[Hiring] Commercial Lending Attorney @Climate First Bank

Role Description

We’re looking for a Commercial Lending Attorney who will serve as an in-house attorney providing broad legal support to an aggressively growing $2 Billion bank. This role focuses on commercial, C&I, consumer, real estate, and SBA litigation and transactions as well as corporate governance matters. You will partner closely with the business and executive teams to mitigate risk, ensure compliance with applicable laws, and support strategic initiatives with sound legal advice. Role also is responsible for litigating in the state of Florida and overseeing other multi-state litigations. Candidate must reside in Florida with an Active Florida Bar License.

What You’ll Contribute:

• Provide strategic legal counsel
  • Advise executive leadership and business units on a wide range of legal matters, delivering practical, business-oriented guidance
  • Translate complex laws and regulations into clear recommendations that support decision-making and organizational growth
  • Partner on strategic initiatives, new products, and operational changes to ensure legal soundness and regulatory alignment
• Lead collections and enforcement efforts
  • Manage collection litigation from initial strategy through judgment execution, ensuring efficient and effective recoveries
  • Evaluate enforcement options and collaborate with credit and risk teams to optimize outcomes
  • Drive consistency and discipline in collections processes while minimizing legal exposure
• Oversee commercial litigation and dispute resolution
  • Serve as lead litigation counsel in Florida, handling pleadings, discovery, motions, and court appearances
  • Direct multi-state litigation by managing outside counsel, budgets, and case strategy
  • Represent the Bank in negotiations, mediations, and settlements while proactively identifying and mitigating dispute risks
• Support real estate and C&I transactions
  • Draft, review, and negotiate commercial loan and real estate financing documents
  • Conduct legal due diligence and identify risks related to collateral, title, and transaction structure
  • Work closely with lenders and business stakeholders to ensure transactions are compliant and aligned with business objectives
• Draft and negotiate contracts
  • Prepare and review a variety of agreements, including vendor, partnership, and confidentiality agreements
  • Ensure contracts appropriately mitigate risk and comply with legal and regulatory standards
  • Support improved contract processes, consistency, and risk awareness across the organization
• Proactively identify and mitigate legal risk
  • Advise on potential disputes, regulatory developments, and operational risks before they escalate
  • Partner with compliance and risk functions to strengthen policies, controls, and governance practices
  • Provide balanced recommendations that align risk management with business priorities
• Collaborate cross-functionally
  • Work closely with teams across lending, operations, compliance, and leadership to address legal issues early
  • Contribute to business initiatives by offering solutions that balance legal considerations with practical outcomes
  • Build strong relationships and serve as a trusted legal partner throughout the organization
• Support governance, compliance, and legal awareness
  • Assist in maintaining sound corporate governance and adherence to applicable regulations
  • Contribute to policy development and updates to reflect evolving legal requirements
  • Provide training and guidance to employees to strengthen understanding of legal risk and compliance expectations
• Champion Our Mission, Protect What Matters
  • Adopt a commitment to environmental, social, economic, and racial justice.
  • Stay informed of applicable regulatory requirements and complete all mandatory compliance and IT training.
  • Pursue and demonstrate an understanding of established Bank policies, procedures, and regulations.
  • Question suspicious activity and collaborate closely with the respective department(s) to help prevent fraudulent activity.

Qualifications

• Education & Bar Admission: Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school. Active membership in the Florida Bar; additional U.S. state bar admissions a plus.
• Legal Experience: 5+ years of relevant legal practice (combined law firm and/or in-house). Substantial experience in consumer and commercial lending litigation (handling or supervising business disputes) and exposure to real estate lending transactions. Demonstrated knowledge of corporate law and governance principles.
• Technical Skills: Strong legal drafting, negotiation, litigation, and collection skills. Familiarity with contract law, regulatory compliance, and risk assessment. Able to interpret complex statutes and regulations affecting the Company’s operations.
• Professional Standing: High ethical integrity and judgment. Licensed to practice law in good standing with no disciplinary history.

Requirements

• Entrepreneurial & Strategic Legal Thinker: You take ownership of your work and operate with a strong sense of accountability, delivering high-quality, business-focused legal outcomes.
• Organization & Efficiency: You manage multiple priorities with precision and discipline, staying organized and focused in a dynamic legal and business environment.
• Master Communicator: You communicate with clarity, confidence, and professionalism across all levels of the organization.
• Banking & Lending Legal Acumen: You bring strong knowledge of commercial lending, litigation, and financial services law, including regulatory frameworks affecting banks and lending institutions.
• Analytical & Risk-Focused Thinker: You approach legal work with a sharp analytical mindset, assessing risk from both a legal and business perspective.
• Tech-Savvy & Efficiency-Driven: You leverage technology to enhance productivity, improve legal processes, and create efficiencies across your work.
• Commitment to Collaboration & Partnership: You operate as a true business partner, building strong relationships across departments and working collaboratively to achieve shared goals.

Benefits

• Compensation: In addition to the base salary, this position may be eligible for an annual bonus, incentives, and equity. Actual compensation is based on industry salary ranges, internal salary structures, experience, skills, and other job-related factors.
• Health Coverage: 100% employer-paid for employees; employer contribution for dependents.
• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Free Telemedicine access via Teladoc
• Financial Wellness & Wealth Building
  • 401(k) with 6% Employer Match — No Vesting Period.
  • Employee Stock Options
  • Exclusive Employee Banking Perks
  • 0% Financing for Employee Solar Loans
  • Employee Only Mortgage Product with exclusive interest rates and terms.
  • 0% Financing for Eligible Electric Vehicles (EVs)
  • Referral Incentives
• Generous Paid Time Off
  • 2–4 Weeks of Vacation based on officer level plus additional tenure-based time.
  • 64 Hours of Paid Sick Time for all full-time employees.
• Protection & Peace of Mind
  • Company-Paid Life Insurance
  • Short- & Long-Term Disability Insurance
  • Voluntary Life, Accident & Critical Illness Coverage
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with free counseling, legal, and financial services.

Work Environment

• Remote role within Florida; Eastern Standard Hours.
• Occasional U.S. travel for company events or leadership sessions.
• Tobacco-Free employer. All employees must affirm to be non-smokers or affirm commitment to cessation within 90-days of offer acceptance.
• Sustained standing and sitting, frequent communication (speaking and listening) and use of PC, including typing or sustained attention to monitor, occasional lifting up to 20 lbs.

Pay Transparency

The base pay for this role starts at $120,000 and is commensurate based on experience required in the role.

Equal Opportunity Statement

At Climate First Bank we truly believe that our people are our strength and the diverse talents they bring to our workforce are directly linked to our success. Diversity and inclusion are at the core of our values and mission. We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute, including race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital or veteran status, pregnancy or disability, or any other basis protected under applicable law. In accordance with applicable law, we make reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as any mental health or physical disability needs.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veterans

E-Verify Statement: This employer participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.