Senior Counsel, Cards and Contracts

CIBC•Toronto, ON

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

As Senior Counsel, Contracts and Cards, you’ll play a pivotal role in negotiating, drafting, and advising on commercial contracts for Personal Banking and Cards. You’ll provide comprehensive legal services and guidance to business and functional leaders across the organization, leveraging your independent judgment and broad legal expertise. You’ll work proactively with employees at all levels, especially those focused on retail products and teams impacted by regulatory frameworks. The Personal Banking legal team is recognized for delivering proactive legal and regulatory advice to Canadian Retail Banking, supporting the development and delivery of products and services, and offering solution-oriented counsel to mitigate risk. In this role, you’ll also offer legal expertise to executive and senior leadership on complex and sensitive issues related to contracts, projects, and unique situations. At CIBC we enable the work environment most optimal for you to thrive in your role. Details on your work arrangement (proportion of on-site and remote work) will be discussed at the time of your interview.

Requirements

Deep legal expertise.
Proven track record of providing excellent legal judgment and delivering legal advice on contract drafting, negotiations, complex issues, and mitigating legal and reputational risk.
Significant relevant experience gained at a bank, a similar large organization, or a top-tier law firm, with familiarity with the Bank Act.
Called to the Bar in Ontario and a member in good standing.
Critical thinking skills and attention to detail inform decision making.
Actively build relationships, communicate openly, and anticipate business needs to provide effective legal support.
Bring your real self to work, and live our values - trust, teamwork, and accountability.

Responsibilities

Negotiate, draft, and advise on commercial contracts supporting the Personal Banking team, including networks, suppliers, and partners.
Provide proactive, responsive legal advice grounded in the Bank Act and consumer protection laws and Codes of Conduct, primarily for CIBC’s Canadian Cards business.
Help identify and mitigate legal, regulatory, and reputational risks in projects and unique situations.
Stay current with developments in the Bank Act, consumer protection laws, regulations, and case law, taking a lead role in assessing impacts on CIBC, including collaboration with industry associations as needed.
Identify frameworks for analysis, partner closely with CIBC’s Cards business from product and service development through execution, collaborate on regulatory developments, resolve legal issues, and prepare practical recommendations for addressing identified issues.
Manage partnerships and relationships across CIBC by integrating into the business, facilitating open communication, maintaining and improving internal business partner satisfaction, anticipating business needs, and proactively offering legal advice—including delivering training.
Work collaboratively within a large legal team alongside other lawyers and CIBC Legal Department leaders.
Operate as a team in a managed matrix structure, which is a hallmark of CIBC Legal Department’s strength in the market.

Benefits

Competitive salary
Incentive pay
Banking benefits
Benefits program
Defined benefit pension plan
Employee share purchase plan
Vacation offering
Wellbeing support
MomentMakers, our social, points-based recognition program
Purpose Day; a paid day off dedicated for you to use to invest in your growth and development