Assistant General Counsel, Legal

Profile

Position Title: Assistant General Counsel

Department: Legal

Employment Type: Full-time

Covid-19 Hiring Update: We’ve transitioned to a temporary work-from-home model and we’re continuing to interview and hire during this time. This role is expected to begin as a remote position.

Summary

KBRA is seeking an Assistant General Counsel to join its Legal Department. You will be enthusiastic, highly motivated, have a strong work ethic and well-equipped to work closely with the other members of the Legal Department on the types of matters described below in addition to other matters that may arise. The position will be based out of our New York office.   
 

About the Team

The Legal Department handles all of KBRA’s legal matters with the exception of ratings. The Legal Department works with analysts, compliance, finance, technology and senior management across the company.

About the Job

As an Assistant General Counsel, your responsibilities may include contract review, negotiation and drafting the following: subscription agreements with clients across various product offerings; vendor agreements for various types of services and products; all other types of contracts to which KBRA may be a party and lastly, management of KBRA’s contracts.

You may also be responsible for the following:

• Engagement Letters/Business Development: You will review, negotiate and draft engagement letters with clients across all sectors in which KBRA issues ratings, including structured finance, project finance, financial institutions. You will serve as a resource for Business Development with respect to questions that arise during the client engagement process.
• Corporate Governance: You may participate in regular meetings with KBRA’s board of directors and assist with preparation of materials for KBRA’s board of directors.
• Data Privacy/Cybersecurity: You will gain familiarity with data privacy laws of jurisdictions in which KBRA operates as well as collaborate with the Information Security team on best practices in all jurisdictions.
• Regulatory Framework: You will gain familiarity with the regulatory framework, laws and regulations applicable to credit rating agencies and how regulations affect all aspects of KBRA. You will advise KBRA’s employees about the applicability of regulations on KBRA’s day-to-day work.
• Compliance: You will collaborate with the Compliance Department on discrete and ongoing matters before the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including annual examinations, submissions to the SEC and various requests.
• Regulatory Affairs: You will conduct research on credit rating agency regulation in other jurisdictions, liaise with outside counsel and regulators in other jurisdictions regarding registration and requirements to do business, prepare registration documents and respond to regulatory requests.
• Regulatory Defense: You will collect and review documents, liaise with outside counsel, draft and review internal and external memoranda and documents, conduct legal research and potentially prepare for and attend depositions. You will also work closely with senior members of KBRA’s analytic teams and Technology Department in this context.

About You

In order to be successful in this role, you:

• Have a JD and admission to the New York bar
• Have at least 8-14 years of experience
• Possess a strong background in reviewing, drafting and negotiating agreements
• Have litigation experience
• Have strong verbal and written communication skills. Writing samples will be requested
• Have strong research, analysis, and organizational skills with particular focus on attention to detail
• Have knowledge of securities laws and experience working in highly regulated environments

About Us

KBRA is a global full-service rating agency whose mission is to set a standard of excellence and integrity by providing users of our ratings with transparent, responsive, and timely analysis. Established in 2010 as a challenger brand, KBRA remains dedicated to the restoration of trust in credit ratings. We accomplish this through the creation of new standards for assessing risk and by offering transparent ratings. KBRA offers market participants with an alternative solution by delivering in-depth research as well as the tools needed to make informed decisions. Since the company was founded, we have published over 40,000 ratings. KBRA has over 380 employees located across the United States (in New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland) and in Dublin, Ireland and London, England.

KBRA encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, and veteran status or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law.

KBRA Benefits

• Excellent health, dental and vision plans along with flexible spending accounts, health savings account and voluntary benefits
• Generous paid maternity/paternity and disability leave  
• 401(k) plan, including employer match (100% vested)
• Competitive paid time off (vacation, personal, sick) package
• Educational and professional development financial assistance
• Employee referral bonus program
• Monthly cell phone reimbursements
• The ability to make a difference in a growing company!

Company info

Kroll Bond Rating Agency, LLC