Canadian Structured Finance – Legal Counsel, Assistant Vice President/Senior Analyst – Toronto

Morningstar DBRS seeks a highly motivated, team-oriented lawyer with at least three years of experience to join its Canadian Structured Finance team in Toronto as Legal Counsel at the Assistant Vice President or Senior Analyst level. The individual will work closely with analysts in the Canadian Structured Finance group on a wide variety of securitization transactions, in addition to providing support for drafting, updating and implementing, as necessary, Canadian Structured Finance policies, procedures and methodologies. In this role, the individual may also assist other teams in the Global Structured Finance Group, including the Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities (CMBS) team.

The ideal candidate will possess sound experience in secured lending, and general corporate commercial law. Knowledge of bankruptcy and insolvency law and specific experience with structured finance transactions at a recognized law firm while not required would be beneficial. The ideal candidate combines an ability to identify legal and reputational risk, financial literacy and business sense with an ability to communicate legal and criteria issues clearly to both internal and external stakeholders.

Job Responsibilities

• Review documentation for various issuance types and asset classes with a view to evaluating appropriate Structured Finance credit ratings.
• Advise analysts, team members and rating committee of any potential legal issues or material exceptions to DBRS criteria and methodologies that may have an impact on credit ratings.
• Communicate DBRS’s position on legal, structural and methodology matters to issuers, agents, advisors and other external stakeholders.
• Evaluate and manage legal and reputational risk relating to credit ratings.
• Monitor legislative and case law developments and advise on any relevant changes, as appropriate.

Qualifications

• At least three years of relevant experience at a recognized law firm or as in-house counsel.
• LL.B/J.D. degree and membership in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario.
• Sound knowledge of secured lending transactions and general corporate commercial law.
• Some knowledge of Canadian bankruptcy and insolvency law (beneficial but not required).
• Some knowledge and experience with securitization transactions (ABCP, ABS, RMBS and CMBS) at a recognized law firm (beneficial but not required).
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written).
• Solid time management skills and strong attention to detail.
• Self-starter and team player, who works with a sense of urgency in a fast-paced environment.

About Us: Morningstar DBRS is a leading provider of independent rating services and opinions for corporate and sovereign entities, financial institutions, and project and structured finance instruments globally. Rating more than 4,000 issuers and 60,000 securities, it is one of the top four credit rating agencies in the world. Morningstar DBRS empowers investor success by bringing more transparency and a much-needed diversity of opinion in the credit rating industry.