Associate Director, Legal Counsel

Scotiabank•Houston, TX

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

Join a purpose driven winning team, committed to results, in an inclusive and high-performing culture. Global Banking and Markets Global Banking and Markets (GBM) is a leading Canadian Capital Markets and Investment Banking business with a growing platform in the US and Latin America, operating globally for over 100 years. Scotiabank’s strong U.S. presence provides our clients an important bridge to this key global market for trade and investment flows across the Americas and the world. Global Banking & Markets provides a full range of investment banking, credit and risk management products and services relevant to the financing and strategic development needs of our clients. Our products include debt and equity financing, mergers & acquisitions, corporate banking, institutional equity sales, trading and research, fixed income products, derivatives, energy, foreign exchange and precious & metals. We also cross-sell the full range of wholesale products and services offered by the Scotiabank Group. Be part of an innovative, Global Capital Markets and Investment Banking business with a unique geographic footprint that puts capital to work for our clients across industries! We work together to drive ambition for every future! Purpose Contributes to the overall success of the U.S. Legal Department by providing day-to-day legal support on a broad range of matters across multiple businesses and operations of the Bank’s U.S. Global Banking & Markets (GBM) business, with a core focus on corporate and investment banking.

Requirements

J.D. and licensed attorney in good standing admitted or otherwise authorized to practice law in the states of Texas and/or New York. Position to be based in Houston, Texas on a hybrid schedule.
Minimum of 4 years of legal experience advising on complex corporate lending at a money-center or large investment bank and/or large international law firm.
Working knowledge of the regulatory and compliance requirements applicable to banks.

Nice To Haves

Prior in-house experience a plus, but not required.
Experience in one or more of the following additional areas a plus, but not required: project finance, trade finance (letters of credit and receivables finance), and mergers and acquisitions.
Experience supporting financings in the energy and/or power and utilities sectors a plus, but not required.
Fluency in Spanish a plus, but not required.

Responsibilities

Provides day-to-day legal advice and support to Scotiabank’s U.S. corporate lending and investment banking businesses, including investment grade lending, project and infrastructure finance, leveraged and acquisition finance, and M&A financial advisory.
Provides secondary support to Scotiabank’s trade finance business, including letters of credit and working capital solutions.
Drafts, negotiates and advises on structuring a wide range of corporate and investment banking agreements, including, without limitation, commitment papers, syndicated and bilateral loan facilities, letter of credit and reimbursement agreements, corporate guarantees, intercreditor and security agreements, sellside and buyside M&A engagement letters, legal opinions, disclaimers, confidentiality agreements, and non-reliance letters.
Advises stakeholders from the bank’s LatAm network on matters with a U.S. nexus.
Partners with internal stakeholders to structure products and transactions and to build robust processes for managing legal and regulatory risk.
Provides legal assistance in launching and building key strategic projects and initiatives.
Supports the development and maintenance of client-facing legal templates.
Contributes to a customer-focused culture to deepen client relationships and leverage broader Bank relationships, systems, and knowledge.
Advises internal stakeholders, including the front office and other corporate functions, in rolling out key strategic projects and new business initiatives.
Analyzes legal and regulatory issues in areas of practice and provides timely and well-researched work product to clients on complex legal matters.
Contributes to efficient and effective relationships with outside counsel and manages legal costs and invoices.
Understands how the Bank’s risk appetite and risk culture should be considered in day-to-day activities and decisions.
Demonstrates a proactive approach to developing competency in unfamiliar practice areas.
Pursues effective adherence to Scotiabank’s Values and its Code of Conduct, while ensuring the adequacy, adherence to, and effectiveness of business controls to meet obligations with respect to operational, compliance, AML/sanctions, and conduct risk.