Lead Wealth Underwriter - Legal Specialty Group

Wells Fargo•Los Angeles, CA

21d•$143,000 - $224,000

About The Position

The Lead Wealth Underwriter will serve as a trusted credit partner for law firms and related professional practices within Wells Fargo’s nationally recognized Legal Specialty Group. The role evaluates, structures, and manages sophisticated lending relationships, supporting growth, partner capital needs, acquisitions, and other strategic initiatives. It combines advanced credit expertise with strategic client advisory work and involves partnering with Private Bankers, regional leadership, attorneys, and law firm executives on high-visibility transactions. The position includes underwriting and structuring complex commercial credit facilities, analyzing financial performance, cash flows, industry trends, and collateral, and developing credit solutions that support client relationships and business growth. The underwriter leads transaction discussions and negotiations, presents recommendations to senior credit decision-makers, manages an existing portfolio, reviews loan documentation, and maintains sound risk practices. Travel of up to 20% may be required. Specific compliance policies may apply to outside activities and personal investing.

Requirements

5+ years of Wealth Underwriting experience, or equivalent demonstrated through work experience, training, military experience, education, or a combination of these.
Strong commercial credit underwriting and financial analysis experience.
Expertise structuring sophisticated lending transactions.
Ability to influence and communicate effectively with senior executives and business leaders.
Strong written and verbal communication skills and executive presence.
Sound judgment and a thoughtful, consultative approach to solving client challenges.
Collaborative mindset and ability to work across multiple stakeholders and business partners.
Intellectual curiosity and desire to learn and grow within a specialized market segment.

Nice To Haves

Commercial lending experience supporting law firms, professional services firms, or middle-market clients.
Formal commercial credit training.
Experience with complex loan documentation and transaction negotiations.
Knowledge of capital markets, treasury, and broader banking solutions.
Strong understanding of commercial financial statements, cash flow analysis, and lending structures.
Bachelor’s degree preferred.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel and Word.

Responsibilities

Underwrite and structure complex commercial credit facilities tailored to client needs and strategic objectives.
Analyze financial performance, cash flows, industry trends, and collateral to assess risk and identify opportunities.
Develop credit solutions that strengthen client relationships and support business growth.
Partner with Private Bankers and leadership teams to provide strategic advice throughout the lending process.
Lead transaction discussions involving credit structures, covenant negotiations, documentation, and deal execution.
Present recommendations to senior credit leaders and decision-makers.
Manage an existing portfolio of legal-industry relationships, monitor performance, and identify emerging risks.
Review and negotiate loan documentation with internal and external counsel.
Maintain sound risk practices while supporting business growth objectives.
Follow applicable risk programs, policies, procedures, and compliance obligations; proactively monitor, identify, escalate, and remediate issues.
Travel up to 20%.