Assistant General Counsel (NY)

About the role

The Legal Department handles all of KBRA’s legal matters, with the exception of ratings analysis and determinations. The Legal Department works with analysts, compliance, finance, technology and senior management across the company.

Responsibilities

• Review, negotiate and draft client engagement letters; subscription agreements with clients across various product offerings; vendor agreements for various types of services and products; all other types of contracts to which KBRA may be a party;
• Manage KBRA’s contracts;
• Engagement Letters/Business Development: Review, negotiate and draft engagement letters with clients across all sectors in which KBRA issues ratings, including structured finance, project finance, and financial institutions. Serve as a resource for Business Development with respect to questions that arise during the client engagement process.
• Corporate Governance: Support corporate governance matters, including assisting with board and committee meetings, preparation of materials, and related governance processes and documentation.
• Data Privacy/Cybersecurity: Gain familiarity with data privacy laws in the jurisdictions in which KBRA operates, collaborate with the Information Security team on best practices across jurisdictions, and support the implementation of cybersecurity, operational resilience, and related regulatory requirements.
• Regulatory Framework: Gain familiarity with the regulatory framework, laws and regulations applicable to credit rating agencies and how regulations affect all aspects of KBRA. Advise KBRA’s employees about the applicability of regulations on KBRA’s day-to-day work.
• Compliance: Collaborate with the Compliance Department on discrete and ongoing matters before the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including annual examinations, submissions to the SEC and various requests.
• Regulatory Affairs: Collaborate with KBRA’s Regulatory and Government Affairs group to the extent necessary, to assist in research on credit rating agency regulation in other jurisdictions, the preparation of registration documents, and respond to regulatory requests.
• Intellectual Property: Assist with protecting KBRA’s intellectual property, including filing and managing trademark and copyright registrations, and negotiating license agreements.

Requirements

• Have a JD and admission to the New York bar
• At least 6-10+ years of experience
• Possess a strong background in reviewing, drafting and negotiating agreements
• Familiarity with corporate governance matters
• Knowledge of securities laws and experience working in highly regulated environments
• Structured finance, capital markets, and mergers and acquisitions experience is a plus
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Writing samples will be requested
• Strong research, analysis, organizational, and project management skills with excellent attention to detail
• Employment law experience is a plus
• Familiarity with Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT for research, data insights, and general productivity is a plus

Qualifications

• JD and admission to the New York bar
• At least 6-10+ years of experience
• Strong background in reviewing, drafting and negotiating agreements
• Familiarity with corporate governance matters
• Knowledge of securities laws and experience working in highly regulated environments
• Structured finance, capital markets, and mergers and acquisitions experience is a plus
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Writing samples will be requested
• Strong research, analysis, organizational, and project management skills with excellent attention to detail
• Employment law experience is a plus
• Familiarity with Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT for research, data insights, and general productivity is a plus

Skills

• Strong background in reviewing, drafting and negotiating agreements
• Familiarity with corporate governance matters
• Knowledge of securities laws and experience working in highly regulated environments
• Structured finance, capital markets, and mergers and acquisitions experience is a plus
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Writing samples will be requested
• Strong research, analysis, organizational, and project management skills with excellent attention to detail
• Employment law experience is a plus
• Familiarity with Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT for research, data insights, and general productivity is a plus

Benefits

• A hybrid work schedule (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays in the office)
• Competitive benefits and paid time off
• Paid family and disability leave
• 401(k) plan, including employer match (100% vested)
• Employee referral bonus program

Pay

The anticipated annual base salary range for this full-time position is $200,000 to $250,000. Offer amounts are determined by factors such as experience, skills, geography, and other job-related factors.