Commercial Lending Attorney (SVP)

Overview

This in-house Commercial Lending Attorney role provides broad legal support to an aggressively growing commercial bank. Responsibilities span commercial, C&I, consumer, real estate, and SBA litigation and transactions, along with corporate governance matters. The attorney will partner with business and executive teams to mitigate risk, ensure compliance with applicable laws, and support strategic initiatives with sound legal advice.

The position includes litigating in the state of Florida and overseeing other multi-state litigations.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic legal counsel to executive leadership and business units
  • Advise on a wide range of legal matters with practical, business-oriented guidance
  • Translate complex laws and regulations into clear recommendations that support decision-making and growth
  • Partner on strategic initiatives, new products, and operational changes to ensure legal soundness and regulatory alignment
• Lead collections and enforcement efforts
  • Manage collection litigation from initial strategy through judgment execution
  • Evaluate enforcement options in collaboration with credit and risk teams
  • Drive consistency and discipline in collections processes while minimizing legal exposure
• Oversee commercial litigation and dispute resolution
  • Serve as lead litigation counsel in Florida, including pleadings, discovery, motions, and court appearances
  • Direct multi-state litigation by managing outside counsel, budgets, and case strategy
  • Represent the bank in negotiations, mediations, and settlements while identifying and mitigating dispute risks
• Support real estate and C&I transactions
  • Draft, review, and negotiate commercial loan and real estate financing documents
  • Conduct legal due diligence to identify risks related to collateral, title, and transaction structure
  • Work with lenders and business stakeholders to ensure transactions are compliant and aligned with business objectives
• Draft and negotiate contracts
  • Prepare and review vendor, partnership, confidentiality, and other agreements
  • Ensure contracts mitigate risk and comply with legal and regulatory standards
  • Support improved contract processes, consistency, and organizational risk awareness
• Proactively identify and mitigate legal risk
  • Advise on potential disputes, regulatory developments, and operational risks before they escalate
  • Partner with compliance and risk functions to strengthen policies, controls, and governance
  • Provide balanced recommendations aligning risk management with business priorities
• Collaborate cross-functionally
  • Work closely with lending, operations, compliance, and leadership teams to address legal issues early
  • Offer solutions that balance legal considerations with practical outcomes
  • Build strong relationships and serve as a trusted legal partner
• Support governance, compliance, and legal awareness
  • Assist with corporate governance and adherence to applicable regulations
  • Contribute to policy development and updates to reflect evolving legal requirements
  • Provide training and guidance to employees on legal risk and compliance expectations
• Maintain compliance and participate in required training
  • Stay informed of applicable regulatory requirements and complete all mandatory compliance and IT training
• Fraud prevention and suspicious activity response
  • Question suspicious activity and collaborate with the relevant department(s) to help prevent fraudulent activity

Requirements

• Education & Bar Admission
  • Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school
  • Active membership in the Florida Bar
  • Additional U.S. state bar admissions are a plus
• Legal Experience
  • 5+ years of relevant legal practice (combined law firm and/or in-house)
  • Substantial experience in consumer and commercial lending litigation (handling or supervising business disputes)
  • Exposure to real estate lending transactions
  • Demonstrated knowledge of corporate law and governance principles
• Technical Skills
  • Strong legal drafting, negotiation, litigation, and collection skills
  • Familiarity with contract law, regulatory compliance, and risk assessment
  • Ability to interpret complex statutes and regulations affecting operations
• Professional Standing
  • High ethical integrity and judgment
  • Licensed to practice law in good standing with no disciplinary history
• Location / Licensure
  • Candidate must reside in Florida with an Active Florida Bar License

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading or supervising outside counsel across multi-state matters
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment
• Familiarity with document management, e-discovery platforms, contract lifecycle tools, and legal research databases

Compensation & Benefits

• Compensation
  • Base pay starts at $120,000 and is commensurate based on experience required in the role
  • In addition to base salary, this position may be eligible for an annual bonus, incentives and equity
  • Actual compensation is based on industry salary ranges, internal salary structures, experience, skills, and other job-related factors
• Health Coverage
  • 100% employer-paid for employees; employer contribution for dependents by Us
  • Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
  • Health Savings Account (HSA)
  • Free Telemedicine access via Teladoc
• Financial Wellness & Wealth Building
  • 401(k) with 6% Employer Match — No Vesting Period
  • Employee Stock Options
  • Financial Wellness & Wealth Building
• Other Benefits / Perks
  • Exclusive Employee Banking Perks
  • 0% Financing for Employee Solar Loans
  • Employee Only Mortgage Product with exclusive interest rates and terms
  • 0% Financing for Eligible Electric Vehicles (EVs)
  • Referral Incentives
  • Generous Paid Time Off: 2–4 Weeks of Vacation based on officer level plus additional tenure-based time
  • 64 Hours of Paid Sick Time for all full-time employees
• Protection & Peace of Mind
  • Company-Paid Life Insurance
  • Short- & Long-Term Disability Insurance
  • Voluntary Life, Accident & Critical Illness Coverage
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with free counseling, legal, and financial services

Location

• Remote role within Florida; Eastern Standard Hours.
• Occasional U.S. travel for company events or leadership sessions.

Work Environment & Policies

• Tobacco-Free employer: all employees must affirm to be non-smokers or affirm commitment to cessation within 90-days of offer acceptance.
• Physical/technical requirements: sustained standing and sitting, frequent communication (speaking and listening), and use of PC including typing or sustained attention to monitor; occasional lifting up to 20 lbs.
• E-Verify participation: this employer participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with Form I-9 information to confirm authorized work in the U.S.
• Equal Opportunity: does not discriminate based on protected attributes under applicable law; reasonable accommodations are provided for applicants’ and employees’ religious practices and beliefs, as well as mental health or physical disability needs.