Bank of the West announced Thursday that Hope Mehlman will take the legal department reins as general counsel.

Mehlman also will serve in the capacity of corporate secretary at Bank of the West and BNP Paribas USA Inc., the holding company that oversees the bank’s retail and wholesale banking activities. While leading Bank of the West’s legal, regulatory and government affairs functions, she will work across the aisle with the BNP Paribas Americas and BNP Paribas Group legal teams.