Assistant General Counsel, Executive Director – Acquisition Finance

Wells Fargo•New York, NY

3d•$215,000 - $355,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Wells Fargo is seeking a senior attorney with current experience in acquisition financings for both corporate and financial sponsor borrowers. Covered business lines originate debt across the leveraged and investment grade markets, both large cap and middle market segments. The lawyer filling this role will primarily focus on sub-investment grade, broadly syndicated institutional/term loan B and bridge loan facilities and related take-outs, but will be part of a team that also advises on pro rata loan facilities, direct lending and superpriority facilities, and non-acquisition related loan transactions. In this role, you will: Advise senior leadership to develop or influence objectives, plans, specifications, resources, and long-term goals for high-profile, complex and regulated business lines Handle matters that have a significant impact on the Company's operations, strategies, and profitability Serve as a legal advisor to specific businesses within Wells Fargo, with accountability to multiple other relevant internal constituents on any given matter Provide subject matter expertise to guide strategy and resolution of complex and unique challenges across multiple areas of the enterprise, supporting solutions that are long-term, large-scale and require vision, creativity, innovation, advanced analytical and inductive thinking, and coordination Review and analyze complex large scale or long-term challenges that require in-depth evaluation of multiple factors Provide subject matter expertise to the Corporate & Investment Banking Legal team on implementing innovative and significant business solutions that are large in scale or impact companywide strategies Educate, train, and provide syndicated lending and leveraged finance market news to peers across the Legal Department Collaborate with all levels of professionals, including more experienced managers Engage with stakeholders, internal partners, and peers associated with the function or affected by its outcomes

Requirements

7+ years of Law experience, or equivalent demonstrated through one or a combination of the following: work experience, training, military experience, education
Active State Bar membership or the equivalent in a country outside the United States

Nice To Haves

Significant acquisition finance and syndicated lending experience in current markets gained in a law firm setting and/or as internal counsel at a large financial institution
Deep understanding of secured lending principles including UCC Article 9, ability to articulate foundations of lien creation, perfection and intercreditor contracts
Some experience with bankruptcy and restructuring is desired
Ability to advise on complex lending transactions and provide counsel to senior management on market issues and developments
Ability to serve independently as primary legal coverage on multiple transactions at once on compressed timelines, and operate at a high level of performance with limited ramp-up time
Experience analyzing legal and regulatory issues in area of corporate banking and leveraged finance, and providing effective counsel to clients on complex legal matters
Ability to apply experience to spot new issues, escalate material matters to the correct stakeholders, and manage relationships with clients and control functions who may have differing areas of focus and objectives
Provide clear legal advice to non-lawyer clients, ability to distinguish between legal advice and business decision making, and properly allocate responsibilities accordingly
Oversee law firm quality, communicate Wells Fargo policies and priorities, and effectively liaise between external providers and internal business partners to achieve mutual goals in a cost-efficient manner
Exposure to, demonstrated interest in or willingness to participate in market organizations and industry groups relevant to syndicated lending, banking, and credit markets is desired
Additional experience and/or exposure with either (i) direct lending transactions and/or (ii) high yield bond originations (particularly in connection with bridge financing structures) is desirable but not core to this role

Responsibilities

Advise senior leadership to develop or influence objectives, plans, specifications, resources, and long-term goals for high-profile, complex and regulated business lines
Handle matters that have a significant impact on the Company's operations, strategies, and profitability
Serve as a legal advisor to specific businesses within Wells Fargo, with accountability to multiple other relevant internal constituents on any given matter
Provide subject matter expertise to guide strategy and resolution of complex and unique challenges across multiple areas of the enterprise, supporting solutions that are long-term, large-scale and require vision, creativity, innovation, advanced analytical and inductive thinking, and coordination
Review and analyze complex large scale or long-term challenges that require in-depth evaluation of multiple factors
Provide subject matter expertise to the Corporate & Investment Banking Legal team on implementing innovative and significant business solutions that are large in scale or impact companywide strategies
Educate, train, and provide syndicated lending and leveraged finance market news to peers across the Legal Department
Collaborate with all levels of professionals, including more experienced managers
Engage with stakeholders, internal partners, and peers associated with the function or affected by its outcomes