The American Bankers Association is the banking industry's champion. Joining ABA makes you part of a team that: • has Extraordinary People - ABA experts are the "go to" sources for bankers, policy makers and the media for credible information and insights for the banking industry. • has Unmatched Scope and Scale - ABA's unparalleled information and services keep members current, knowledgeable and prepared. • is Impact-Driven - ABA has a proven record of bringing about positive change for our members and the industry. We take action and achieve results. Plus competitive pay, an outstanding benefits package, a convenient DC location, a professional collegial work environment and an opportunity to work on issues of national significance equals a winning combination!
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Job Description:
The American Bankers Association (ABA) seeks an experienced, strategic, and business-focused attorney to serve as Vice President & Senior Counsel within the Office of General Counsel. This role will lead critical legal programs across the organization, including ABA’s intellectual property strategy, artificial intelligence (AI) and technology governance, and legal risk management, while co-leading and supporting the contracting function.
The VP & Senior Counsel will lead and direct mission?critical legal functions that shape ABA’s business operations and strategic direction. This role will drive enterprise legal strategy in areas including contracting, intellectual property, AI governance, technology risk, and regulatory compliance. As a senior legal professional, this position will serve as a key advisor to senior leadership, influence organizational priorities, and design frameworks that support ABA’s innovation and growth.
Key Responsibilities:
Contract Leadership and Negotiation:
Partner with the SVP of Contracts to lead ABA’s contracting strategy, including drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a wide range of complex and high-value agreements.
Oversee software and technology licenses, data agreements, consulting contracts, NDAs, MOUs, and collaboration agreements.
Establish and maintain contracting frameworks, templates, and risk standards.
Develop and enforce ABA’s contracting governance framework, templates, and workflows.
Direct legal review of vendor onboarding, including IP ownership, data security, and regulatory compliance considerations.
Intellectual Property Strategy and Portfolio Management:
Protect and manage ABA’s trademark portfolio, including clearance, registration, enforcement, and licensing.
Develop and implement ABA’s IP governance frameworks, including trademark usage guidelines, copyright compliance policies, and data governance protocols
Develop and implement internal IP policies, including trademark usage guidelines, copyright compliance, and data governance.
Lead legal oversight for events, content production, and licensing, ensuring strategic protection of ABA’s brand and assets.
Technology, Digital, and AI Leadership:
Serve as a primary legal advisor on technology, digital projects, AI initiatives, software licensing, and data-related legal issues.
Identify and assess legal risks related to third-party technology use, data licensing, and IP ownership, and support internal compliance with licensing terms and restrictions.
Drive ABA’s enterprise AI and technology legal strategy, establishing policies and risk standards.
Set internal guidelines to ensure compliance with digital and technology-related legal frameworks.
Serve as subject matter expert and key legal adviser for member-facing initiatives, including webinars, working groups, and educational materials on IP and technology-related legal issues.
Develop and deliver internal training related to IP, AI, technology, information security, and privacy issues.
Legal Counseling, Research, and Strategic Analysis:
Advise senior leadership and business teams on IP, privacy, AI, and data rights issues.
Conduct legal research on emerging technologies and regulatory developments affecting the banking sector, including AI, cryptocurrency, and digital currency.
Drive ABA’s legal monitoring and analysis of emerging technologies and regulatory developments.
Track and analyze developments in IP, technology law, and data governance that may impact the banking industry and summarize key issues for internal stakeholders and member institutions.
Produce high-impact strategic assessments for internal stakeholders and ABA members.
Cross-Functional and Organization-Wide Leadership:
Lead cross-functional legal coordination with IT, communications, policy, and member engagement teams to advance ABA’s strategic initiatives.
Direct legal strategy for cybersecurity, fintech, digital banking, and innovation.
Shape ABA’s internal governance posture on technology and intellectual property.
Required:
Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school and admission to at least one U.S. state bar.
Minimum of 10+ years of relevant legal experience, with 5+ years working in a law firm or in-house legal department, with a focus on intellectual property, technology transactions, or commercial contracting.
Experience with managing an end?to?end legal contracts function, including overseeing intake, drafting, negotiation, approval workflows, execution, and lifecycle management for a high?volume portfolio of commercial, technology, and corporate agreements.
Experience with advising stakeholders on legal, intellectual property, privacy, and regulatory risks in commercial and technology transactions.
Demonstrated experience designing, developing, and delivering legal training programs for business teams, including content on contracts, compliance, intellectual property, privacy, regulatory requirements, and corporate policies.
Experience conducting or overseeing legal research and analysis related to emerging technologies.
Strong analytical, drafting, and negotiation skills.
Ability to travel (less than 10%).
Preferred:
Demonstrated ability to lead legal programs, develop policies, and drive cross-functional initiatives.
Demonstrated experience drafting and negotiating software licenses, data use agreements, and vendor contracts.
Experience and demonstrated success with U.S. intellectual property law, including trademark, copyright, and trade secret protection.
Experience owning and directing IP or technology programs is strongly preferred.
Familiarity with legal issues related to cloud computing, software licensing, artificial intelligence, and digital content.
Experience advising senior executives and shaping organizational legal risk strategy.
Experiencing representing an organization with external audiences; excellent public speaking, verbal, and written communication skills.
Experience developing, implementing, or managing enterprise governance frameworks, such as IP governance, AI governance, data governance, technology risk programs, or compliance frameworks.
Target compensation for role: 245,000.00 – 260,000.00
Salary Band Range: $175,280.00 - $245,420.00 - $315,560.00
American Bankers Association (ABA) is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, marital status, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected Veteran status, personal appearance, political affiliation, family responsibilities, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
The American Bankers Association is the united voice of America’s hometown bankers—small, regional and large banks that together employ more than 2 million women and men, hold nearly $17 trillion in assets, safeguard $12.8 trillion in deposits and extend more than $9 trillion in loans. ABA believes that government policies should recognize the industry’s diversity. Laws and regulations should be tailored to correspond to a bank’s charter, business model, hometown markets and risk profile. This policymaking approach avoids the negative economic consequences of burdensome, unsuitable and inefficient bank regulation. Through a broad array of information, training, staff expertise and other resources, ABA supports America’s hometown bankers as they perform their critical role as drivers of America’s economic growth and job creation.
