Staff Attorney

Industry: AB

Company: SUMITOMO MITSUI TRUST BANK, LIMITED

About the Bank

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited was established through the merger of The Sumitomo Trust and Banking Co., Ltd with Chuo Mitsui Trust and Banking, Ltd. on April 1, 2012. We are one of the largest asset managers in Asia and number one among Japanese financial institutions by AUM, with approximately $850 Billion USD in AUM. The Bank provides an assortment of financial solutions and manages a broad spectrum of financial products across its global branches.

This role is for AVP level candidates.

Department Overview:

The Americas Division (“AD”) was established in the Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited, New York Branch) (“SMTBNY”) to perform corporate functions and supervise U.S. entities. Established under the AD are the “Global Banking Unit (“GBU”), Americas Division” and “Global Markets Unit (“GMU”), Americas Division” which perform business functions. The Legal Department (“LGL”) provides support to all departments of the New York Branch for legal consultation and advice in order to reduce legal and regulatory risk and to reduce the overall legal costs of Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited.

Your Role Overview:

The Attorney is actively involved in reviewing, drafting, and negotiating legal documentation relating to the daily, on-going activities of the Bank. Responsible for assisting the General Counsel, Senior Counsel, and the Assistant General Counsels in handling the overall activities of the Legal Department, including supervising support staff. May have direct report subordinate staff.

Your Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Be available to all departments of SMTBNY, SMTBUSA, SMTAMA, relevant Tokyo head office departments and other domestic and international offices of SMTB, and its affiliates, for legal consultation and advice, and respond to inquiries in a timely manner.
2. Assists in the coordination of the development of new products and improvements of existing services with SMTB business departments.
3. Engage and oversee outside legal counsel as needed.
4. Review all documentation relating to daily operations of Bank, including NDAs, third party vendor agreements, syndicated loan agreements, amendments, and assignment agreements.
5. Represents SMTB in all legal matters whether or not outside counsel is retained including bilateral loans in the areas of real estate, fund finance, structured finance, project finance and CLOs.
6. Attempts to reduce overall legal costs of SMTB by assuming legal work that might otherwise be performed by outside counsel but can be performed internally without incurring material risk to SMTB.
7. Keeps apprised of statutes, regulations, case law and other legal developments, as well as proposed changes therein, relevant to SMTB.
8. Monitors compliance by SMTB with applicable law; in this regard, keeps apprised of SMTB’s current and contemplated activities.
9. Conducts periodic seminars involving topical issues relevant to SMTB and its business activities.
10. Communicates to all departments of SMTB the role and availability of the legal department.
11. Develops and updates handbooks and policies on pertinent issues.
12. Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned by management.
13. Be physically present at SMTBUSA (Hoboken) when necessary but no more than once per month.
14. Work closely with outside counsel where outside counsel is retained, including attending all meetings and conference calls and attending to structuring issues.

BSA/AML Related Responsibilities

1. Responsible for and review Customer Profile/Regulatory Compliance Checklists (Lending Group): required for each new customer.
2. Reviews Account Opening Application Forms (NY Unit): required for each new customer.
3. Reviews BSA Risk Matrices: required for each new customer.
4. Maintains the Branch’s customer identification program with risk-based procedures that enable the Branch to form a reasonable belief that it knows the true identify of its customers.
5. Being fully knowledgeable of the Bank Secrecy Act and all related regulations.
6. Understanding the Branch’s products, services, customers and geographic locations.
7. Having the expertise, authority, and time to satisfactorily complete her BSA/AML related responsibilities.
8. Ensuring that employees adhere to the Branch’s BSA/AML policies, procedures and
9. processes.
10. Assisting the General Counsel, Senior Counsel and Assistant General Counsels in maintaining relevant Branch Policies relating to BSA/AML compliance.

Your Qualifications:

1. Law (J.D.) degree. Membership in the New York State Bar.
2. 3 years of experience, preferably in a law firm or comparable in-house experience.
3. Experience as a transactional attorney required. Experience in the areas of asset management and banking regulation preferred.
4. Ability to review, draft, and negotiate complex legal documents.

Why you should join SuMi Trust:

SuMi Trust embraces flexible ways of working when the business and role permits. We provide employees with a hybrid working model, allowing for in-office work and work from home. Our diverse and inclusive environment along with our global presence enables us to collaborate and communicate to meet our business needs. We believe that efficient teams need truth, loyalty, and a strong sense of purpose to balance risk and their targets. We make sustainable business decisions to improve our society and the world. We believe that each person brings a unique value that drives the business though their creativity and passion.

• The Employee Benefits package includes: Paid Time Off, medical, HSA, vision, dental, FSA, 401(k), profit sharing, legal plan, cancer indemnity plan, disability insurance, life insurance, employee assistance program, commuter benefits, business travel accident, paid volunteer day, paid memberships, paid seminars, and tuition assistance.
• We offer many socialization opportunities for wellness, financial wellbeing, runs/walks, team building, happy hours, and activities to support the Sustainable Developmental Goals.

Check out our LinkedIn for our employee experience: https://www.linkedin.com/company/smtbny

We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. SuMi Trust 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 when the Human Resources staff reaches out to you for an interview.

The anticipated salary range for this role is listed above. The specific salary offered to an employment applicant is based on the individual’s qualifications, experiences, the job responsibilities, an analysis of the current compensation paid for similar roles in the local geographic area, and key distinctions of the job as compared to current jobs in the Branch. The role may also be eligible for an annual discretionary bonus.

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited New York Branch is a branch of Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holding Group. Learn more about the company, the values, and vision at https://www.smth.jp/english/about_us/philosophy