Trust Legal Counsel

JOB FUNCTION / SUMMARY

Provides trust and estates legal guidance to Trust Lines of Business to assist senior management with investment and management of trusts and estates, ensuring compliance and minimizing legal risk. Supports Trust Lines of Business in a range of activities including legal issues, contracts, disputes, complex transactions, due diligence and risk management.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Reviews and interprets complex trust documents for investment and management of trust and estate matters, to include, for example, accounting related issues, conflicts of interests, fees, investment issues and, in coordination with the legal department, potential breaches of fiduciary duties.
• Oversees and provides support on estate administration matters where Bank serves as executor, agent and/or personal representative.
• Coordinates/participates with in-house/outside counsel on disputes and legal actions and manages ordinary course court actions initiated on behalf of trusts and estates for which the Bank is trustee, executor, agent and/or personal representative.
• Maintains record of threatened and/or actual litigation for Management and Directors Trust Committee.
• Assists in developing training programs and/or materials, as well as providing such training as appropriate or requested.
• Serves as Chair of Discretionary Distribution Committee and Trust Administrative Committee as well as a member of various other bank management committees including but not limited to Risk Management and Account Acceptance.
• Keeps informed of federal and state legislation and judicial decisions that may affect Trust Lines of Business operations; assists in ensuring compliance with said laws, regulations and decisions.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training associates; planning, assigning, and directing work; managing performance; addressing concerns and resolving problems.

MINIMUM REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE

• Juris Doctorate (JD) from an accredited institution with current license to practice law.
• 7+ years of legal and/or trust experience required, preferably in working for a financial institution
• 12+ years of related work experience preferred
• Licensed to practice law in either Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, or Texas, or eligible to become licensed in one or more of those states
• The position requires in-depth knowledge of the various legal and regulatory regimes governing collective investment trusts, including applicable securities and tax laws, banking laws, and laws and regulations concerning retirement plans (e.g., ERISA).
• Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office products including Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Access and PowerPoint

ESSENTIAL MENTAL & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to work under stress and meet deadlines
• Ability to operate related equipment to perform the essential job functions
• Ability to read and interpret a document if required to perform the essential job functions
• Ability to travel if required to perform the essential job functions
• Ability to lift/move/carry approximately 10 pounds if required to perform the essential job functions. If the employee is unable to lift/move/carry this weight and can be accommodated without causing the department/division an "undue hardship" then the employee must be accommodated; hence omitting lifting/moving/carrying as a physical requirement.

Equal Opportunity / Affimative Action Employers

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious beliefs, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, physical or mental disability or history of disability, genetic information, status as a protected veteran, disabled veteran, or other protected characteristics as required by federal, state and local laws.