Trade Finance & Equipment Leasing Finance, Counsel - Vice President

SMBC Group is a top-tier global financial group. Headquartered in Tokyo and with a 400-year history, SMBC Group offers a diverse range of financial services, including banking, leasing, securities, credit cards, and consumer finance. The Group has more than 130 offices and 80,000 employees worldwide in nearly 40 countries. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (SMFG) is the holding company of SMBC Group, which is one of the three largest banking groups in Japan. SMFG’s shares trade on the Tokyo, Nagoya, and New York (NYSE: SMFG) stock exchanges.

In the Americas, SMBC Group has a presence in the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Peru. Backed by the capital strength of SMBC Group and the value of its relationships in Asia, the Group offers a range of commercial and investment banking services to its corporate, institutional, and municipal clients. It connects a diverse client base to local markets and the organization’s extensive global network. The Group’s operating companies in the Americas include Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. (SMBC), SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., SMBC Capital Markets, Inc., SMBC MANUBANK, JRI America, Inc., SMBC Leasing and Finance, Inc., Banco Sumitomo Mitsui Brasileiro S.A., and Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Co., Ltd.

The anticipated salary range for this role is between $178,000.00 and $235,000.00. The specific salary offered to an applicant will be based on their individual qualifications, experiences, and an analysis of the current compensation paid in their geography and the market for similar roles at the time of hire. The role may also be eligible for an annual discretionary incentive award. In addition to cash compensation, SMBC offers a competitive portfolio of benefits to its employees.

Role Description

The Vice President and Counsel for Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) will work within the Legal Department and report to the Head of Trade Finance in the department’s Lending Group, as a trade finance, equipment leasing and finance, and commercial lending subject matter expert.

Role Objectives

Primary responsibilities include:

• Reviewing, drafting, and negotiating documentation for trade finance, equipment leasing and finance and general commercial lending transactions, including reimbursement agreements and letter of credit matters, supply chain finance and inventory finance contracts and arrangements, trade receivables financing documentation, equipment leases, secured notes, equipment finance agreements, credit agreements, intercreditor agreements, engagement letters, commitment letters, fee letters, term sheets, and syndication documentation, including assignments, nonrecourse loan agreements, and participation agreements
• Working closely with the front office and other internal stakeholders to assist with the structuring and coordination of such transactions
• Supervising and managing external counsel
• Identifying and analyzing U.S. and cross-border legal, regulatory, and market issues affecting supported business lines, including the legal risk associated with new products and activities
• Maintaining and updating form documents
• Providing periodic advice to other SMBC offices on matters of New York law and U.S. market practice
• Participating in continuing legal education seminars and participating in relevant industry groups (e.g., LSTA, ELFA) in order to maintain current knowledge of developing law and market practice.
• Collaborate and coordinate with attorneys in SMBC LDAD and other internal partners to ensure adherence to institutional standards and policies. Escalate material issues and developments to senior attorneys and members of management.

Qualifications and Skills

• Admission to the New York bar (or clear qualification of eligibility for waiving in from another jurisdiction with which New York has reciprocity) and a member of good standing of such bar.
• 3-7 years minimum experience at a law firm or in-house legal department advising financial institutions on trade finance, equipment leasing/finance and bilateral and syndicated commercial lending transactions. Excellent legal and analytical skills. Broad experience in trade finance and equipment leasing and finance, and bilateral and syndicated commercial lending transactions, with experience in insolvency and bankruptcy, cross-border financing, and workouts preferred. In-house experience or familiarity with banking environment a must.
• Proven skills in legal risk management. Ability to see past the question and understand the bigger picture. Ability to balance competing demands and protect institutional interests. Ability to articulate complex concepts and ideas and apply them at a practical level to real-world situations.
• Excellent communication skills, technical drafting skills, and issue-spotting skills. Ability to work under pressure, operate comfortably in a fast-paced, demanding environment, and manage a significant workload with minimal supervision. Ability to think creatively and propose solutions. Collegial team player is a must.

SMBC’s employees participate in a Hybrid workforce model that provides employees with an opportunity to work from home, as well as, from an SMBC office. SMBC requires that employees live within a reasonable commuting distance of their office location. Prospective candidates will learn more about their specific hybrid work schedule during their interview process. Hybrid work may not be permitted for certain roles, including, for example, certain FINRA-registered roles for which in-office attendance for the entire workweek is required.

SMBC provides reasonable accommodations during candidacy for applicants with disabilities consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application process, please let us know at [email protected].