Senior Counsel, Commercial Contracts

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.

To learn more about CIBC, please visit CIBC.com

What you’ll be doing

The successful candidate will provide legal support to CIBC’s Technology, Infrastructure and Innovation department, the Procurement department and other areas of the bank as appropriate. You will provide responsive and proactive legal advice to designated lines of business, including executives, to identify and mitigate potential legal risks arising from business activities. You will leverage up-to-date knowledge of legislation and case law to review policies and procedures for compliance with applicable legal requirements, and represent the Legal department on various business projects such as product and service development initiatives. Applying leadership skills and technical expertise, you will manage junior legal professionals and support staff, exercising a high degree of independent judgment to communicate legal implications to management and assess the impact of new legislation on business activities. You will drive innovation across all areas of responsibility, utilizing expert interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills to draft, negotiate, and summarize legal documents, and review drafts with management as appropriate.

At CIBC we enable the work environment most optimal for you to thrive in your role. Details on your work arrangement (proportion of on-site and remote work) will be discussed at the time of your interview.

How you’ll succeed

• Legal Advice - Providing legal advice and support on issues relating to technology, outsourcing, procurement, contracting, data, artificial intelligence and intellectual property, including strategic advice to solve challenging problems, address risk and protect the interests of the bank

• Transaction Negotiation – Negotiating and drafting significant complex technology, outsourcing and other commercial transactions

• Managing Outside Counsel - partner and manage the relationship with outside counsel when required

Who you are

• You’re a certified professional. Successful Candidate must have been called to the Bar in Ontario.

• You give meaning to data. You enjoy investigating complex problems, and making sense of information. You're confident in your ability to communicate detailed information in an impactful way.

• You act like an owner. You thrive when you're empowered to take the lead, go above and beyond, and deliver results.

• You look beyond the moment. You make decisions and take actions that will make a difference today and tomorrow. You proactively seek new opportunities to define what's possible.

• You have 7+ years experience in corporate commercial contract drafting and negotiating at a top tier law firm or major corporation. Experience working in a financial institution will be an asset. Experience with material business process and IT outsourcing arrangements, technology and data licensing, procurement and cloud agreements is mandatory.  Excellent negotiating and drafting skills and experience are required. Strong communication skills and the ability to supervise and direct external counsel will be needed to succeed in this role.

• Values matter to you. You bring your real self to work and you live our values – trust, teamwork and accountability.

What CIBC Offers

At CIBC, your goals are a priority. We start with your strengths and ambitions as an employee and strive to create opportunities to tap into your potential. We aspire to give you a career, rather than just a paycheck.

• We work to recognize you in meaningful, personalized ways including a competitive salary, incentive pay, banking benefits, a benefits program*, defined benefit pension plan*, an employee share purchase plan, a vacation offering, wellbeing support, and MomentMakers, our social, points-based recognition program.

• Our spaces and technological toolkit will make it simple to bring together great minds to create innovative solutions that make a difference for our clients.

• We cultivate a culture where you can express your ambition through initiatives like Purpose Day; a paid day off dedicated for you to use to invest in your growth and development.

*Subject to plan and program terms and conditions

What you need to know

• CIBC is committed to creating an inclusive environment where all team members and clients feel like they belong. We seek applicants with a wide range of abilities and we provide an accessible candidate experience. If you need accommodation, please contact [email protected]

• CIBC is committed to clarity in our hiring process. All roles posted are opportunities we’re actively recruiting for, unless stated otherwise.

• You need to be legally eligible to work at the location(s) specified above and, where applicable, must have a valid work or study permit.

• We may ask you to complete an attribute-based assessment and other skills test (such as simulation, coding, French proficiency).

• We use artificial intelligence tools during the recruitment process. Our goal for the application process is to get to know more about you, all that you have to offer, and give you the opportunity to learn more about us.

Job Location

Toronto-81 Bay, 20th Floor

Employment Type

Regular

Weekly Hours

37.5

Skills

Business Contracts, Business Transactions, Communication, Contract Negotiations, Contractual Drafting, Critical Thinking, Decision Making, Development Planning, Law, Legal Consulting, Litigation, People Management, Strategic Advice