General Counsel for the Americas (Hybrid)

Do you want your voice heard and your actions to count?

Discover your opportunity with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), the 5th largest financial group in the world. Across the globe, were 180,000 colleagues, striving to make a difference for every client, organization, and community we serve. We stand for our values, building long-term relationships, serving society, and fostering shared and sustainable growth for a better world.

With a vision to be the worlds most trusted financial group, its part of our culture to put people first, listen to new and diverse ideas and collaborate toward greater innovation, speed and agility. This means investing in talent, technologies, and tools that empower you to own your career.

Join MUFG, where being inspired is expected and making a meaningful impact is rewarded.

This is a hybrid position. There are flexible work from home options available. A member of our recruitment team will discuss the options with you in more detail.

MUFG is the fifth largest bank in the world (in total assets), with a 360-year heritage steeped in capital markets and wholesale banking. Since the global bank's expansion into the United States 150 years ago, MUFG Americas has served America's retail, corporate and investment banking clients and customers. With plans to divest its retail banking proposition, MUFG Union Bank, to U.S. Bancorp in 2022, MUFG Americas will emerge as a leading financial services institution with a $240 billion footprint in North America and renewed focus and investment on its core products in Corporate and Investment Banking.

During this significant divestiture activity, MUFG Americas seeks to recruit a General Counsel for the Americas to succeed its longstanding incumbent. Reporting to the Americas CEO and to MUFGs Chief Legal Officer (CLO) in Tokyo, the new General Counsel will serve as a member of the Executive Committee for the Americas responsible for the overall management of the legal affairs of and board processes for MUFGs combined operations in the U.S. and the Americas. They will serve as a trusted advisor to the Americas President and CEO, the U.S. Board of Directors, and the Executive Committee for the Americas, as well as to MUFGs CLO and other senior executives in Tokyo.

The General Counsel will help MUFG Americas navigate the increasingly complex and demanding banking regulatory landscape by continuing to build effective relationships and credibility with key regulators as well as across MUFG region wide.

The General Counsel will operate successfully in a global organization with a strong regional presence centered on both U.S. coasts, particularly New York and California, as well as with important presences in many other U.S. states, Canada, and Latin America. They will have oversight of a highly talented team of approximately 70 in-house lawyers and $45 million of annual outside counsel legal spend. The Americas Legal Department team is based primarily in New York City, but includes members located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Mexico City, and Sao Paulo.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as a trusted advisor to MUFG Americas President and CEO, U.S. Board of Directors, and Executive Committee for the Americas, as well as senior business executives in Head Office, Tokyo.

• Develop and maintain a strong working relationship with MUFGs Chief Legal Officer in Tokyo, and guide the Americas Legal Department in providing support and professional legal advice to the Legal Division in Tokyo.

• Coordinate closely with MUFGs Chief Legal Officer in Tokyo and other regional General Counsel to ensure efficient and effective legal services delivery across MUFG globally.

• Actively participate in the resolution of a wide range of strategic and general management issues as a key member of the Executive Committee for the Americas; these issues will include governance and board advisory work, policy formulation, technology implementation, allocation of resources, and achievement of the companys overarching strategies.

• Counsel on both the business and legal ramifications of significant company strategic imperatives, including possible acquisitions and other possible investments as MUFG looks to grow its footprint over the next 5 years.

• Manage a corporate secretary function appropriate to, and consistent with, MUFGs U.S. board oversight needs, composed of a blend of independent and head office representatives; guiding and advising the Board on its responsibilities under the rules and regulations to which it is subject, including corporate governance-related matters.

• Build and maintain close relationships with all relevant regulators. Provide strong oversight of all regulatory and legal matters.

• Manage MUFGs government affairs function in the U.S.

• Monitor and manage exposure to litigation (and potential litigation), including settlement where appropriate to reduce overall cost to the organization.

• Stay abreast of changes in laws and regulations impacting the businesses and communicate to appropriate parties any changes to controls, policies, and procedures.

