Senior Legal Counsel – Commercial Finance
Looking for your next challenge in commercial finance law? A growing legal team in the greater Chicago area is seeking a strategic, business‑oriented Senior Legal Counsel to support high‑impact commercial finance operations. This role serves as a key legal advisor and business partner, with a primary focus on equipment finance, commercial lending, and regulatory compliance. Ideal candidates thrive in fast‑paced environments, balance risk with business objectives, and enjoy working cross‑functionally.
Key Responsibilities
• Lead transaction origination for equipment loans, leases, and other commercial financing arrangements
• Draft, review, and negotiate finance contracts, leasing agreements, vendor programs, capital markets agreements, and related documentation
• Monitor U.S. federal and state regulatory developments—including commercial lending, leasing, consumer protection, and data privacy—and integrate compliance requirements into business processes
• Advise on supplier management and third‑party risk, including onboarding, risk assessments, and contract performance issues
• Support a broad range of legal matters such as employment law, intellectual property, dispute resolution, compliance initiatives, corporate governance, and operational legal needs
• Partner with internal business units (Sales, Operations, Credit, Capital Markets) to provide timely, accurate legal guidance
• Manage outside counsel on transactions and litigation to ensure cost‑effective, high‑quality legal support
• Identify and mitigate legal and business risks associated with equipment leasing, lending, and complex financing structures
• Participate in department operations, including legal technology utilization, template management, and workflow optimization
• Maintain ongoing CLE with emphasis on commercial finance and regulatory trends
Key Qualifications
• Strong understanding of U.S. federal and Illinois state laws applicable to equipment finance, secured lending, and commercial transactions
• Familiarity with UCC Article 2 and Article 9, contract law, and related regulatory frameworks
• Experience with contract negotiation, commercial transactions, litigation, restructuring, workouts, and distressed asset matters
• Ability to research and interpret laws and provide practical, business‑focused legal guidance
• Strong communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to build strong cross‑functional partnerships
• Proactive problem‑solver with strong analytical and critical‑thinking abilities
• Comfortable leveraging legal technology and modern AI tools to improve efficiency
Education & Experience Requirements
• Juris Doctor (JD)
• Licensed and in good standing to practice in Illinois, or eligible for an in‑house counsel license
• 5–8+ years of commercial finance experience, including equipment leasing and lending
• Continuous improvement mindset; experience with legal tech preferred
Compensation & Benefits
• Salary: $175,000–$197,000, depending on experience
• Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid Time Off, including 3 weeks’ vacation
• Company‑paid life insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Training and development opportunities
If you're looking to make an impact, drive transaction success, and stay at the forefront of commercial finance regulatory trends, this opportunity offers the platform to do so. Apply today for immediate consideration.
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