Position Overview: This position provides legal counsel and drafts and negotiates loan documents. Depending on the successful candidate’s qualifications and experience, this position will either (1) primarily handle legal matters related to commercial and agricultural loan workouts and enforcement (including foreclosure and commercial bankruptcy or restructuring) and general litigation or (2) primarily handle agricultural and commercial loan originations, including complex syndicated and participated credit facilities. The successful candidate may work from any available Compeer Financial office location in Illinois, Minnesota, or Wisconsin. However, Bloomington, IL; Naperville, IL (near Chicago, IL); Lakeville, MN (near Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN); or Sun Prairie, WI (near Madison, WI) are preferred. 

Essential Functions:

• Drafts internal documents, including memoranda outlining and analyzing the facts and legal issues involved in a matter.
• Negotiates, drafts and interprets contracts and other legal documents, between the organization and third parties, concerning loans, leases, insurance and other related matters in compliance with legal, regulatory and organizational policies.
• Advises on litigation matters, including but not limited to advising on legal risk, approving outside counsel for general routine litigation and managing the subpoena response process.
• Acts as legal and business advisor to assigned departments which may include Core Markets, Risk Credit, Lending Operations, Client Services, Title Insurance, Mission Financing, Business Technology and Trade Industries.
• Monitors, researches, analyzes and provides advice on existing and proposed industry trends, regulatory compliance, new laws and policies and their impact on the organization. Drafts legal opinions on complex areas of law pertinent to the organization.
• Answers questions and provides guidance to team members on various legal and compliance topics.
• Partners with business leaders and provides training and direction to team members on a wide range of legal and compliance topics.
• Champions the brand; serves as a role-model for the vision, mission and values of the organization. Supports Compeer’s strategic initiatives.
• Assists leadership in defining the legal team’s strategic direction and goals.
• Keeps abreast of industry best practices. Identifies and executes efficient and effective practices that enhance the team’s value.

Minimum Qualifications & Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Bachelor’s degree, along with a JD from an American Bar Association accredited law school.
• Professional license to practice law in Minnesota, Wisconsin or Illinois (or ability to obtain one of these licenses).
• 3+ years of experience in a law firm or corporate law department.
• Prefer 3+ years of experience at a regional or national law firm and/or corporate law department in one of the following specialties (experience in more than one of these practice areas is not required):
  • Commercial or agricultural loan workouts and foreclosures.
  • Commercial or agricultural finance (real estate finance or equipment finance experience preferred).
  • Commercial or agricultural bankruptcy & restructuring (lender representation preferred).
  • Commercial real estate.
  • Commercial contracting (strong attention to detail, and strong opinions on contract drafting best practices, preferred).
• Skill in applying legal principles to individual cases and problems.
• Leadership skills to select, evaluate, engage, motivate, mentor, train, delegate, reward and lead remote team members.
• Strong attention to detail and high accuracy.
• Analytical, critical thinking and decision-making skills.
• High level of integrity.
• Flexibility in a fast-changing environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others using tact, courtesy and good judgement.
• Presentation, negotiation, influencing and organizational skills.
• Strong oral and written communication skills to effectively communicate complex topics to a variety of audiences and to write legal contracts and documents.
• Strong computer skills including MS Office applications, software programs to originate and service loans and leases, and legal research sites.
• Creative problem-solving ability.
• Ability to remain objective in balancing business needs and risk.
• Ability to prioritize assignments and work independently in a timely manner.