General Counsel

Description:
This is a hands-on, high-impact in-house legal leadership role for a commercially minded attorney who gets things done. You'll serve as the company's senior legal officer, advising executive leadership across a wide range of business, regulatory, and operational matters. You'll manage two direct reports and oversee outside counsel relationships, with the expectation that you bring the judgment and urgency needed to keep pace with a fast-moving business.

Duties & Responsibilities:
Business Transactions & Commercial Contracting

• Negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements including vendor contracts, technology agreements, partnership arrangements, licensing deals, and service agreements
• Provide practical transactional counsel on acquisitions and strategic business initiatives
• Structure and close deals with speed and precision, acting as a true business partner from term sheet through execution

Regulatory & Compliance

• Navigate the regulatory environment applicable to an independent mortgage company, including federal and state lending laws, consumer financial protection requirements, and licensing matters
• Monitor regulatory developments and advise leadership on compliance posture and risk exposure
• Collaborate with operational teams to build compliant, scalable processes

Employment Matters

• Advise on the full spectrum of employment law issues, including hiring, performance management, separations, wage and hour, leave, and workplace investigations
• Partner with HR leadership on policy development and employee relations matters
• Manage employment litigation and agency proceedings with the support of outside counsel

Intellectual Property

• Oversee the company's IP portfolio, including trademarks, software licensing, and proprietary content
• Advise on IP considerations in commercial contracts and technology relationships

Litigation & Dispute Resolution

• Manage active litigation and pre-litigation disputes, coordinating closely with outside counsel
• Make sound, timely decisions on litigation strategy, settlement, and risk tolerance
• Maintain appropriate reserves and keep executive leadership informed on material matters

Outside Counsel Management

• Select and manage outside counsel relationships with a focus on value, responsiveness, and results
• Provide clear direction to outside firms and hold them accountable to budget and timeline expectations

Team & Department Leadership

• Lead and develop two direct reports, fostering a high-performance legal team
• Build scalable processes and infrastructure to support business growth

Qualifications:
Education & Experience:

• JD from an accredited law school; active bar admission in good standing
• 10+ years of legal experience, with a strong preference for candidates who have in-house experience or a combination of law firm and in-house backgrounds
• Proven track record in business transactions and commercial contracting
• Meaningful exposure to employment, IP, and litigation management
• Mortgage industry experience is a plus, but not a prerequisite; we value commercial and legal instincts over industry-specific credentials

Skills:

• Decisive and action-oriented; someone who doesn't let perfect be the enemy of good, and knows when a decision needs to be made today
• Comfortable operating without extensive support infrastructure; you're willing to roll up your sleeves and do the work
• Strong communicator who can translate legal complexity into plain business language for executives and business partners
• High ownership mentality; someone who takes accountability for outcomes, not just process
• Thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment where priorities shift and speed matters
• Collaborative and approachable, with a reputation for being someone the business actually wants to call

This position is based at our Strongsville, Ohio headquarters.