Corporate Counsel

loanDepot • Irvine, CA

24d

About The Position

The Corporate Counsel provides legal services to business units, including drafting and reviewing contracts, assisting with litigation and corporate transactions, advising corporate departments and production channels on laws and regulations governing mortgage loan origination, developing compliance strategies, and managing regulatory risks. The role ensures duties are performed in accordance with company policies and applicable U.S. state and federal laws and regulations.

The position evaluates legal issues involving residential mortgage loan origination, fair lending, privacy, and corporate compliance; advises management and personnel; supports the General Counsel across legal topics; and guides senior management in identifying compliance risks and maintaining appropriate policies and procedures. It also supports regulatory, investor, and lending audits and examinations, including coordinating responses and maintaining relationships with regulators and investors.

The Corporate Counsel works with business units to implement changes in law affecting loan origination, tracks regulatory developments, and updates policies, procedures, documentation, disclosures, fees, practices, and software. The role reviews and approves policies, procedures, training, marketing materials, consumer disclosures, and other communications for legal compliance; communicates advice to executive and senior management; reviews, drafts, and negotiates agreements; and researches claims and defenses to provide recommendations to management.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Juris Doctor degree from an American Bar Association-accredited law school, or equivalent international degree.
• Active license to practice law.
• Minimum of three years’ experience practicing law.
• Deep understanding of compliance and federal consumer laws and regulations; mortgage origination compliance experience is preferred.
• Knowledge of applicable federal and state regulations, including Dodd-Frank, TRID, Section 32, predatory lending, and RESPA.
• Demonstrated ability to quantify risk.
• Excellent legal research and analytical abilities.
• Experience interpreting and applying federal, state, and investor regulations.

Nice To Haves

• At least eight years of related experience preferred.
• Experience with mortgage origination compliance regulations, including RESPA/TILA, BSA, SARs, TRID, Dodd-Frank, Regulations B, C, E, and Z, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Fair Housing Act, SAFE Act, and Homeowner’s Equity Protection Act.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate legal issues involving residential mortgage loan origination, fair lending, privacy, and corporate compliance, and provide analysis and counsel to management, corporate departments, and branch personnel.
• Manage and report on regulatory compliance risks across the company and assist the General Counsel on a broad range of legal topics.
• Provide proactive guidance to senior management on compliance risks and ensure adequate compliance policies and procedures exist.
• Assist with regulatory, investor, and lending compliance audits and examinations; coordinate materials and responses to audit requests and findings.
• Maintain working relationships with regulatory agencies and investors.
• Work with business units to implement legal changes affecting loan origination processes, including Qualified Mortgage requirements, TILA, RESPA, and FCRA.
• Draft compliance memoranda, bulletins, training materials, policies, and procedures on laws and regulations, and maintain accessible records.
• Track changes in federal and state laws and regulations and implement resulting changes to procedures, loan documentation, disclosures, fees, origination and servicing practices, and loan origination software.
• Oversee review and approval of policies, procedures, practices, training materials, marketing materials, consumer disclosures, and other communications for compliance with legal requirements.
• Provide counsel and guidance to executive and senior management, including direct communications and complex written analyses and advice.
• Review, draft, and negotiate correspondent, lease, broker, and vendor agreements.
• Conduct complex legal research and investigate claims and defenses; develop and present oral and written advice and recommendations to management.

Benefits

• Aggressive compensation package based on experience and skill set.
• Inclusive, diverse, and collaborative culture.
• Internal growth and professional development opportunities, including tuition reimbursement.
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits.
• Wellness program supporting mental and physical health.
• Generous paid time off for exempt and non-exempt positions.

What This Job Offers

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