Senior Associate

Business Function:

Group Legal, Compliance & Secretariat ensures that the banks interests are protected by zealously guarding and enhancing its reputation and capital. We also work to maintain a good standing with all our regulators, customers, and business partners. Because we believe that at the heart of business banking is to uphold the values of trust and integrity for all our stakeholders.

Responsibility:

To identify and manage and control Legal risk for DBS India. To develop and build an effective Legal function that partners and supports the overall strategic agenda and growth of DBS India by providing pragmatic and effective legal advice to manage legal risk across the business and assist in the design and implementation of procedures to effect the reduction of this risk.

Contribute to the development of DBS India strategy through the identification of legal risk. Develop and deliver strategic legal risk management initiatives. Identify and meet management information requirements for the measurement of legal risk exposure, performance (both of internal and external legal resources) and productivity.

• Manage Litigation, evaluate strategy, identify risks and provide update to management.
• Provide legal guidance and assistance to the Branch Banking team (National Distribution System) daily, ensuring smooth operations and addressing legal issues that may arise.
• Primarily manage cases filed against the bank, effectively handling consumer cases, civil disputes, and employee-related legal matters. Provide legal support to business units, specifically the Collections and SAM teams, in navigating legal issues related to their operations which includes providing legal guidance and support in managing recovery matters for both Collections and SAM.
• Possess a strong understanding of criminal law and procedures, enabling you to effectively navigate complex legal situations.
• Possess a strong understanding of the SARFAESI Act, Debt Recovery Tribunals and insolvency proceedings, enabling you to effectively manage related legal issues and navigate these complex legal frameworks.
• Skillfully handle fraud matters, including filing complaints and FIRs with law enforcement authorities.
• Embed the Legal Risk and Principle Risks Standard in the business and ensure that the policies are adhered to.
• Ensure that all aspects of legal risk are identified, covered and controlled in the implementation of new projects, systems, procedures and products for the Indian market
• Have responsibility for the quality of legal advice given, reviewing projects as required to ensure consistent content, cost and timing standards.
• Provide legal advice to business managers as required, to ensure that legal issues are identified and resolved, and that legal risk is managed appropriately within DBS India.
• Ensure best practices are adopted and guidelines complied with and that all activities comply with applicable laws, rules and regulations
• Manage and control external legal resources in terms of cost and performance, including negotiation and settlement of external legal fees. Act as liaison between banking personnel and external legal advisers as appropriate.
• Ensure an up to date and relevant knowledge of principal areas of law and practice in India

Provide education, training, and support to the businesses on relevant legal risk issues and development as appropriate.

• Proactively forge relationships with a broad range of business areas and third parties in order to encourage the best quality output and service from the team.
• Monitor client satisfaction and the legal effectiveness of individual transactions and cost management of the legal advice provided.
• Share know-how and experience with other legal advisers within the team and elsewhere within the DBS legal function, including participation in any global practice groups relevant to role and expertise.

Requirements:

Qualified lawyer with post qualification experience in banking law commensurate with the required capabilities detailed above

10- 15 years of commercial and banking laws and industry practice.

Good academic grounding.

Education / Preferred Qualifications

A Graduate with LLB/ LLM or other recognized legal degree with direct experience in banking or financial services industry.

Core Competencies

Excellent diagnostic skills and rigorous approach to problem solving
Excellent communication and negotiation skills at all levels, especially drafting & writing skillsExcellent comprehension skills to understand and interpret industry data and economic trendsStrong formal presentation skills to gain acceptance to solutions, both internally and externallyAttention to detail and tenaciousProven leadership experience in leading and team creation and co-ordination skills to mobilize, manage and review control issues, including speedy resolutionAbility to think creatively and identify innovative solutions; Should have a stable mindset to handle issues & also be able to think through a problem.

Technical Competencies

• Extensive knowledge of banking and commercial law
  Strong technical ability & ability to grasp new technical areas of law very quickly Strong knowledge on all related laws and regulations in India.