Description and Requirements
Role Value Proposition:
MetLife, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is one of the world's leading financial services companies, providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to individual and institutional customers. We're united by our purpose to help our customers and each other create a confident future; we're guided by empathy; and we're inspired by each other to make a difference in the lives of our coworkers, customers, communities, and the world at large. At MetLife, it's #AllTogetherPossible . Join us!
Legal Affairs - Building confident futures is at the center of all our work at MetLife. In Legal Affairs, that means empowering our trusted advisors and advocates to focus on what's possible while safeguarding MetLife's global interests. Collaborating with each other and our businesses around the globe, we support innovative solutions while protecting our customers, employees, communities, and shareholders. And we work in an environment founded on integrity, trust, candor, and respect, where new challenges and diverse perspectives are encouraged and celebrated.
The Senior Counsel will join the Fixed Income and Workouts legal team which is responsible for supporting MetLife Investment Management (MIM) in the origination and management of public and private fixed income investments, including corporate and infrastructure private placements, bank loans and project finance investments from origination thru the life of the investment. Members of the team may also support structured finance transactions, alternatives, and residential credit investments. In addition, the team is responsible for (a) overseeing foreign and domestic debt restructurings and insolvency matters affecting the portfolio, (b) collaborating with our Products, Distribution and Operations legal team in connection with the structuring and formation of new investment vehicles and products, and (c) advising on laws and regulations impacting the investment activities of MIM and its clients.
Specifically, the senior counsel will serve as the primary advisor on our investments providing insightful, timely and pragmatic advice to business partners. The role requires an experienced and versatile attorney to structure, review and negotiate transaction documents and collaborate with other enterprise stakeholders. This senior counsel must have the initiative and skills required to drive our business partners' goals, distill complex issues and communicate the same to our business partners in a simple and straightforward manner, recommend courses of action based on a deep understanding of the issues, the market and MIM, and provide strategic advice to senior business leaders.
Key Responsibilities:

• Providing timely and pragmatic advice and counsel to business partners in connection with the origination of finance transactions, including corporate and infrastructure private placements and bank loans.
• Supporting business partners in their evaluation of amendments, waivers and consents, and leading negotiations to preserve and enhance investor protections.
• Managing external counsel and coordinating with other internal constituencies to ensure timely feedback, closing and settlement.
• Staying abreast of legal and regulatory developments and business trends impacting MIM's investment portfolio and providing client training, as necessary.

Essential Business Experience and Technical Skills:
Required:

• Requires a Juris Doctorate and excellent academic credentials from an accredited law school.
• Active license to practice law in at least one state and a member in good standing of a bar.
• Ability and willingness to obtain a limited license if not already appropriately licensed in New Jersey.
• Significant experience leading the review and negotiation of debt transactions, including corporate and infrastructure private placements and bank loans.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience with a law firm, investment manager or other financial services institution.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with proven business acumen.
• Creative thinker who is result oriented, finding solutions to novel issues or situations.
• Ability to work independently, grasp concepts, assess risk and make sound informed decisions in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated strong learning agility and willingness to learn and advise on new investment asset classes.
• Demonstrated strategic planning, analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills, with a proven record of proactively managing risks and outcomes.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with a track record of building relationships and effective partnerships across constituencies and stakeholders.
• Superior organizational and leadership skills, and a demonstrated ability to establish and manage priorities.
• Awareness and understanding of current economic and market trends affecting institutional investors and investment managers globally.
• The ability to work in an environment that emphasizes information sharing, collaboration, teamwork, mutual respect, and integrity.

Preferred:

• Substantive knowledge of bankruptcy and experience advising on domestic and cross-border debt restructurings and workouts.
• Experience structuring, reviewing, and negotiating structured finance transactions (e.g., RMBS, CMBS, securitizations and other asset-backed investments), residential credit investments (e.g., residential whole loans and single-family rental) and/or alternatives (e.g., private equity, middle market debt/equity and venture capital).

At MetLife, we're leading the global transformation of an industry we've long defined. United in purpose, diverse in perspective, we're dedicated to making a difference in the lives of our customers."
Benefits We Offer
Our U.S. benefits address holistic well-being with programs for physical and mental health, financial wellness, and support for families. We offer a comprehensive health plan that includes medical/prescription drug and vision, dental insurance, and no-cost short- and long-term disability. We also provide company-paid life insurance and legal services, a retirement pension funded entirely by MetLife and 401(k) with employer matching, group discounts on voluntary insurance products including auto and home, pet, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and accident insurance, as well as Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and digital mental health programs, parental leave, volunteer time off, tuition assistance and much more!
About MetLife
Recognized on Fortune magazine's list of the 2023 "World's Most Admired Companies" as well as the 2023 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For ®, MetLife , through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is one of the world's leading financial services companies; providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to individual and institutional customers. With operations in more than 40 markets, we hold leading positions in the United States, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Our purpose is simple - to help our colleagues, customers, communities, and the world at large create a more confident future. United by purpose and guided by empathy, we're inspired to transform the next century in financial services. At MetLife, it's #AllTogetherPossible . Join us!
Equal Employment Opportunity/Disability/Veterans
If you need an accommodation due to a disability, please email us at [email protected]. This information will be held in confidence and used only to determine an appropriate accommodation for the application process.
MetLife maintains a drug-free workplace.