Enterprise Legal - Associate General Counsel

Fannie Mae • Washington, DC

3d • $200,000 - $269,000

About The Position

As a valued contributor to Fannie Mae’s Enterprise Legal team, the Associate General Counsel provides core legal counsel and services to the business, guides company business activities, documents and enforces legal rights, and helps minimize legal risks. The role shares responsibility for providing legal services in an area of law or legal risk.

This position provides senior-level legal advice to Capital Markets clients, primarily supporting Structured Transactions and Securitization Policy. It advises on mortgage-related securitization activities, structured transactions, mortgage-backed securities programs, disclosure obligations, derivatives, and related business initiatives. The attorney works closely with business, legal, operations, policy, risk, and servicing stakeholders, and may collaborate with outside counsel. The role calls for practical guidance on complex legal and regulatory issues, sound legal and business judgment, and effective relationships with sophisticated business clients.

For most roles, employees are expected to work onsite regularly at their designated office. The in-office cadence is determined by the manager. A reasonable commute to the designated office is preferred unless the position is listed as open to remote work; this posting does not state that the role is remote.

Requirements

• Juris Doctorate.
• At least 8 years of relevant legal experience, including substantial experience with complex residential mortgage securitization or structured-finance transactions in the private-label securities market, GSE market, or a comparable mortgage capital-markets environment.
• Strong understanding of mortgage securitization transactions, including transaction structures, offering and disclosure documentation, applicable securities laws, and investor considerations.
• Understanding of the cash-flow mechanics of underlying mortgage products and their relevance to mortgage securitization and servicing.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex legal and business issues, exercise sound judgment, and develop effective relationships with sophisticated business clients and multidisciplinary teams.

Nice To Haves

• Experience structuring, negotiating, documenting, or advising on complex residential mortgage securitization or re-securitization transactions, including private-label RMBS, GSE securitizations, collateralized mortgage obligations, or other structured mortgage products.
• Experience advising on legal and regulatory issues arising in the ongoing operation of mortgage securitization programs or pools, including disclosure, servicing, and investor-related matters.
• Familiarity with securities laws and regulations applicable to mortgage securitization and related disclosures, including, as applicable, Rule 10b-5, Regulation FD, Regulation AB, Regulation RR, Rule 192, and Rule 15Ga-1.
• Experience counseling clients regarding new or complex transaction structures, securitization policy initiatives, or evolving legal and regulatory requirements affecting mortgage capital markets.
• Familiarity with GSE securitization programs, policies, and disclosure practices; direct GSE experience is preferred but not required.
• Experience with derivatives or other financial instruments used in structured-finance or capital-markets transactions, including familiarity with applicable CFTC regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior-level legal advice and counsel to Capital Markets clients, primarily supporting Structured Transactions and Securitization Policy, on mortgage-related securitization activities, structured transactions, and related business initiatives.
• Advise business clients on the structuring, development, execution, and ongoing operation of complex mortgage securitization and re-securitization transactions and programs, including transaction structures, securities disclosures, and applicable securities laws and regulations.
• Provide legal advice concerning Fannie Mae mortgage-backed securities programs and related disclosure obligations, including offering and disclosure documents, ongoing and event-driven disclosures, investor communications, and investor relations matters related to securitization activities.
• Advise Fannie Mae on derivatives and similar financial instruments used in structured-finance or capital-markets activities.
• Counsel business and policy partners on complex or evolving securitization and servicing matters, assess legal and regulatory risks, and develop practical solutions that support business objectives.
• Partner with Capital Markets and legal, business, operations, policy, risk, and servicing stakeholders on transaction structures, policy initiatives, and changing market or regulatory requirements.
• Build relationships with sophisticated business clients and serve as a trusted legal advisor, applying sound legal and business judgment and translating complex legal and regulatory requirements into practical guidance.
• Collaborate with attorneys across legal disciplines and, as appropriate, outside counsel on matters significant to the company.
• Document and enforce the company’s legal rights and help minimize its legal risks.

Benefits

• Eligible to participate in a Fannie Mae incentive program, subject to the program terms.
• Broad range of health, life, voluntary lifestyle, and other benefits and perks supporting physical, mental, emotional, and financial well-being.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree