Associate General Counsel - Corporate Trust; Hybrid - See description potential locations

Work Arrangement/Location

This is a hybrid position requiring in‑office work. The selected candidate will be based in an M&T Bank office in either Buffalo, NY or Wilmington, DE.

The successful candidate will be located in either Buffalo, NY, or Wilmington, DE and will support Wilmington Trust’s Corporate and Institutional Trust (Global Capital Markets) division (“GCM Division”). The role involves matters related to the division’s role as trustee, agent, and/or other capacities on capital markets transactions (e.g., syndicated debt, corporate debt, public finance, distressed debt, municipal and re‑insurance collateralization, mergers and acquisitions, large and complex trusts, etc.)

and structured finance transactions (e.g., securitizations, equipment finance, project finance, etc.). Capacities may include acting as owner trustee, indenture trustee, paying agent, disbursement agent, administrative agent, registrar, calculation agent, exchange agent, security trustee, escrow agent, and/or collateral agent.

• Perform a variety of complex or specialized legal activities to protect the organization and ensure compliance with all relevant laws and regulations.
• Provide legal advice within the area of expertise to relevant managers to ensure their activities, policies, business practices, and transactions comply with all relevant laws and regulations.
• Make recommendations to senior management on how to respond to legal issues or proposed changes in laws and regulations.
• Review and approve legal contracts, letters of agreement, and other documents related to a variety of trade, commercial, financial, and operational matters to protect the organization’s legal and business interests.
• Partner with Compliance, Risk, and Audit groups on supported divisional/departmental matters, as appropriate.
• Develop and implement streamlined and strategic policies and procedures for the legal support of supported division/department(s).
• Prepare or review more complex materials for external legal counsel.
• Understand and adhere to the company’s risk and regulatory standards, policies and controls in accordance with the company’s Risk Appetite. Identify risk‑related issues needing escalation to management.

This senior‑level position requires interaction with senior and executive management on a regular basis. The incumbent will provide analysis and counsel on complex legal issues for departments supported, anticipate and guard against legal risks, develop and recommend corporate policy positions, and conduct and coordinate research on a variety of legal issues.

• Serve as legal advisor to the GCM Division, providing ongoing day‑to‑day legal advice and support.
• Negotiate client agreements for services offered by the GCM division.
• Identify, evaluate, and escalating legal and regulatory risks affecting the GCM Division.
• Oversee external counsel used to support the GCM Division, and support GCM’s transaction management officers.
• Provide legal support for special projects, such as revising and rationalizing template contracts used by the GCM division.
• Partner with the organization’s compliance, risk, and audit groups on GCM Division matters.
• Provide legal analysis of new business opportunities and new service offerings.
• Provide legal support to the GCM Division for enterprise‑wide projects and matters.
• Keep senior management and other personnel up to date on pertinent legal and regulatory developments, including legal risks.

• J.D. from an accredited law school.
• Minimum of 7 years’ experience as an attorney or other relevant legal experience.
• Minimum of 5 years’ work leadership experience, including demonstrated experience in leading others, both through direct relationships and/or indirectly (influencing without direct authority).
• New York State or applicable state bar admission.
• Capital Markets subject matter expertise; experience advising on capital markets transactions (e.g., syndicated debt, corporate debt, public finance, distressed debt, reinsurance trusts, mergers and acquisitions, and large and complex trusts) and/or structured finance transactions (e.g.,…