Overview
This role serves as trusted strategic counsel to senior leadership on complex mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transactions, divestitures, strategic investments, joint ventures, and other corporate transactions. The attorney will partner closely with executive management and business leaders, along with Finance, Risk, Compliance, HR, and outside counsel, to support growth objectives while managing legal, regulatory, and operational risks.
This position is open to candidates located anywhere within the organization’s geographic footprint.
Responsibilities
- Lead and manage legal aspects of mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, asset purchases, branch acquisitions, strategic investments, and support related capital markets, securities, and other corporate transactions.
- Structure, draft, negotiate, and review letters of intent, confidentiality agreements, purchase agreements, merger agreements, ancillary transaction documents, and disclosure schedules.
- Provide independent judgment in advising business leaders and executives; escalate matters and offer practical guidance based on materiality, complexity, reputational impact, and legal risk.
- Lead and coordinate cross-functional teams and oversee legal due diligence processes, including management of internal stakeholders and outside counsel.
- Identify and advise on legal, regulatory, litigation, employment, operational, compliance, and contractual risks arising from potential transactions.
- Develop and execute transaction-related regulatory approval strategies, including coordination of filings, applications, approvals, regulator engagement, responses to information requests, and fulfillment of approval conditions with applicable federal and state banking regulators.
- Prepare concise, decision-ready materials for executive management (and, as necessary, the Board of Directors) covering transaction structure, key legal and regulatory risks, approval requirements, alternatives, and recommended mitigation strategies.
- Support transaction integration and post-closing activities, including implementation of legal and governance requirements.
- Advise business leaders and executive management on strategic initiatives, partnerships, vendor transactions, and other significant commercial arrangements.
- Select, manage, and evaluate outside counsel and other transaction advisors; define expectations for scope, staffing, timelines, and budgets; ensure timely, high-quality, commercially practical legal support.
- Partner with Compliance, Risk, and business units to evaluate regulatory implications of strategic transactions.
- Assist with examination inquiries and regulatory requests related to corporate transactions and strategic initiatives.
Requirements
- Strong understanding of M&A transaction structures and negotiation strategy.
- Ability to assess and communicate legal and business risks in a concise and actionable manner.
- Excellent drafting, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to manage multiple complex matters simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
- Collaborative approach with strong executive presence and interpersonal skills.
- High degree of professionalism, integrity, discretion, and sound judgment.
Required Experience
- Juris Doctorate.
- Minimum of 10 years of mergers and acquisitions experience, through a combination of law firm and in-house roles.
- Active membership in good standing with at least one state bar.
- Extensive experience drafting and negotiating complex transaction documents and independently managing transactions through closing and integration.
- Strong project management, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
- Demonstrated business judgment and ability to provide practical, solution-oriented legal advice.
Preferred Qualifications
- Relevant experience within the banking industry.