedure compliance, manages outside counsel relationships, and handles legal due diligence and complex commercial real estate loan workout transactions. The role is onsite in Key West, Florida.

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, and organizational skills.
Excellent writing, analytical, and verbal skills.
Strong analytical and decision-making 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.
Experience reviewing, drafting, and negotiating loan documents, modifications, forbearance agreements, and similar documents; managing legal due diligence; and managing and closing complex commercial real estate loan workout transactions.

Nice To Haves

Banking and finance associate with 4+ years of experience practicing law, preferably at a law firm, bank, financial services company, or in-house legal department.
Experience focused on corporate/transactional and regulatory matters.
Experience in corporate governance for regulated financial institutions and advising them on governance matters.
Strong understanding of bank and bank holding company regulation and regulatory examination processes.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic analysis and counsel on legal matters to anticipate and guard against legal risks.
Develop and recommend corporate policy and positions on legal issues, and conduct or coordinate legal research.
Advise on corporate governance matters involving regulated financial institutions.
Advise on bank and bank holding company regulation and regulatory and examination processes at federal and state levels.
Advise on day-to-day bank and bank holding company operational matters, including due diligence reviews.
Represent the organization in litigation and collaborate with outside legal counsel on complex legal matters.
Draft, manage, and negotiate contracts and oversee vendor management.
Provide guidance to branch personnel on Bank policies and procedures; conduct legal research and analysis on legal, regulatory, and operational matters; assist with litigation management; and manage special projects.
Adhere to the Company's state and federal risk and regulatory standards, policies, and controls, and 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, surveys, leases, 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.
Analyze and interpret complex data, resolve problems, communicate with internal and external customers, and create precise written documentation.