FVP Associate General Counsel

Come work with us:

Metropolitan Commercial Bank (the “Bank”) is a full-service commercial bank based in New York City. The Bank provides a broad range of business, commercial, and personal banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, private and public middle-market and corporate enterprises and institutions, municipalities, and local government entities.

Metropolitan Commercial Bank was named one of Newsweek’s Best Regional Banks and Credit Unions 2024. The Bank was ranked by Independent Community Bankers of America among the top ten successful loan producers for 2023 by loan category and asset size for commercial banks with more than $1 billion in assets. Kroll affirmed a BBB+ (investment grade) deposit rating on January 25, 2024. For the fourth time, MCB has earned a place in the Piper Sandler Bank Sm-All Stars Class of 2024.

Metropolitan Commercial Bank operates banking centers and private client offices in Manhattan, Boro Park, Brooklyn and Great Neck on Long Island in New York State.

The Bank is a New York State chartered commercial bank, a member of the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and an equal housing lender. The parent company of Metropolitan Commercial Bank is Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp. (NYSE: MCB).

Position Summary:

The FVP Associate General Counsel serves as a strategic advisor and legal leader within MCB, working in close partnership with the General Counsel to guide the Bank's legal affairs and complex legal projects. This role provides high-level counsel to senior leadership and the Board, ensuring governance, regulatory compliance, oversight of the legal department operations and proactive risk management.

We have a flexible work schedule where employees can work from home one day a week.

Essential duties and responsibilities:

• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating all forms of bank related service agreements, such as customer account opening documents, third party provider contracts, SLA’s and NDA’s
• Manage, including drafting and negotiating, a wide range of digital transactions, in support of the Bank’s initiatives
• Advise on legal matters affecting the Bank, balancing legal risks with business objectives and ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Counseling and advising the Bank’s business groups on complex legal issues that relate to transactions supporting new
• and existing products and platforms
• Provide day-to-day advice and counsel regarding management of new and existing business projects and operational challenges.
• Facilitate complex business transactions and strengthen best practices and good governance.
• Participate in the definition and development of Bank policies, strategies, and major initiatives.
• Provide strategic and ethical leadership and direction for legal matters involving regulatory and compliance issues.
• Coordinate with regulatory agencies and advise executive leadership in navigating a complex regulatory environment. Keep abreast of compliance/regulatory related changes and educate stakeholders on such changes.
• Maintain professional growth and development through seminars, professional affiliations, and other means to keep abreast of developments in legal matters affecting the Bank’s activities and operations.
• Assist in leading, managing, and overseeing the attorneys and professionals within the General Counsel’s office with an eye towards maintaining and enhancing the way legal services are provided to ensure support across all business lines and initiatives.
• Regularly evaluate and improve legal workflows, documentation standards, and operational efficiency, ensuring best practices are maintained.
• Perform other related duties as needed.

Required knowledge, skills and experience:

• Advanced degree in law or Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school
• Over 10 years of legal experience, preferably in financial services or a corporate setting
• Experience with mergers and acquisitions
• Familiarity with industry-specific regulations
• Strong background in corporate governance
• Excellent negotiation skills
• Demonstrated leadership abilities
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Active member in good standing with the state bar
• In-depth knowledge of corporate law and regulatory compliance
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Strong organizational and time-management skills
• High ethical standards and integrity
• Proficiency in legal research tools and software
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams
• Driven by a passion and curiosity to continuously learn how various technological systems, including AI, can enhance the work that you do

Potential Salary: $260,000 - $290,000 annually

This salary range reflects base wages and does not include benefits, bonus, or incentive pay. Salary bands are purposefully wide ranging to encompass the different factors considered in determining where a candidate falls in the range, including but not limited to, seniority, performance, experience, education, and any other legitimate, non-discriminatory factor permitted by law. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors including candidate experience and expertise and may vary from the amounts listed here.

Metropolitan Commercial Bank provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

This applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.