Commercial Lending & Restructuring Legal Counsel

Your Journey Starts Here:

Santander is a global leader and innovator in the financial services industry. We believe that our employees are our greatest asset. Our focus is on fostering an enriching journey that empowers you to explore diverse career opportunities while nurturing your personal growth. We are committed to creating an environment where continuous learning and development are prioritized, enabling you to thrive both professionally and personally. Here, you will find ample opportunities to connect and collaborate with talented colleagues from around the world, sharing insights and driving innovation together. Join us at Santander, where you are supported by a culture of engagement and a commitment to your success.

An exciting journey awaits, if you are interested in exploring the possibilities We Want to Talk to You!

The Difference You Make:

Legal Counsel provides day-to-day leadership and advice to the commercial lending and workout lines of business on a range of matters including commercial lending, distressed assets, lender liability, debt restructure, collections, litigation and insolvency.

• Provides legal advice to internal clients on issues related to distressed commercial real estate loans. 

• Prepares, negotiates and reviews legal notices, restructuring documentation and other agreements related to defaulted assets. 

• Advises management and various partners to help ensure operations comply with laws and other regulatory provisions and contractual obligations.

• Drafts, reviews, negotiates, advises regarding and/or approves policies, procedures, contracts and related documents for business operations, regulatory compliance, , confidentiality of proprietary information, , and generally to support business operations and promote the company's objectives and interests.

• Provides legal counsel and guidance to the company's and its various entities' management and boards of directors on strategies and solutions to potential, anticipated and/or identified legal, regulatory and/or compliance matters and issues of concern.

• Collaborates with internal clients to analyze and resolve defaulted loans in a cost-effective manner. 

• Prepares default, demand, acceleration and other legal notices.  Drafts, reviews, and negotiates documentation of loan restructures, forbearances and settlements. 

• Analyzes lender liability risk and negotiates with borrowers to resolve disputes. 

• Retains and manages external counsel for workout matters, including providing strategic direction and controlling costs. 

• Provides ongoing reporting on litigation caseload. 

• Completes diligence and coordinate closings for debt restructures, including the acquisition of collateral. 

• Acts as legal/technical expert providing advice, insights and solutions to clients and consultants on applicable legal/technical and compliance issues affecting strategies, programs, plans (design and operations), and practices.

• Analyzes key policy, legislative and legal developments and issues, and shares advice, insights and solutions with internal and external clients.

• Researches relevant legal issues and technical and industry specific topics.

• Reviews current developments in the area of legal/technical expertise, prepares complex technical analyses and develops advice, insights, and solutions.

What You Bring:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Bachelor's Degree or equivalent work experience. - Required.

Juris Doctor (JD”). – Required.

Active licensed attorney and member of NY state bar in good standing. – Required.

5+ years of experience practicing law in a financial services firm, bank, or law firm with a focus on Commercial Real Estate.

• Excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to provide sound, clear legal advice to senior executives and other senior leaders.

• Expertise handling government and regulatory enforcement actions that involve civil and criminal inquiries directed at large corporations operating in highly regulated industries.

• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.

• Desire and aptitude to work in a collaborative environment on a team of high-performing legal professionals.

• Strong ability to identify and solve complex problems.

• Ability to present information clearly and effectively in written and oral form.

• Ability to develop strategy and tactics for complex, high profile matters.

Certifications:
No Certifications listed for this job.
It Would Be Nice For You To Have:
Established work history or equivalent demonstrated through a combination of work experience, training, military service, or education.

What Else You Need To Know:

The base pay range for this position is posted below and represents the annualized salary range. For hourly positions (non-exempt), the annual range is based on a 40-hour work week. The exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, training, licensure and certifications and location.

Link to Santander Benefits:

Santander Benefits - 2025 Santander OnGoing/NH eGuide (foleon.com)

Risk Culture:

We embrace a strong risk culture and all of our professionals at all levels are expected to take a proactive and responsible approach toward risk management.

EEO Statement:

At Santander, we value and respect differences in our workforce. We actively encourage everyone to apply. Santander is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.
Working Conditions:

Frequent minimal physical effort such as sitting, standing and walking is required for this role. Depending on location, occasional moving and lifting light equipment and/or furniture may be required.
Employer Rights:

This job description does not list all of the job duties of the job. You may be asked by your supervisors or managers to perform other duties. You may be evaluated in part based upon your performance of the tasks listed in this job description. The employer has the right to revise this job description at any time. This job description is not a contract for employment and either you or the employer may terminate your employment at any time for any reason.

What To Do Next:

If this sounds like a role you are interested in, then please apply.

We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible application process for all candidates. If you require any assistance or accommodation due to a disability or any other reason, please contact us at [email protected] to discuss your needs.