A financial holding company based in Sandusky, Ohio, announced Monday that its long-time general counsel will be stepping down to retire, effective Dec. 31, and a senior vice president hired in the fall will take over as the bank’s legal leader.

James McGookey will retire from Civista Bancshares Inc. after 16 years as its top attorney. McGookey became senior vice president, general counsel of Civista in 2002, according to the news release, and corporate secretary in 2007. In 2013, McGookey was given the title of executive vice president and continued to serve in his role as general counsel. Before joining Civista, he was a partner at Buckingham, Lucal, McGookey & Zeiher in Sandusky, where he represented Civista from 2000 to 2002, according to the release.