Senior Debt Finance Attorney

The Opportunity

We are conducting a search on behalf of a boutique, impact-focused law firm for a Senior Debt Finance Attorney to join at the Partner or Of Counsel level. This is a rare chance to step into a growing, entrepreneurial debt practice — with real autonomy, a genuinely manageable billable hour target, and the backing of a collaborative team of former Big Law attorneys who left large firms specifically to build something better.

This is not a high-volume, high-leverage shop. The firm works on bespoke, non-form-driven secured lending and private credit transactions for lenders, funds, family offices, and development finance institutions — sophisticated, complex deal work without the grind of a traditional Big Law finance group.

If you're a senior debt finance attorney who wants to run your own deals, help shape a practice, and actually have a life outside the office, this is worth a confidential conversation.

What You'll Be Doing

• Independently leading secured lending and private credit transactions for lenders, funds, family offices, and development finance institutions
• Drafting and negotiating credit agreements, security documents, and intercreditor agreements in highly bespoke, non-templated deal structures
• Collaborating closely with the firm's funds and corporate teams on cross-practice matters
• Helping shape the long-term strategy, service offering, and growth trajectory of the debt practice
• Supporting and expanding existing client relationships while building your own

What We're Looking For

• 10 years of debt finance experience at a large or mid-sized law firm (Big Law training required; no more than ~1 year in-house)
• Strong technical grounding in secured lending, asset-based lending, private credit, or direct lending
• Comfort working in bespoke, non-form-driven transactions — this is not a large-cap syndicated lending practice
• Ability to run deals independently with limited supervision — this is a lean team, not a heavily staffed group
• Exposure to family offices, DFIs, or impact-oriented lenders is a strong plus
• J.D. and admission to at least one U.S. state bar (NY preferred)
• An entrepreneurial mindset — motivated by building something and having autonomy over your practice, not by maximizing comp
• A portable client relationship or two is a bonus, not a requirement — though it meaningfully enhances comp at the partner level
• Consistent tenure history (no frequent short stints)

Why This Role Stands Out

• Real work-life balance — a genuine, sustainable billable hour target (1,400), not a number on paper
• Autonomy — shape your own practice and client base rather than executing someone else's playbook
• Impact-driven work — transactions with family offices, development finance institutions, and mission-aligned lenders
• Collaborative, senior culture — a team of ex-Big Law attorneys who made a deliberate lifestyle choice and built a firm around it
• Growth opportunity — help define the strategy and direction of an expanding debt practice, not just staff it

Compensation & Logistics

• Base upside: $250K–$375K base, with competitive equity/upside potential tied to book of business and practice growth
• Hybrid schedule: 2 days/week in-office (Midtown Manhattan)
• Benefits: Full health benefits, 401(k) match, 20 days PTO
• Location requirement: Must be able to work in and commute to New York;
• Visa sponsorship: Not available — U.S. citizens or Green Card holders only