General Counsel (Banking)

Job Description

Company Introduction

Job Responsibilities and Duties

• Lead and oversee the Legal Department, ensuring effective and timely legal support across the organisation;
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments affecting the business and provide guidance to senior management on their potential impact;
• Act as a trusted legal advisor to senior management and contribute to strategic and business-related decisions;
• Draft, review and manage contractual documentation involving external parties;
• Identify, assess and monitor legal risks and maintain appropriate legal frameworks, policies and controls;
• Structure and review loan, security and other financing-related documentation, including matters relating to collateral arrangements and legal opinions;
• Provide practical legal advice and support across various business functions, including Lending, Risk, Finance, HR and Operations;
• Provide legal input into new products, projects and wider business initiatives;
• Work closely with Compliance, Risk Management, Internal Audit and other control functions as required;
• Manage relationships with external lawyers, legal advisors and notaries, including monitoring related expenditure;
• Oversee legal matters relating to litigation, arbitration, restructuring and debt recovery.

Experience

• Qualified Lawyer with good knowledge of Maltese civil, commercial and corporate law;
• Minimum of 5–8 years' relevant experience within banking, financial services or a law firm specialising in banking supervision and related legislative or regulatory advisory matters;
• Strong knowledge of banking and financial services regulation, commercial law and corporate law;
• Previous experience managing a legal team or taking responsibility for a legal function will be considered an asset;
• Strong experience drafting, reviewing and handling contractual and legal documentation;
• Excellent command of Maltese and English, both written and spoken, including the ability to work with contractual documentation and external legal professionals.

Personal Skills

• High level of integrity, professional judgement and accountability;
• Strong leadership and decision-making abilities;
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills;
• Commercially minded with a practical and solutions-oriented approach;
• Ability to provide clear and practical legal guidance to senior management and different business functions;
• Strong analytical and risk assessment abilities;
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and manage complex legal matters;
• Proactive, organised and able to take ownership of responsibilities.