Employment Litigation Counsel

This position provides legal advice and counsel to Bank management and associates at all levels. Acts as a subject matter expert in one or more business, corporate or operational areas. Serves as a resource on legal issues and provides legal insights and guidance to business units as they conduct business planning, strategy, operations, policies, and procedures. Strong problem-solving skills. Provides a strong understanding the Bank, its businesses, the regulatory environment, people strategies, risk tolerance and other key business elements. Focuses on work to help build systems and process, which goes beyond day-to-day tactical work. Negotiates the resolution of disputes or claims. Drafts and maintains contracts and other legal instruments utilized throughout the Bank. Provides legal support to Bank affiliates and subsidiaries in addition to enterprise activities. Maintains a strong knowledge of laws, regulations, and business operations in order to address complex legal matters.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Legal Counsel - Provides counsel to Bank management on matters that impact business policies, procedures and operations. Works primarily on core or day-to-day legal and banking issues: operations, litigation, workouts, legal process, contract negotiation, real estate issues, etc. Resolves complaints and legal claims through negotiation with clients, client legal representation, regulators, and other financial institutions. Consults with both internal and external counsel on the resolution of legal matters. Supports litigation activities and projects. Oversees outside counsel work product and expense.
Bank Support - Acts as the point person for FCB managers on assigned business teams to identify and solve issues, address problems, insure appropriate legal support/coverage and develop repeatable solutions. Performs a range of tasks to support more senior legal counsel throughout daily operations. Develops and implements policies and procedures utilized across business units. Works with senior managers on regulatory compliance issues and governance. Drives daily operations of legal functions with assigned business units.
Documentation - Drafts, negotiates, and maintains contracts or other transaction-specific legal documentation. Develops new legal forms and templates.
Policy Resource - Monitors federal and state laws, regulations, and court opinions to determine their impact on Bank operations. Translates complex legal matters into easily understood concepts for associates.

Juris Doctor (JD) Degree and 5+ years of post-JD employment litigation experience, preferably including management-side employment litigation.

Additional Requirements:

• Demonstrated ability to manage complex employment litigation and agency proceedings.
• Experience evaluating litigation risk, exposure, and settlement options and communicating recommendations to senior management.
• Experience working effectively with Human Resources, Risk, and business stakeholders in support of employment claims and litigation.
• Strong judgment in assessing litigation risk and developing case strategy.
• Experience developing and managing litigation budgets and litigation-related reporting.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Advanced organization and time management skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Problem solving skills.
• Ability to manage outside counsel, litigation budgets, and case strategy.
• Negotiation skills.
• Ability to work independently but take direction as required.
• Proven history of managing projects, meeting deadlines, and producing and presenting excellent deliverables.
• Intermediate experience with MS Office, specifically the ability to conduct data analysis using Excel.

Preferred Qualifications:

• North Carolina law license preferred but not required.
• Experience handling management-side employment litigation, administrative agency proceedings, and employment-related investigations in a leading law firm or corporate legal department, or equivalent experience serving in legal functions within the United States military or government.
• Strong academic credentials.
• Demonstrated commitment to excellence, ethical conduct, and service leadership.
• Experience supporting a financial services, banking, or other highly regulated organization.

Position Specific Skills:

• Ability to keep current on legal, legislative, and regulatory changes and developments
• In-depth understanding of how legal issues affect organizations
• Ability to anticipate legal issues or risks

Benefits are an integral part of total rewards and First Citizens Bank is committed to providing a competitive, thoughtfully designed and quality benefits program to meet the needs of our associates. More information can be found at https://jobs.firstcitizens.com/benefits.