Trust Legal Counsel

Job Function / Summary

Provides trust and estates legal guidance to Trust Lines of Business to assist senior management with investment and management of trusts and estates, ensuring compliance and minimizing legal risk.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Reviews and interprets complex trust documents for investment and management of trust and estate matters, to include, for example, accounting related issues, conflicts of interests, fees, investment issues and, in coordination with the legal department, potential breaches of fiduciary duties.
• Oversees and provides support on estate administration matters where Bank serves as executor, agent and/or personal representative.
• Captures and coordinates/participates with in-house/outside counsel on disputes and legal actions and manages ordinary course court actions initiated on behalf of trusts and estates for which the Bank is trustee, executor, agent and/or personal representative.
• Maintains record of threatened and/or actual litigation for Management and Directors Trust Committee.
• Aids in developing training programs and/or materials, as well as providing such training as appropriate or requested.
• Serves as Chair of Discretionary Distribution Committee and Trust Administrative Committee as well as a member of various other bank management committees including but not limited to Risk Management and Account Acceptance.
• Keeps informed of federal and state legislation and judicial decisions that may affect Trust Lines of Business operations; assists in ensuring compliance with said laws, regulations and decisions.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training associates; planning, assigning, and directing work; managing performance; addressing concerns and resolving problems.

Minimum Required Education, Experience & Knowledge

• Juris Doctorate (JD) from an accredited institution with current license to practice law.
• 7+ years of legal and/or trust experience required, preferably in working for a financial institution.
• 12+ years of related work experience preferred.
• Licensed to practice law in either Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, or Texas, or eligible to become licensed in one or more of those states.
• The position requires in-depth knowledge of the various legal and regulatory regimes governing collective investment trusts, including applicable securities and tax laws, banking laws, and laws and regulations concerning retirement plans (e.g., ERISA).
• Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office products including Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Access and PowerPoint.

Essential Mental & Physical Requirements

• Ability to work under stress and meet deadlines.
• Ability to operate related equipment to perform the essential job functions.
• Ability to read and interpret a document if required to perform the essential job functions.
• Ability to travel if required to perform the essential job functions.
• Ability to lift/move/carry approximately 10 pounds if required to perform the essential job functions.