• Ensure optimal use of in-house and external legal resources to appropriately minimize both legal expenditures and legal exposure throughout the Americas.

• Lead, coordinate and manage the legal services provided by the Americas Legal Department, including budgetary responsibility, management and development, and mentoring of the lawyers in the Department.

• Work to ensure a positive working environment within the Legal Department, cultivating an environment that supports diversity and reflects the MUFG brand.

Qualifications:

The new General Counsel must be an experienced lawyer with the legal background and interpersonal skills required to function successfully in a highly visible and legally challenging position. The following background is strongly preferred:

Ideal Experience:

• A minimum of 15 years of relevant legal experience, ideally gained at a well-regarded law firm followed by General Counsel or other senior in-house experience within a financial services company or banking organization of commensurate size, complexity, and scope to MUFG Americas. Exposure to working at an institution with a foreign parent is a plus.

• Breadth of experience to advise on the full range of legal and commercial issues likely to impact MUFG in the Americas region. Knowledge of and experience in corporate investment bank, markets, commercial and/or other broad-based banking law concepts.

• Experience working closely with a Chief Executive Officer and board of directors. Proven track record of providing commercial and strategic advice and guidance at the senior management and board levels and more broadly across a business on legal risk management.

• Track record of advising on bank regulatory risks and a working knowledge of the laws in the major jurisdictions in which MUFG operates, particularly in the U.S. Demonstrated ability to build relationships and work effectively with relevant regulators.

• Experience managing legal issues requiring a high degree of cross-functional cooperation and the consideration of various laws and regulations, particularly regulations governing corporate investment banks and commercial banks.

• A track record as an effective and engaging leader, with experience building, developing, motivating, and delegating across a large scale, geographically dispersed and first-class legal team.

Critical Leadership Capabilities:

Collaborating and Influencing

A lawyer who by stature and reputation demonstrates great intellect, vision and judgment; builds credibility and works well with members of a senior management team; superior background and training to effectively counsel senior management and the board of directors of a complex banking institution; demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across an organization with a strong presence in the Americas and a foreign parent; a lawyer who exercises superior judgment in advising on legal matters and who has the self-confidence necessary to set forth opinions in the face of contrary views; a lawyer of unquestioned integrity and with ego well in check.

Business Acumen

A lawyer who knows how the business works and understands the role the legal function can play in supporting business objectives; uses knowledge of the business and the law to advise on risk/reward trade-offs; ability to influence major decisions having legal ramifications through reasoned analysis and business understanding; willingness to make hard decisions on legal advice and strategic business initiatives; sees ahead clearly and can identify how to accomplish future goals; knowledgeable of current and aware of possible future laws, regulations, policies, practices and trends affecting the business; the pragmatism to interact effectively with senior non-lawyers globally.

Leadership

Ability to lead a business-oriented legal function; quickly prioritizes and focuses the function on the most critical issues and projects, while engaging fully with the business; leads with transparency and authenticity, and creates a positive climate for their team; a champion and owner of diversity and inclusion.

Other Personal Characteristics:

• Ability to remain calm and balanced under pressure, and assess legal risk in difficult situations, such as a matter of acute time sensitivity and/or an issue of great materiality to the company.

• Collaborative, not directive.

• Strong listening skills.

• Fast response time; ability to engage in work 24/7.

• Culturally adept.

• Brings a diverse viewpoint to the Executive Committee for the Americas and MUFG Americas broadly.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities duties and skills required of personnel so classified.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and committed to leveraging the diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experience of our workforce to create opportunities for our colleagues and our business. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender expression, gender identity, sex, age, ancestry, marital status, protected veteran and military status, disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other status of an individual or that individuals associates or relatives that is protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

Some MUFG roles require that individuals be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, subject to exemptions for medical or religious reasons, as well as any other reason required by applicable law or order. Should you be selected for an interview, your recruiter will provide additional information.

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