Deputy Chief Counsel

Job Description

This Deputy Chief Counsel is responsible for providing first-level legal support to Human Resources, overseeing all litigation impacting Northwest and related requirements, and counseling various areas of the business.

Essential Functions

• Provide primary Northwest Legal support to HR Department, including day-to-day tactical advise on legal matters impacting the group; document drafting/review; participate in the new hire, currently hired and departing employees procedures (create materials and present on items such as corporate governance, code of ethics, etc.); and, manager training - ADA, ADEA, Title VII, FLSA, whistleblower, etc.
• Provide primary Northwest Legal support in the area of and general oversight to Northwest Legal litigation management, including, management of outside counsel; convening of Northwest Litigation Response Team(s); support internal clients with items such as interrogatories, deposition preparation, trial preparation, etc.; manage settlement discussion and processes; management of and correspondence with represented customers/vendors in potential litigation matters; oversight of legal hold and insurance submission processes; proactive counsel to business lines in matters that may result in litigation (i.e., potential remedies, likelihood of success, cost, etc.).
• Provide regulatory compliance support to business and compliance department, including but not limited to counseling of compliance department on statutes and regulations; legal support for audits and examinations; provide support for litigation matters; and provide proactive counsel in all areas.
• Assist with Northwest merger and acquisition activity, including due diligence, agreement negotiation and integration activities.
• Communicate with outside/preferred counsel regarding all Northwest policies and procedures and ensure compliance.
• In consultation with Chief Counsel, exercise discretion in determining what legal work will be delegated to outside counsel and actively consulting with and managing outside counsel by directing and approving all key tactical, strategic and substantive actions in significant legal matters, including management of the costs of outside legal services by way of use of alternative fee arrangements, budgets and preferred counsel lists, when appropriate.
• Keep Chief Counsel, as well as other appropriate Northwest individuals apprised of the status of all legal matters being worked whether in house or assigned to outside counsel and ensuring that the required services are provided in a timely matter.
• Management-level committee involvement, including, but not limited to, Risk Management, Third-Party Risk Management, and other such committee involvement as assigned by Chief Counsel.
• Ensure compliance with Northwest's policies and procedures, and Federal/State regulations.
• Navigate Microsoft Office Software, computer applications, and software specific to the department to maximize technology tools and gain efficiency.
• Work as part of a team.
• Work with on-site equipment.

Education, Experience and Skills

• Law degree from an accredited law school required.
• 12-15 years of experience at a large law firm or in-house at a financial institution assisting lending and operations divisions in wide range of transactional matters preferred.
• Knowledge of operations of business units, products, policies, and financial services industry preferred.
• Excellent analytical, decision-making and problem-solving skills and advanced client management, diplomacy, and people skills preferred.
• Attorney Registration License in at least one of the states Northwest operates required.

Northwest is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.