CIB Securitization Senior Legal Counsel, Executive Director

Santander

5d•$240,000 - $310,000

About The Position

The Securitization Senior Legal Counsel – Executive Director is a senior individual-contributor counsel providing legal coverage to Santander’s Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) Securitized Products Group. The role requires in-depth securitization and structured-finance knowledge, particularly in commercial real estate (CRE), commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS), and related financing and capital-markets transactions. Working alongside two other counsels, this person owns day-to-day negotiation and drafting of deal documentation and works directly with the business to deliver corporate and legal services. The counsel serves as lead legal contact for banking, lending, and capital-markets transactions across asset classes and products including RMBS, ABS, and CLOs, with primary emphasis on CRE financing, CMBS, and other CRE-backed structured-finance transactions. The role advises senior business stakeholders as Santander expands its Securitized Products business and CRE and CMBS capabilities, including in its roles as underwriter, structurer, arranger, bookrunner, and placement agent. The position also monitors relevant legal developments, advises on their practical and transactional implications, independently handles coverage matters, and flexibly supports adjacent business lines.

Requirements

J.D. degree.
Admitted to practice and a member in good standing of the bar in the state where the candidate will practice.
At least 8 years of relevant securitization and/or structured-products experience at a law firm and/or in-house at a financial-services firm.
Demonstrated track record of personally leading negotiation and drafting on complex transactions.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Ability to solve problems quickly and efficiently in a fast-paced environment.
Self-starter with initiative and excellent anticipation skills.
Ability to prioritize effectively and handle multiple tasks under tight deadlines.
Excellent judgment; able to work independently and resourcefully, manage complex and novel matters autonomously, and set legal positions on precedent-setting issues without escalation.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of CRE origination.
New York City-based.

Responsibilities

Serve as lead counsel and the primary day-to-day legal contact for Santander’s CIB Securitized Products Group on banking, lending, and capital-markets transactions.
Provide legal coverage across asset classes and products, including RMBS, ABS, and CLOs, with primary emphasis on CRE financing, CMBS, and other CRE-backed structured-finance transactions.
Personally lead negotiation and drafting of financing and securitization deal documents, exercising independent judgment on complex, novel, or high-risk structuring and documentation issues.
Draft and negotiate documents such as loan agreements, repo agreements, mortgage loan purchase agreements, offering documents, underwriting and placement agreements, term sheets, commitment letters, engagement letters, confidentiality agreements, and form legal documents.
Work directly with senior business stakeholders to advise on the Securitized Products business and its expansion of CRE and CMBS capabilities.
Advise on Santander’s roles as underwriter, structurer, arranger, bookrunner, and placement agent in public and private securities offerings.
Monitor developments and advise the business on practical and transactional implications of applicable U.S. securities laws, U.S. banking law, and other state and federal laws relating to lending, securities offerings, advisory services, CRE financing, and CRE-backed securitizations.
Independently handle the full range of coverage matters and flexibly support adjacent business lines as a senior legal resource.