Senior Legal Counsel – Commercial Finance
A leading financial services organization in the greater Chicago area is seeking a Senior Legal Counsel to serve as a strategic legal advisor and business partner supporting commercial finance operations. This role focuses on high‑impact transactional, regulatory, and compliance matters within a fast‑paced, business‑driven environment.
Position Overview
As Senior Legal Counsel, you will lead legal support for U.S.-based commercial finance activities, including:
- Originating and supporting equipment loans, leases, and other complex commercial financing transactions
- Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a wide range of commercial and finance agreements
- Monitoring U.S. federal and state regulatory developments—including data privacy—and ensuring compliance integration
- Advising on supplier management, procurement, and third‑party risk
- Providing practical, business‑aligned guidance to internal teams and senior leadership
You will also support additional corporate legal matters such as employment, IP, compliance programs, governance, dispute management, and outside counsel coordination.
Key Responsibilities
- Draft, negotiate, and review contracts including vendor program agreements, customer finance contracts, loan and leasing agreements, capital markets documents, and related financing documentation
- Provide guidance on supplier relationships, risk assessments, onboarding, performance monitoring, and dispute resolution
- Track and advise on legal and regulatory changes in commercial lending, leasing, consumer protection, and data privacy
- Support compliance initiatives, internal reviews, audits, policy development, and regulatory inquiries
- Select and manage outside counsel for transactions and litigation
- Identify and mitigate legal and business risks related to equipment finance and commercial lending
- Support legal department operations including template management, legal technology, and process optimization
- Maintain ongoing CLE, with focus on commercial finance and regulatory trends
Key Performance Indicators
- Timely, accurate legal support for commercial finance originations
- Documentation compliant with applicable federal and state laws
- Successful integration of regulatory changes into business practices
- Strong partnerships with Sales, Operations, Credit, Capital Markets, and other business units
- Timely completion of contract reviews, compliance initiatives, template updates, and outside counsel coordination
Qualifications
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Strong understanding of U.S. commercial finance laws, including equipment finance, secured lending, leasing, and commercial transactions
- Familiarity with UCC Articles 2 and 9, contract law, and regulatory requirements
- Experience with litigation, distressed assets, restructurings, and workouts
- Proven ability to draft and negotiate finance‑related agreements
- Strong legal research, analytical reasoning, and problem‑solving skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to collaborate effectively across departments
- Comfortable using modern legal technology and AI tools to enhance efficiency
Competencies
- Proactive problem-solver with strong business judgment
- Detail‑oriented communicator
- High cognitive agility and situational awareness
- Strong analytical and synthesis skills
- Maintains accuracy, professionalism, and high ethical standards
Education & Experience
- Juris Doctor (J.D.)
- Licensed and in good standing in Illinois (or eligible for in-house counsel license)
- 5–8+ years of experience in commercial finance, including equipment leasing, lending, and related transactions
Travel
- Occasional travel for industry events and visits to domestic and international business locations.
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