Description:
The work we do has an impact on millions of lives, and you can be a part of it.We help protect our customers against life's uncertainties. Regardless of where you work within the company, you'll be helping provide protection and peace of mind when our customers need it most.
Basic Purpose and Objective of the Position:
This professional officer role is designed for a licensed attorney with substantial legal experience in commercial mortgage lending and related legal matters. The position is responsible for providing and managing legal support for the Company's investment activities, including the review and drafting of loan commitments, the closing of new mortgage loans, compliance with regulatory requirements, and ongoing legal administration of the investment portfolio. The incumbent should have significant experience, typically five or more years, in commercial real estate lending and/or private practice with a specialization in this area. A strong commitment to quality, responsiveness, and customer service is essential to maintaining and strengthening long-term business relationships.
Key Responsibilities:
- New Mortgage Loan Closings. Ensure the Company's mortgage loan investments are safeguarded through the preparation, review, analysis, negotiation and modification of the legal documents securing its investments.
- Perform all legal work associated with the closing of the Company's commercial mortgage loans including: drafting, negotiation and review of loan commitments, loan documents and other legal documents; review title commitments, survey and title policies for property serving as collateral; review due diligence materials to insure compliance with loan commitment requirements; and coordinate with outside counsel in all aspects of closing the Company's loan commitments for commercial mortgage loans
- Portfolio Maintenance. Ensure proper maintenance of the Company's loan portfolio by providing timely legal documentation of changes to portfolio loans or the properties securing them (e.g. partial releases, consents to easements, replatting, loan modifications and loan assumptions).
- Serve as Legal Advisor. Support and facilitate the decision-making process in the Investment Department. Act as legal advisor to the department. Assist and advise in development of policies and procedures to respond to regulatory and legislative requirements imposed as the Company and its investments
- Manage and train one or more legal support staff (i.e. legal secretaries, legal assistants and paralegals).
- Other Job Duties as assigned by senior management.
This position requires an attorney with 5+ years of negotiating and legal drafting skills equivalent to a partner at a major law firm. A breadth of industry knowledge and contacts (both legal and business) are essential.
Abilities:
The incumbent will need meticulous attention to detail and negotiating stamina to protect and ensure the quality of the Company's investments, but must couple those abilities with an attitude of building positive customer experiences and relationships.
Contact with others.
- Must have strong negotiating skills coupled with a firm commitment to customer service and development of long-term business relationships. At least 50% of the incumbent's time is spent in communication with outside customers, mortgage banker and brokers and counsel for the parties to the mortgage transactions.
- The incumbent must be proactive and creative in finding legal solutions for the business and competitive needs of the Company, particularly relating to creative investment opportunities (e.g the participating loan program, loan pools, new real estate ownership and lending models).