Counsel/Senior Litigation Counsel

Rate; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Life insurance

Job summary

Rate is seeking a Senior Counsel, Litigation to join our in-house team in Chicago. You will pursue claims, handle negotiations, arbitration or litigation, and work with outside counsel when needed.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years of hands-on litigation experience, prior experience in financial services or real estate, strong writing and analytical skills, and the ability to lead in a fast-paced, tech-driven environment.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years of hands-on litigation experience, including courtroom and arbitration experience.
• Experience litigating employment and restrictive covenant matters, commercial contracts, customer disputes, or unfair competition is strongly preferred.
• Prior financial services or real estate industry experience, especially with mortgage transactions and regulatory investigations, is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Represent the Company in hearings, administrative proceedings, arbitrations, and settlement negotiations.
• Handle all aspects of discovery, including drafting and responding to discovery requests, collecting and reviewing documents, and taking depositions.
• Conduct legal research and draft memoranda, position statements, complaints, answers, briefs, motions and other filings.
• Draft and respond to cease and desist letters and demand letters.
• Negotiate and resolve pre-litigation disputes.
• Assess, manage and mitigate risk as needed.
• Conduct internal investigations as appropriate.
• Manage outside counsel for required expertise and more complex litigation matters.
• Flag and escalate appropriate matters to other subject matter experts in the legal department.

Skills

Litigation

Management experience

Negotiation

Communication

Regulatory compliance

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Active IL Bar License

Job description

Rate is one of the nation’s top retail mortgage lenders, delivering a seamless, tech-driven experience that helps customers reach their homeownership and financial goals. Founded in 2000 and based in Chicago, Rate is licensed in all 50 states and D.C. and has helped over 2 million homeowners with a wide range of loan products, competitive rates and personalized service. With 5,000+ employees across 300+ offices and 12+ subsidiaries, Rate’s Loan Officers rank among the best in the country. From purchases and refinances to tapping into equity, Rate makes financing faster, simpler and less stressful. Our technology — including Same Day Mortgage, the Rate App, FlashClose℠, MyAccount and the Language Access Program — has earned recognition from HousingWire, Scotsman Guide, NerdWallet, the Chicago Tribune and Crain’s Chicago Business. Learn more at rate.com.

Senior Counsel, Litigation – Guaranteed Rate is building a winning team to reinvent the mortgage experience through innovation, technology and a relentless focus on providing industry-leading mortgage products and superlative customer service. You will embrace and support these efforts by working to pursue claims and resolve disputes as appropriate through negotiation, arbitration or litigation. This is not a traditional in‑house litigation management role. The Company’s litigation team regularly handles a wide variety of litigation matters with little or no outside counsel involvement. When outside counsel is engaged, you will work in close partnership with outside counsel to set strategy and tactics, supervise their efforts and create legal work‑product. The ideal candidate will be ready to litigate on day one and will work independently, think strategically about how best to meet business objectives, solve problems creatively, prioritize among multiple assignments and matters, exercise sound business judgment, and operate with a sense of urgency to get things done. Accordingly, you must be experienced and ready to quickly assume responsibility for litigation matters. You will work closely with leadership and support all levels of management. This role will be both an individual contributor and manager, supervising one or more members of the litigation team.

Job Responsibilities

• Represent the Company in hearings, administrative proceedings, arbitrations, other litigation and settlement negotiations.
• Handle all aspects of discovery, including drafting and responding to discovery requests, collecting, and reviewing documents, and taking and defending depositions.
• Conduct legal research and draft memoranda, position statements, complaints, answers, briefs, motions and other litigation and arbitration filings.
• Draft and respond to cease and desist letters and demand letters.
• Negotiate and resolve pre‑litigation disputes.
• Assess, manage and mitigate risk as needed.
• Conduct internal investigations as appropriate.
• Manage outside counsel for required expertise and more complex litigation matters.
• Flag and escalate appropriate matters to other subject matter experts in the legal department, including the regulatory compliance team.
• Handle other legal matters as assigned by senior management.

Experience / Qualifications / Skills

• At least 5 years of hands‑on litigation experience, including courtroom and arbitration experience.
• Experience litigating one or more of the following is strongly preferred: employment and restrictive covenant matters, commercial contracts, customer disputes, or unfair competition.
• Prior financial services or real estate industry experience, especially with mortgage transactions and regulatory investigations, is preferred.
• Experience managing other attorneys and legal professionals.
• Positive, team‑first attitude.
• Willingness to learn the business and build strong relationships with internal stakeholders.
• Understanding of business priorities and adapting strategy to meet those priorities.
• Detail‑oriented with excellent organizational and writing skills.
• Self‑motivated with a strong work ethic and an intense desire to win.
• Clear, concise and persuasive oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work constructively, collaboratively and cross‑functionally.
• Proven track record of working efficiently and effectively with changing priorities.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Resilient with a sense of humor.

The company offers a comprehensive benefits program to eligible employees, including eligibility to participate in a company‑sponsored 401(k); vacation benefits; eligibility for medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug benefits; flexible benefits (e.g., healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts); life insurance and death benefits; critical care insurance; personal accidental insurance; commuter benefits; pet insurance; certain time off and leave of absence benefits; well‑being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program); and other supplemental benefits (e.g., legal planning assistance; identity theft protection; wellness resources).

Rate is an Equal Opportunity Employer that welcomes and encourages all applicants to apply regardless of age, race, sex, religion, color, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital or parental status, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy or other reason protected by law