Legal Counsel

Job Purpose

Responsible for providing fast relevant and costeffective legal support for the asset management activities of the Company particularly in the areas of Documentation and Research Document Management Vault Management Tax Management and Litigation Case Monitoring. These include providing overall directions for the Legal Counsels and Legal Assistants in their respective functions and responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Develops and provides legal strategies and documentation for various loan resolutions and sales transactions;

• Develops and formulates strategies and legal procedures in managing the process Tax issues and Litigation matters;
• Manages the department which includes coordinating and providing overall directions for the Legal Counsels and Legal Assistants in their respective functions and responsibilities;
• Liaises with external counsels and monitors all cases relating to the Loan Portfolio and the Company;
• Develops jointly with the legal team systems and database that will improve legal services to the Asset Management Group;

• Delivers the agreed Legal Department KRAs commitment to EXCOM;

• Attends and participates in the General Mancom meetings.

• Performs other jobrelated projects as may be assigned from time to time

Tasks

• Review monitor implement and enhance legal policies for loan resolutions (remedial) and property sales

• Develop or review document templates for loan resolutions (remedial) and property sales;

• Validate the clients authority to transact review Original Loan Folder documents and clear approved financial loan resolutions and property sales for closing;

• Final review of cleared or uncleared financial loan resolutions and property sales in case of clarification or conflicting views among the department concerned or among counsels;

• Provide legal research advice and assistance in relation to projects and activities of MFG POSG/PAD and borrower concerns referred by MFG POSG LSG and CCD which include legal queries of the company;
• Conduct training for Account Specialists on Legal Documentation process Litigation and other legal Issues;
• Develop and maintain a library of laws jurisprudence and legal opinions relevant to asset management real estate foreclosures writ of possession and issues affecting operations; Management of external counsels and assist in monitoring and litigation relating to the Loan Portfolio.
• Develop jointly with the legal team systems that will improve legal services to the Asset Management Group and Litigation; In collaboration with the legal team deliver the KRAs committed to Excom and attend the Legal MANCOM meetings;

• Participate and attend General MANCOM meetings;

• Provide legal research on any tax issues arising from all and any kind of transactions being undertaken by the company in the ordinary course of its business as well as the drafting and review of documents to remedy said tax issues; Appearances in meetings with the Bureau of Internal Revenue and such other government entities or units if necessary under the circumstances to settle the tax and other legal issues;
• Handling of company cases Inhouse which includes drafting and preparation of pleadings review of pleadings drafted by Legal counsels and court appearances;
• Preparation of annual budget for the Legal Department and review and budget expenses incurred on a monthly basis;
• Management of vault operations of the company where original loan documents are located for safekeeping; and
• Management of Legal staffs performance evaluation and compliance with company policies and procedures.

Minimum Required Education/Professional Licensure/Certifications

• A graduate of Bachelor of Laws; Juris Doctor

• Bar passer

• With an M.B.A. or M.A. degree an advantage

Minimum Required Experience

• With at least fifteen 15 years in legal practice five 5 years of which should be in a managerial role as corporate counsel for a company or firm

Skills Attributes Required

• Excellent oral and written communication (English and Filipino)

• Factgathering legal research skills

• Analytical skills

• Strategic thinking

• Planning and organizing skills

• Time management skills

• People management skills

• Meticulous and attentive to details

• Serviceoriented

• Can establish a good rapport with internal clients and ESP

Special Technical Skills Required

• Basics in MS Office applications (Word Powerpoint and Excel)