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Overview

The Director, Legal Counsel for Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Canada Branch will work within Canada Branch, acting as the local legal advisor in discharging all types of legal responsibilities that are assigned by Canada Branch.

As a key representative of Canada Branch, the Legal counsel will liaison with the Legal Department of Americas Division to ensure regional best legal practice are adopted locally and, Canadian legal cases are appropriately managed in consultation with subject matter experts respectively.

Key Accountabilities

• Primary responsibilities of the Director, Legal Counsel, are to provide legal support to (1) lending transactions of Canada Branch; (2) Procurement and Sourcing; (3) Regulatory Change Management.

• Transactional (50%): Collaborating with both external law firms (such as legal counsels for the lead syndicate bank) and internal US Lending practice group, the attorney will support all of SMBC Canada Branch’s Commercial & Corporate banking transactions. Duties include: (i) reviewing, drafting, and negotiating documentation for credit transactions, such as bilateral and syndicated credit agreements, reimbursement agreements, guarantees, security agreements, engagement letters, commitment letters, fee letters, term sheets and NDAs, (ii) working closely with the front office and other internal stakeholders to assist with the structuring and coordination of credit transactions, (iii) supervising and managing external counsel, (iv) identifying and analyzing cross-border legal, regulatory, and market issues affecting the commercial lending businesses, including the legal risk associated with new products and activities, (v) maintaining and updating form documents, (vi) providing periodic advice to other SMBC offices on matters of Canadian law and market practice, and (vii) participating in continuing legal education in order to maintain current knowledge of developing law and market practice.

• Procurement and Sourcing (25%): Work with the Technology, Operations, and Procurement (TOP) practice group of the Legal Department, to assist the third-party contract needs for the Canada Branch. Duties include: (i) reviewing, drafting, and negotiating vendor contracts, (ii) working closely with third party risk management and various stakeholders, (iii) supervising and managing external counsel that are engaged to assist with third party contracts, to ensure the work product is consistent with broader practice and risk tolerance for the Americas Division.

• Regulatory Change Management (25%): Provide legal advice and support to the SMBC Canada branch’s Regulatory Change Management on matters relating to SMBC Group’s Canadian business. AD RCM monitors legislative and rulemaking activity affecting SMBC Group’s Americas Division entities. Primary duties for AD RCM will consist of: (i) reviewing and determining applicability of Canadian laws and regulations to the Canadian business, (ii) engaging and supervising external counsel to assist with RCM legal workstreams, if required (iii) coordinating AD RCM coverage efforts and approaches with other SME attorneys, and Canadian business representatives, and (iv) actively participating in Canada Branch Compliance working groups to provide counsel and make sound legal recommendations relating to the Bank Act, PCMLTFA, PCMLTFR, Privacy, etc.

• General: Collaborate and coordinate with attorneys in the Legal Department and other internal stakeholders to ensure adherence to institutional standards and policies. Escalate material issues and developments to senior management. Act as the key legal contact for Canada Branch, the counsel shall liaise with New York subject matter experts on various legal issues (e.g.,US bank regulation, cybersecurity, privacy, litigation, employment, law firm billing, etc.)

Job qualifications

• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or Juris Doctor (JD) from a recognized law school.

• Called to the Bar of Ontario, in good standing to practice law in Canada

• Minimum of three (3) years of progressive experience in a leading Canadian law firm, or as in-house counsel for a federally regulated financial institution. Knowledge and experience in the operation of an international financial institution. Schedule III foreign bank branch (FBB) experience is an asset.

• Minimum of three (3) years practice with subject matter expertise in corporate banking (lending/credit) legal and regulatory issues

• Experience drafting and negotiating agreements with exposure to broader commercial procurement matters

• Proven skills in legal risk management. Ability to see past the question and understand the bigger picture. Ability to balance competing demands and protect institutional interests. Ability to articulate complex concepts and ideas and apply them at a practical level to real-world situations.

• Excellent communication skills, technical drafting skills, and issue-spotting skills. Ability to work under pressure, operate comfortably in a fast-paced, demanding environment, and manage a significant workload with minimal supervision. Ability to think creatively and propose solutions.

• Must be a team player.

About Us

SMBC Group is a top-tier global financial group. Headquartered in Tokyo and with a 400-year history, SMBC Group offers a diverse range of financial services, including banking, leasing, securities, credit cards, and consumer finance. The Group has more than 130 offices and 80,000 employees worldwide in nearly 40 countries. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (SMFG) is the holding company of SMBC Group, which is one of the three largest banking groups in Japan. SMFG’s shares trade on the Tokyo, Nagoya, and New York (NYSE: SMFG) stock exchanges.

In the Americas, SMBC Group has a presence in the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Peru. Backed by the capital strength of SMBC Group and the value of its relationships in Asia, the Group offers a range of commercial and investment banking services to its corporate, institutional, and municipal clients. It connects a diverse client base to local markets and the organization’s extensive global network. The Group’s operating companies in the Americas include Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. (SMBC), SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., SMBC Capital Markets, Inc., SMBC Rail Services LLC, Manufacturers Bank, JRI America, Inc., SMBC Leasing and Finance, Inc., Banco Sumitomo Mitsui Brasileiro S.A., and Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Co., Ltd.

SMBC provides reasonable accommodations for employees and applicants with disabilities consistent with applicable law. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application process, please let us know at SMBCCBAccessibilityCanada@smbcgroup.com.

SMBC is an EO employer – M/F//Disability.