Senior Counsel - Deposit & Bank Operatins

Western Alliance Bank • Phoenix, AZ

4d

About The Position

Senior Counsel working within the Deposit & Bank Operations practice group reports to the Deputy General Counsel and works alongside other attorneys and staff on a wide variety of financial institution activities, including operational, compliance, and customer matters. Senior Counsel within the Deposit & Bank Operations practice group provides legal advice to multiple areas of the Bank, including advising company’s management on bank operations (including deposits, collections, and credit cards); deposits; payments and funds transfers; digital asset banking; banking as a service/open banking (including APIs); treasury management sales and services (including foreign exchange); product management; risk management; legal process; bank regulatory and compliance (including BSA/AML) activities; consumer lending and mortgage compliance; litigation including oversight of external counsel; reviewing and drafting complex documents including banking forms and agreements and general contracts. This position will also work with other attorneys across all practice groups within the Legal Department. Drafts standardized and customized bank agreements, forms, and other legal documents for use with customers and third-party service providers. Provides legal support on compliance, operational and risk management matters including product management and development. Provide legal and business risk assessment and analysis on new products and services, sales agreements, and go-to-market strategies from the concept through development to launch stage and ongoing support and solutions for various services. Work cross-functionally across product and legal teams (including data privacy, intellectual property, antitrust, regulatory, compliance, and franchise) to advise holistically on product development initiatives and commercial agreements to ensure that they are consistent with corporate strategy, internal policies and procedures and applicable laws and regulations. Provide ad hoc support to internal stakeholders across all payment services and platforms, including checks, ACH, wire transfers, and digital payments. Provide ad hoc support to internal stakeholders across all cash management products, including but not limited to remote deposit capture, sweep products, and online banking. Provides legal advice and representation on customer and third-party matters and disputes. Participates in the definition and development of branch banking, deposit operations, and risk management policies, procedures, and quality control programs. Structure, negotiate and draft commercial agreements with technology and other partners Oversees the work of outside counsel for engagements on behalf of the Company. Assist with strategic payment optimization and API banking initiatives. As needed, provide guidance on Bank’s obligations as it relates to legal process.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school.
• Active license to practice law in Arizona or another U.S. Jurisdiction.
• 6-10 years of relevant experience in private practice or in-house.
• In-depth knowledge of the legal, regulatory, and operational aspects of the U.S. banking industry and payments systems, including bank deposits, money transmission/money services businesses, funds transfers, check/ACH/wire processing, and payment cards.
• Relevant experience should include working knowledge of the Uniform Commercial Code (with particular emphasis on Articles 3, 4, and 4A), Nacha Operating Rules, and Regulation E.
• Working knowledge of consumer compliance law in the financial services space.
• Strong drafting and negotiating skills across a range of complex commercial contracts and the ability to analyze and identify core legal issues.
• Experience negotiating and drafting commercial agreements with technology partners.
• Excellent writing and drafting skills.
• Advanced ability to review legal research and analyze and summarize findings as necessary.
• Exceptional oral, interpersonal and presentation skills.
• Excellent organization, prioritization and multitasking skills, practical and effective problem-solving skills, strong analytical, negotiation, and communication skills
• Ability and drive to take ownership of projects and tasks.
• Comfortable with gray areas and interpreting and applying the law in unsettled contexts.
• Creative thinker with strong problem-solving skills.
• Must be thorough and detail-oriented, able to prioritize, and juggle multiple projects and demands.

Responsibilities

• Advising company’s management on bank operations (including deposits, collections, and credit cards)
• Drafts standardized and customized bank agreements, forms, and other legal documents for use with customers and third-party service providers.
• Provides legal support on compliance, operational and risk management matters including product management and development.
• Provide legal and business risk assessment and analysis on new products and services, sales agreements, and go-to-market strategies from the concept through development to launch stage and ongoing support and solutions for various services.
• Work cross-functionally across product and legal teams (including data privacy, intellectual property, antitrust, regulatory, compliance, and franchise) to advise holistically on product development initiatives and commercial agreements to ensure that they are consistent with corporate strategy, internal policies and procedures and applicable laws and regulations.
• Provide ad hoc support to internal stakeholders across all payment services and platforms, including checks, ACH, wire transfers, and digital payments.
• Provide ad hoc support to internal stakeholders across all cash management products, including but not limited to remote deposit capture, sweep products, and online banking.
• Provides legal advice and representation on customer and third-party matters and disputes.
• Participates in the definition and development of branch banking, deposit operations, and risk management policies, procedures, and quality control programs.
• Structure, negotiate and draft commercial agreements with technology and other partners
• Oversees the work of outside counsel for engagements on behalf of the Company.
• Assist with strategic payment optimization and API banking initiatives.
• As needed, provide guidance on Bank’s obligations as it relates to legal process.

Benefits

• We offer all the important things you'd want — like competitive salaries, an ownership stake in the company, medical and dental insurance, time off, a great 401k matching program, tuition assistance program, an employee volunteer program, and a wellness program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree