Senior Legal Counsel

Sharp Decisions; Cypress (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Sharp Decisions is seeking an experienced in-house Counsel to advise management and staff on consumer finance regulatory matters, contracts, and litigation risk in a fast-paced environment. This role requires strong regulatory and contract-negotiation skills and hands-on risk management.

The position demands a Juris Doctor and licensure to practice law in California, with a minimum of 10 years’ experience in relevant legal activities, including familiarity with FCRA, FDCPA, ECOA, Regulation B/Z,

Qualifications

• Must have JD from ABA-accredited law school.
• Licensed to practice law in California.
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in consumer finance, transactions, litigation, or related legal activities.

Responsibilities

• Advise and consult with business unit management on legal issues across consumer and commercial lending businesses.
• Review and assist in negotiating master service agreements, statements of work, vendor agreements and NDAs.
• Develop CMS and conduct process reviews to ensure compliance with consumer credit laws and regulations.
• Manage outside counsel and supervise assigned litigation matters.

Skills

Communication skills

Legal research

Contract negotiation

Regulatory compliance

Risk management

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

Assist the General Counsel in advising management and staff with respect to a wide variety of legal, regulatory, litigation and compliance issues applicable to client and affiliate finance companies.

Assist the General Counsel in advising management and staff with respect to a wide variety of legal, regulatory, litigation and compliance issues applicable to client and affiliate finance companies.

JOB FUNCTIONS:

Advise and consult with business unit management on legal issues involving all aspects of the Company’s consumer and commercial lending businesses, including: product development; consumer privacy; cybersecurity; marketing; dealer matters; underwriting; consumer and commercial contracts and other forms; servicing operations; loss mitigation; collections; and bankruptcy.

Support the continued development and execution of Company’s Compliance Management System (CMS) to include conducting business process reviews to assess compliance with consumer and commercial credit laws and regulations, and develop practices and procedures designed to ensure compliance with such laws.

Provide legal advice and support, including:

• Evaluate and weigh multiple inputs and impacts of any decision or course of action.


• Anticipate issues and estimate risks strategically.


• Identify proactive solutions that will eliminate or mitigate risks.


• Base decision-making process on ethics and integrity.


• Develop relationships of trust and respect with key stakeholders.

Review and assist in negotiating contractual documents, such as master service agreements, statements of work, supplier/vendor agreements and non-disclosure agreements.

Conduct legal research and stay up to date with statutory and regulatory changes affecting the Company.

Building collaborative relationships with and managing outside counsel, including the supervision of assigned litigation matters.

Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• JD degree from an ABA accredited law school.


• License to practice law in California.


• Minimum 10 years’ experience in consumer finance, transactions, litigation, or other related legal activities.


• In-house consumer finance/banking compliance, commercial finance and/or capital markets experience a plus.


• Strong technical knowledge and ability to apply consumer compliance regulatory requirements such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act and Regulation B, Truth in Lending Act and Regulation Z, Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and applicable state consumer privacy laws, Telephone Consumer Protection Act, Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.


• Excellent oral, written and presentation communication skills, preferably with experience in a multi-cultural environment.


• Hands-on style with the ability to successfully prioritize, organize and manage multiple and often competing tasks.


• Ability to work unsupervised.


• Some domestic and international travel required.