Senior Counsel (Lending)

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Senior Counsel provides advice and counsel to company management at all levels but is particularly focused on specific functions and business lines. Counsel may specialize and work in a particular part of the business in which case all Essential Duties and Responsibilities would be focused on that area of responsibility (for example, commercial and consumer lending, regulatory compliance, and collections and default).

The Senior Counsel (Lending) is a position within Simmons Bank’s legal department responsible for providing legal advice to the bank on all aspects of legal matters related to the bank’s lending operations and activities.  This individual will work with management throughout the bank to advise on strategic initiatives and effectively address legal and regulatory matters associated with the bank’s lending activities.  This individual will report directly to the bank’s Assistant General Counsel.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice to business groups on lending transactions, including term and asset based credit facilities, construction and  commercial real estate lending, mortgage lending, and other consumer lending.
• Advise management on legal matters including performing legal research, applying policy to specific facts, and advising on best practices to allow management to make sound and informed business decisions.
• Assists in negotiations, drafting, due diligence and closings relating to lending transactions.
• Monitor, research, and analyze existing and changes in laws and/or statutes and regulations to evaluate and assess impact on the Bank and following approval, make any necessary policy or product changes.
• Draft correspondence, memorandums, agreements, contracts, policies, procedures, and other documents, including commercial and consumer lending transactions.
• Ensure all departmental documents and activities are performed in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures as applicable to this position.
• Function as a subject matter expert in commercial and consumer lending matters.
• Assist in development and support of appropriate internal control structure including development of appropriate policies and procedures.
• Direct and supervise outside law firms on specific projects, when appropriate  
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

         Skills

• Ability to read, analyze and interpret financial report and/or legal documents.
• Ability to effectively present information to senior management.
• High level of expertise in banking or other relevant area of law that results in independent work with little direction or oversight required.
• Strong critical thinking skills.
• Detail oriented with excellent legal judgment
• Ability to synthesize and advise on complex fact and legal topics.
• Strong writing skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively including public speaking, email communication and verbally.

         Education and/or Experience

• A Juris Doctorate Degree from an accredited school of law, and
• Admission to the Bar of Arkansas or another state in which the company does a significant amount of business, and
• At least four years of experience as an attorney in a law firm representing lenders or borrowers in complex debt financing transactions, corporate legal department, or regulatory agency.
• Deep knowledge of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, including the creation, perfection and enforcement of security interests
• Expertise in real-estate secured lending
• Proficient in legal research including use of Westlaw and/or Lexis.

         Computer Skills 

• MS Office programs

         Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• Admission to the Bar of Arkansas, Texas, or another state in which the company does a significant amount of business.

         Other Qualifications (including physical requirements)

• Ability to maintain the highest level of confidentially and sensitivity towards all work-related information.

Other

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.  Activities, duties, and responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice.    

Location

This position may be located anywhere within the bank’s footprint, including the following cities: Little Rock, AR; Kansas City, MO; Springfield, MO; St. Louis, MO; Oklahoma City, OK; Memphis, TN; Nashville, TN; Dallas, TX; Fort Worth, TX; and Houston, TX.

Skills Training:   Continuing Professional Education

Equal Employment Opportunity Information: Simmons First National Corporation and its subsidiaries are committed to a policy of equal employment with respect to a person's race, color, religion, sex, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, covered veterans, military status, physical or mental disability or any other legally protected classifications.