Job Summary:
The Litigation Lawyer is responsible for handling legal accounts and matters assigned by division heads, which includes initiating legal actions and filing responsive pleadings before courts and quasi-judicial agencies. The role involves representing and protecting the interests of the Bank and its officers during hearings and governmental proceedings to ensure all legal matters are properly attended to. Key duties include assisting in the recovery of past-due loans through demand letters and foreclosure petitions, as well as drafting and reviewing contracts to prevent onerous or illegal provisions.
How will you contribute:
- Handles accounts/matters assigned by the Head of the Department and/or Head of the Legal Affairs Division for appropriate legal action. Initiates the proper case/s for the Bank before the regular courts and/or quasi-judicial agencies by filing the required responsive pleadings in cases filed against the Bank.
- Protects the interest of the Bank and/or its officers by representing the Bank and/or its officers in cases filed against it, or in cases when the Bank and/or its officers are tasked to appear before regular courts, quasi-judicial agencies and/or governmental agencies and by appearing in the regular courts and/or quasi-judicial agencies as counsel for the Bank and/or its officers.
- Assists in the recovery of past due loans and removal of legal impediments which would prevent the Bank from disposing of acquired assets. Writes final demand letters to delinquent buyers; files petitions for the extra-judicial foreclosure of real estate mortgage/s; and files writ of possessions or ejectment cases, as warranted by circumstances. Ensures that all the legal steps necessary in the recovery of past-due loans and disposition of acquired assets are complied with.
- Drafts contracts and/or reviews contracts assigned by the Head of the Legal Department and/or the Head of the Legal Affairs Division. Drafts the different provisions of the contract required by the unit/division/group requesting the same; examines existing contracts, proposes amendments and/or additional provisions, as the case may be, which would give more protection to the Bank or the units/divisions/groups requesting the contract/s. Ensures that the contract drafted will be responsive to the needs of the Bank or the requesting unit/division/group to prevent onerous provisions from being imposed upon the Bank and/or mitigate its liability/ies. Prevents patently illegal provisions and conditions which may be impossible or difficult to perform from being included in contracts to be signed by the duly authorized representative/s of the Bank.
- Renders legal opinion on matters assigned by the Head of the Litigation Department and/or Legal Affairs Division. Conducts the required study of law and submits the same for review by the Head of the Legal Department and/or Legal Affairs Division before transmitting the same to the requesting unit/division/group. Ensures that the legal opinion to be sent out to the requesting unit, division and group is based and/or supported by current laws and established jurisprudence.
- Coordinates with the other units, divisions and groups within the Bank in connection with accounts/cases/matters assigned by the Head of the Litigation Department and/or the Head of the Legal Affairs Division. Conducts conferences with the concerned personnel of the unit/division/group referring the account/case/matter in person or via the telephone. Obtains the necessary information on the accounts/cases/ matters assigned by the Head of the Department, which will guide the handling lawyer on what particular action/s to take.
- Relays/Confirms the schedule of the hearings dates of the cases being handled, as well as the set deadline/s for the filing/ submission of pleadings before the regular courts, quasi-judicial agencies, and other governmental agencies to the Head of the Department and the docket personnel. Ensures that all scheduled hearings are attended, and the required pleadings/motions are filed on time.
- Assists the docket personnel in the proper records keeping/ filing of the pleadings/documents/papers relating to the cases the litigation lawyer is handling through timely forwarding of all the pleadings/documents/papers relating to the cases.
What will make you successful:
- Must be a licensed attorney
- With at least 5 years Litigation experience
- Proven experience in initiating legal actions, filing responsive pleadings, and representing corporate interests and officers in various legal proceedings.
- Strong skills in drafting new contracts and reviewing existing agreements to identify onerous, illegal, or impossible provisions while ensuring maximum institutional protection.
- At least five to eight years work experience, preferably in corporate practice and banking industry
