AVP, Legal Services

The AVP of Legal Services & Deputy General Counsel serves as in-house counsel for the Credit Union and each of its subsidiaries, including providing all strategic legal and risk advice. The AVP of Legal Services & Deputy General Counsel will work closely with the General Counsel and Senior Leadership in reviewing and negotiating agreements, major vendor contracts, commercial leases and real estate sales and acquisitions, investment and sponsorship agreements. This individual will serve as the first line contact on legal and risk matters, and provide legal support and advice to Credit Union business units and assist in implementing best practices to minimize legal risks and ensuring regulatory compliance with new and existing product offerings. The AVP of Legal Services & Deputy General Counsel will also oversee outside counsel on litigation, bankruptcy, and commercial real estate matters.

What you will do here:

• Provide legal, compliance, regulatory, and risk management advice and recommendations to the credit union and its subsidiaries on all areas of operations, including (a) reviewing, negotiating, and advising on vendor contracts, commercial real estate acquisitions and leases, construction agreements, sponsorship agreements, software and licensing agreements, and other transactions; (b) revising corporate formation and organization documents; (c) drafting board resolutions and providing advice on board governance; (d) establishing best practices related to regulatory compliance, vendor management, risk management, contracts, lending, collections, and human resources; (e) researching, developing, and periodically reviewing applicable policies and procedures to ensure legal compliance and best practices; (f) working closely with each line of business on the development and implementation of new product offerings to ensure compliance; (g) guiding each line of business through the RFP process and maintaining and updating standard forms for issuing RFPs.
• Serve as in house counsel for each of the Credit Unions subsidiaries, including but not limited to drafting and negotiating service agreements, drafting and negotiating client agreements, and providing advice and recommendations on sensitive and strategic matters directly to each subsidiarys CEO.
• Oversee the Paralegal and Legal Services team in their handling of subpoena, garnishment, levy, and bankruptcy response functions and resolve legal issues arising from same. Manage direct reports life-cycle to include recruiting, hiring, training, employee development, engagement, performance management and retention. Identify ways to automate repetitive tasks and improve efficiency.
• Lead a cross-functional analysis of the legal, regulatory, compliance, and financial risks associated with vendor relationships and agreements; advise the credit union and its subsidiaries on the risks associated with individual vendors; provide recommendations on proceeding with vendor relationships and how to minimize risks associated with those relationships.
• Serve as a lead counsel for the credit union and its subsidiaries in court, administrative, bankruptcy and other litigation proceedings, including investigative claims, drafting litigation pleadings, drafting court of appeals briefings, arguing cases to the court, and representing the credit union at its subsidiaries at mediations; oversee the litigation work of outside counsel, including strategic decisions.
• Manages and oversees a program to resolve member inquiries and support retail and back office operations related to special accounts, including but not limited to trust documents, powers of attorney, UTMAs, garnishments, signature guarantees and subpoenas; research the legal requirements and risks associated with the same; draft, review, and advise on associated forms and legal instruments; and resolve questions from applicable lines of business and members regarding complex issues related to same.
• Conduct internal employment, ethics, and compliance investigations, including anonymous employee complaint reporting; interview witnesses; draft memoranda and provide recommendations related to legal and strategic risk.
• Work with the line of business leaders in responding to and resolving the most difficult member complaints, and review and/or draft responses to regulatory agencies in response to member complaints.
• Chair the Driver Safety Committee and provide advice and direction regarding the fleet program, driver safety manual, risk mitigation, insurance, and application of the program.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What you will need:

• Doctoral Degree in related field; Juris Doctorate for a minimum of 10 years
• 10 years of experience with litigation, Financial Institution Law, and Employment Law
• 10 years of Leadership Experience
• 5 years of Bankruptcy law experience
• 5 years of experience in Business/Corporate Law, Regulatory Law
• Working knowledge of regulatory environments such as credit unions, banking, or other financial institutions
• Excellent organizational and logic skills
• Ability to multitask, focus, and prioritize multiple projects under pressure to meet deadlines
• Strong research, writing, negotiating, and communicating skills
• Ability to translate research into business solutions
• Ability to provide advice on risk management and mitigation
• Working knowledge of the business requirements and risks associated with marketing, lending, retail banking, commercial banking, consumer banking, information technology, information management, privacy, non-profit foundations, corporate formation, corporate acquisition, credit reporting, loss mitigation, facilities operations, finance, insurance, property ownership, real estate transactions, and vendor management
• Member of the Arizona Bar (in good standing)
• Admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the State of Arizona, and all other Arizona State Courts
• Admitted to practice in the District of Arizona
• Eligible to be admitted to practice pro hac vice in the federal and state courts of other jurisdictions

We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing.

For additional information about our organization, careers, and benefits visit: http://www.desertfinancial.com/careers.