10 First Citizens Bank legal leaders
Chief Counsel & Corporate Secretary and Deputy General Counsel - Head of Litigation are among the titles held today by these First Citizens Bank legal leaders, alongside SVP, Assistant Chief Counsel - Litigation. A reader can learn how legal leaders work at First Citizens Bank from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
Anne Stockmann
LinkedInExperience: SVP/Assistant Chief Counsel · First Citizens Bank
Anne Stockmann has been SVP/Assistant Chief Counsel at First Citizens Bank since January 2022, based in Omaha, Nebraska, and also held the title Chief Counsel at CIT Bank from 2020 to 2023. Anne Stockmann was Deputy General Counsel at Mutual of Omaha Bank from 2019 to 2020 and Assistant General Counsel there from 2013 to 2019.
Caitlin M. Goforth
LinkedInExperience: SVP, Director HR Legal · First Citizens Bank
Caitlin M. Goforth has been SVP, Director HR Legal at First Citizens Bank since October 2024, based in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Area. Caitlin M. Goforth was VP, Manager HR Legal at First Citizens Bank from 2023 to 2024, VP, Senior Governance Consultant there from 2021 to 2023 and a Labor and Employment Attorney at Jackson Lewis P.C. from 2017 to 2021.
Doug Witte
LinkedInExperience: SVP, Assistant Chief Counsel · First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company
Doug Witte has held the title SVP, Assistant Chief Counsel at First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company, a role listed from June 2006, based in Morristown, New Jersey, and the profile headline describes the role as lead attorney for bank regulatory, M&A, SEC, treasury, tax and legal entities. Doug Witte was Director, Senior Counsel at Merrill Lynch from 2000 to 2006.
Jim Mortimer
LinkedInExperience: Chief Counsel · First Citizens Bank
Jim Mortimer has been Chief Counsel at First Citizens Bank since January 2022, based in New York, New York, and the profile describes the role as lead and managing attorney covering the bank's commercial banking lines of business. Jim Mortimer was Chief Counsel for CIT Business Capital and CIT Commercial Services at CIT from 2016 to 2022.
Joanne Neighbors
LinkedInExperience: Senior Assistant Chief Counsel & Global Privacy Officer · First Citizens Bank
Joanne Neighbors has been Senior Assistant Chief Counsel & Global Privacy Officer at First Citizens Bank since August 2025, based in Pinehurst, North Carolina. Joanne Neighbors was Senior Counsel at First Citizens Bank in 2025, Vice President, Counsel there from 2023 to 2025 and Attorney Advisor at the United States Air Force from 2014 to 2016.
Josh Royster
LinkedInExperience: Deputy General Counsel - Head of Litigation · First Citizens Bank
Josh Royster has been Deputy General Counsel - Head of Litigation at First Citizens Bank since May 2022, based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Josh Royster was Chief, Civil Division at the United States Attorneys' Offices from 2018 to 2022, Deputy Chief, Civil Division there from 2015 to 2018 and Assistant U.S. Attorney, Civil Division there from 2010 to 2015.
Mary Laurie (Johnson) Cece
LinkedInExperience: SVP, Assistant Chief Counsel-- First Citizens Wealth · First Citizens Bank and Trust Company, Inc.
Mary Laurie (Johnson) Cece has been SVP, Assistant Chief Counsel-- First Citizens Wealth at First Citizens Bank and Trust Company since February 2024, based in New York, New York. Mary Laurie (Johnson) Cece was Vice President, Legal Counsel at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management from 2019 to 2024 and also held the title Assistant General Counsel at First Citizens Bank/Silicon Valley Bank from 2024 to 2026.
Matt Martin
LinkedInExperience: Chief Counsel & Corporate Secretary · First Citizens Bank
Matt Martin has been Chief Counsel & Corporate Secretary at First Citizens Bank since June 2021, based in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Area, and the profile headline reads General Counsel & Corporate Secretary. Matt Martin was United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina from 2018 to 2021 and Associate General Counsel at Duke Energy Corporation from 2013 to 2018.
Richard J. Grossi
LinkedInExperience: Senior Vice President & Senior Assistant Chief Counsel · First Citizens Bank
Richard J. Grossi holds the title Senior Vice President & Senior Assistant Chief Counsel at First Citizens Bank, a role listed from April 2020, based in Morristown, New Jersey, and the profile headline reads SVP, Deputy General Counsel. Richard J. Grossi was Senior Bank Counsel at Ally from 2016 to 2020 and Vice President & Senior Counsel at TD from 2011 to 2016.
Tom Kilpatrick
LinkedInExperience: SVP, Assistant Chief Counsel - Litigation · First Citizens Bank
Tom Kilpatrick has been SVP, Assistant Chief Counsel - Litigation at First Citizens Bank since October 2025, based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Tom Kilpatrick was SVP, Senior Counsel - Litigation at First Citizens Bank from 2022 to 2025, partner and co-founder of Kilpatrick Law Group from 2012 to 2022 and a litigation partner at Manning Fulton from 1996 to 2012.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's practice area to your question, since litigation, commercial banking, wealth, privacy and HR legal each cover different work. Check whether the person came to the bank from a law firm, government service or another bank, since that shapes how they compare approaches.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How did you decide which legal matters your team handled in house and which went to outside counsel?
- 02What measures did you use to judge whether the legal team was supporting the business well?
- 03How did you keep legal advice consistent when the business you supported changed quickly?
Reaching First Citizens Bank legal leaders
How can I contact one of these First Citizens Bank legal leaders?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 3 companies: First Citizens Bank; First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company and First Citizens Bank and Trust Company, Inc., based on profile data retrieved on October 23, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach First Citizens Bank legal leaders?
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Can an AI agent ask one of these First Citizens Bank legal leaders a question?
Yes. An agent with a USDC wallet on Base can ask one question without an Instant Expert account. It names the person, for example by the LinkedIn URL on this page, and pays per ask over x402 (HTTP 402). The person answers in writing or by voice note, and if nobody answers within 7 days, the payment goes back to the wallet automatically. Claude and ChatGPT can do the same through the Instant Expert connector: setup is at /docs/mcp for Claude and /docs/chatgpt for ChatGPT. x402 docs
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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