Head of Legal

Lendmarq; Miami (FL); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

Commuter Benefits Program

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Financial Wellness Resources

Paid Time Off

Sick Leave

Job summary

Lendmarq in Miami, FL is seeking an experienced Head of Legal to lead the legal function and act as a strategic partner across the business. You will oversee the legal portfolio, negotiate major agreements, advise on corporate strategy, and ensure solid governance across all units.

You will draft and negotiate MLPA and warehouse line agreements, review loan structures for risk, manage outside counsel and legal budgets, and support capital markets and investor relations.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school and Bar admission.
• 3–5+ years of legal experience, with at least 3 years in a corporate law setting or as Head of Legal for a mortgage platform.
• Proven experience in negotiating complex corporate and lending agreements.
• Strong understanding of asset-backed lending, structured finance, or mortgage 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; securitization or capital markets transactions.
• Experience managing a legal team or mentoring junior attorneys.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate MLPA and Warehouse Line agreements; manage redlines and execution.
• Review loan-level structures for legal and structural risks; gate deal progression.
• Advise on corporate strategy and governance; serve as real-time legal advisor to the organization.
• Draft employment terms and handle HR legal issues; respond quickly to sensitive matters.
• Review NDAs and vendor/consulting agreements; manage templates and approvals.
• Maintain templates for MLPA, NDA, and consulting agreements; update as needed.
• Oversee vendor and outside counsel management; optimize costs and scope.
• Support capital markets diligence and investor questions; review data and exceptions.
• Coordinate regulatory licensing guidance and ensure governance across departments.
• Develop internal policies and organizational structures to strengthen governance.

Skills

Agreement negotiation

Corporate law

Securitization/capital markets

Team leadership

Communication

Employment law

Education

J.D. from ABA-accredited law school

Bar admission

Job description

Lendmarq is a direct real estate lender providing specialty bridge and term loan products to residential real estate investors throughout the country. Our company is headquartered in Miami, FL with offices in Westport, CT, and NYC.

We specialize in providing business-purpose mortgage loans for non-owner-occupied investment properties. We offer fix/flip, bridge loans, ground-up construction, and long-term rental financing. Lendmarq and its affiliates have extensive real estate experience and are known for their best-in-class service, and ability to execute.

*This role is Hybrid, with the flexibility to work remotely from either NYC or Miami, FL. Candidates are expected to be able to commute to either office as needed without requiring extensive travel.

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
• 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.