Executive Director, Senior Counsel - Legal

Executive Director, Senior Counsel - Legal

Apply locations London, GBR time type Full time posted on Posted 2 Days Ago End Date: July 21, 2025 job requisition id

We're building a relationship-oriented bank for the modern world. We need talented, passionate professionals who are dedicated to doing what's right for our clients.

At CIBC, we embrace your strengths and your ambitions, so you are empowered at work. Our team members have what they need to make a meaningful impact and are truly valued for who they are and what they contribute.

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STRATEGIC BUSINESS UNIT DESCRIPTION

The Administration Division comprises Legal, Corporate Secretary, Complaints Management Program, Client Complaint Handling, Environmental, Social and Governance, Government Relations, Internal Audit, and Transformation & Operational Excellence.

Legal is responsible for providing legal support to assist CIBC in meeting its goals and effectively managing legal outcomes, by providing independent legal advice, as well as related transactional, regulatory, and litigation support, to business management across all lines of CIBC's business globally. CIBC Legal has a four-part mandate:

• Advocacy - Representing the institutional interests of CIBC in commercial negotiations, litigation, and regulatory proceedings;
• Informing Business Decisions - Providing timely, judgment-based legal advice that facilitates informed, risk-based decision-making by business management;
• Governance - Supporting CIBC's corporate governance, risk management, and internal control framework; and
• Efficiency - Assisting business management in optimizing legal costs.

CIBC's internal lawyers identify legal risks, provide actionable, solution-oriented advice to mitigate those risks, and work closely with their business partners to achieve favorable legal outcomes.

JOB PURPOSE

This position functions as the legal counsel supporting CIBC's Alternative Solutions Group (ASG) in providing services outside of Canada, part of CIBC Capital Markets' Global Markets business unit.

CIBC's Global Markets business focuses on delivering expert financial and economic analysis and savvy deal-making capabilities to clients in Canada and around the world. The Global Markets team supports fixed income, foreign exchange, commodities, derivatives, equities, and growth markets, and is focused on building a strong, innovative relationship-oriented bank.

Within CIBC Global Markets, the ASG team specializes in developing innovative, technology-driven capital markets solutions. This unique group combines the agility and innovative spirit of a FinTech startup with the financial strength and governance protocols of a major financial institution. ASG is recognized as a global leader in providing disruptive technological solutions across various product areas, including Cross Border Payments, Dynamic Currency Conversion, and Foreign Cash white labeling. Our diverse client base includes some of the largest banks in the world, corporations, and CIBC's retail clients.

ASG business activities are primarily conducted by the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce with locally licensed activities performed by CIBC's regional subsidiaries and registered branches.

The overall purpose of the job is to provide advice regarding legal matters, with the objective of helping business leaders achieve business goals in a manner consistent with sound risk management. Legal counsel negotiates commercial agreements, provides legal advice on transactional and regulatory matters, and provides oversight to external counsel.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Value Added Partner

• Fulfill commitments embodied in the Legal Department mandate in relation to the Alternative Solutions Group.

Cross-Border Transaction Support and Regulatory Guidance

• Support line manager as needed for the purposes of supporting the Alternative Solutions Group internationally, either directly or through external counsel acting under your oversight.
• The role may be based in Toronto, New York, or London, and reporting lines will be determined based on the location of the candidate.
• Providing proactive and strategic legal support to the Alternative Solutions Group (ASG) to provide services on a cross-border basis internationally, including supporting jurisdictional regulatory and legal reviews for new jurisdictions, updating regional regulatory and legal advice, and providing transaction-specific legal advice in support of all contract negotiations, overseeing external counsel engagement where necessary.
• Partnering with Capital Markets Legal in Canada supporting ASG to ensure consistency and efficient operationalization of advice to achieve ASG's business objectives and maintain sound risk management.
• Supporting ASG in engagement with regional stakeholders to ensure regional oversight and corporate governance processes are completed, including supporting local approvals processes where regional CIBC group entities or offices are engaged in the provision of ASG services.
• Attend as the representative for Legal at regional governance and deals committees related to the Alternative Solutions Group business activities outside of Canada.
• Act as a value-added partner for ASG business activities outside of Canada by providing legal advice early in business management's strategy development and key decisions, supporting business leaders to achieve goals within sound risk management; and providing legal guidance related to business plans and their implementation, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory objectives.
• Facilitate management MI/trackers across all legal coverage and responsibilities for ASG to ensure activity is tracked, assessed, and reported on.

Internal and External Business Development/Client Service

• Monitor legal and regulatory changes in relevant jurisdictions to assess impact, identify new opportunities, and mitigate risks.

Risk Management

• Identify legal risks and significant incidents of non-compliance, escalate to global Legal team and senior management, and propose risk mitigation strategies.

Operational/Business Effectiveness

• Ensure solutions meet operational and regulatory requirements, requiring coordination among multiple functional groups and management, especially regarding trading and transactional businesses and strategic initiatives.

Product/Services Development and Implementation

• Provide legal support for statutory, case law, regulatory interpretation, transaction-specific legal advice, and contract review.

CROSS-FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Frequent contact with management to discuss issues and needs, providing timely advice.

Contact with industry peers and associations to discuss practices and regulatory approaches.

Contact with local counsel throughout regions to ensure compliance and manage costs.

COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Adhere to all applicable CIBC policies, standards, and controls.

AUTHORITIES/DECISION RIGHTS

• Recommend process changes to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Qualified to practice law in Ontario, New York, England & Wales, or the EU.
• 5-8 years post-call experience; in-house experience preferred.
• Strong knowledge of banking laws, regulations, and laws related to payment services.
• Experience negotiating cross-border contracts, ensuring compliance.
• Ability to interpret complex regulatory frameworks and manage legal risks effectively.
• Excellent communication and influential skills to shape decision-making.

WORKING CONDITIONS This role operates within a normal office environment.

Additional Information

• CIBC is committed to inclusivity and accessibility. Contact for accommodations.
• Legally eligible to work in specified locations with valid permits.

Job Location: 150 Cheapside, London, UK

Employment Type: Regular

Weekly Hours: 35

Skills: Analytical Thinking, Business, Contracts, Negotiations, Compliance, Legal Advice, Cross-border Transactions, etc.

At CIBC, we aim to create value for stakeholders through our values of Trust, Teamwork, and Accountability. Join us to help clients achieve their financial goals in a supportive environment.