Senior Counsel, Trust & Estates (14 Month Secondment)

CIBC•Toronto, ON

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

As Senior Counsel, Trust and Estates, you will be accountable for providing legal services and advice to members of the organization. You will work with employees in designated lines of business to assist in mitigating potential legal risks. You will participate, as a team member, in various projects by providing initial and ongoing legal advice. Other key areas of accountability include the drafting and negotiation of legal documents for subsequent review with your manager, as applicable. At CIBC, we enable the work environment most optimal for you to thrive in your role. Currently, you’ll have flexibility within a hybrid arrangement, spending 2–3 days per week on-site and the remainder working remotely. Please note that this arrangement is subject to change, and the number of on-site days may increase.

Requirements

Minimum of 7 years of progressive and proven track record as a legal advisor.
Experience in providing advice on a variety of complex issues & mitigating legal and reputational risk.
Certified professional.
Called to the Bar in Ontario and are a member in good standing.
Confident in ability to communicate detailed information in an impactful way.
Thrive when empowered to take the lead, go above and beyond, and deliver results.
Make decisions and take actions that will make a difference today and tomorrow.
Proactively seek new opportunities to define what's possible.
Bring your real self to work and live values – trust, teamwork and accountability.
Legally eligible to work at the location(s) specified.
Valid work or study permit (where applicable).

Nice To Haves

Experience in Trusts and Estates, including operation and administration of registered plans, trusts, wills, estate administration, beneficiary designations, powers of attorney, joint ownership of assets, mental capacity, and similar matters.
Experience in identifying systemic issues and assisting in the development of preliminary recommendations.
Experience in reviewing policies and procedures for applicable legal requirements.
Experience in engaging externally with industry forums, external law firms, financial institutions, and regulators.
Experience in product and service development projects.

Responsibilities

Work with various lines of business and advise on Trusts and Estates, including certain matters and escalations arising from issues related to operation and administration of registered plans, trusts, wills, estate administration, beneficiary designations, powers of attorney, joint ownership of assets, mental capacity, and similar matters.
Provide proactive, responsive and sound legal advice to designated lines of business to assist with the mitigation of legal risk.
Keep apprised of developments in legislation and case law, bring those developments to the attention of the manager, and assist in the identification and assessment of their effect on designated lines of business.
Conduct research on legal issues and prepare opinions for review with the manager and present those opinions to the designated lines of business.
Identify systemic issues and assist in the development of preliminary recommendations to assist the designated lines of business in addressing the identified issues.
Review policies and procedures, as and when required, for applicable legal requirements and to mitigate reputational risk and reduce exposure to legal liability.
Actively participate in industry forums, network of external law firms and contacts in financial institutions and, where appropriate, regulators.
Be aware of relevant business developments both within CIBC and within the industry.
Take opportunities to regularly communicate findings to colleagues and lines of business.
Keep the manager apprised of developments of key projects and escalate issues that may pose a potential legal risk to the business and/or organization.
Draft, negotiate and summarize legal documents and review drafts with the manager, as appropriate.
Develop and sustain good working relationships with designated lines of business by facilitating open communication and becoming familiar with the designated lines of business.
Participate, as a team member, in various projects relating to product and service development by providing legal and regulatory advice, identifying potential legal risks, and assisting with the development of risk mitigation strategies.