Head of Legal

About The Role:

We are seeking an experienced Head of Legal to lead our legal function and serve as a strategic partner. This critical role involves managing the legal portfolio, negotiating key agreements, advising on corporate strategy, and ensuring strong legal governance.

What You'll Do:

• MLPA / Warehouse Line Agreement Negotiation. Draft and negotiate master loan participation agreements (MLPAs) and Warehouse Line agreements. Manage redlines, customize terms, and control final execution.
• Deal Legal Review & Live Issue Resolution. Review loan-level structure, identify legal and structural risks, make real-time binding decisions, and confirm borrower structure integrity. Primary gating function for deal progression.
• Internal Legal & Structuring Advisory. Serve as real-time legal advisor to the organization, answer structuring questions, and make fast legal judgment calls embedded in major decisions.
• Employment / HR Legal. Draft separation agreements, negotiate employment terms, and handle employment law issues. High sensitivity, requires fast turnaround and specialized expertise.
• NDA Requests & Contract Reviews. Review and execute NDAs, push back on aggressive terms, and manage partner NDAs. High frequency, constant flow of requests—can be partially automated with templates.
• Template & Document Governance. Maintain MLPA, NDA, and consulting agreement templates. Update templates based on lessons learned and address inconsistencies.
• Consulting & Contractor Agreements. Draft agreements, structure compensation, and determine contractor vs. employee classification.
• Vendor / Advisory Agreements. Review engagement letters, adjust fees and scope, and manage vendor relationships.
• Capital Markets & Investor Support. Support diligence and securitization efforts, answer investor structure questions, and review data and exceptions.
• Vendor & Outside Counsel Management. Review outside counsel work, manage costs and scope, and translate legal advice into business guidance.
• Regulatory & Licensing. Advise on licensing requirements, flag regulatory risks, and coordinate with outside counsel for specialized expertise.
• Answer edge cases, review organizational structures, and create internal policies.

Qualifications:

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school
• Bar admission (New York license preferred)
• 3-5+ years of legal experience, with at least 3 years in a corporate law setting or as a Head of Legal for a mortgage platform
• Proven experience in agreement negotiation, particularly with complex corporate and lending agreements
• Strong understanding of asset-backed lending, structured finance, or mortgage/loan documentation
• Experience managing outside counsel and legal budgets
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to advise non-legal stakeholders
• Experience in fintech, alternative lending, or mortgage lending
• Background in securitization or capital markets transactions
• Experience managing a legal team or mentoring junior attorneys
• Knowledge of employment law and contractor classification issues

What We Offer:

We believe in supporting our employees both professionally and personally. Our comprehensive benefits package includes:

• Health Insurance – Robust medical coverage with costs primarily covered by the employer.
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Plan for your future with our retirement savings program.
• Commuter Benefits Program – Save on your daily commute with pre-tax transportation options.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – Access free and confidential support for personal or professional challenges.
• Financial Wellness Resources – Tools and guidance to help you reach your financial goals.
• Paid Time Off – Enjoy 15 days of PTO annually, plus company-observed holidays.
• Sick Leave – Take care of your health with 5 paid sick days per year.