Senior Debt Finance Attorney

About the Role

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.

Responsibilities

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

Requirements

• 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 compensation
• A portable client relationship or two is a bonus, not a requirement—though it meaningfully enhances compensation 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

Pay

Base + upside: $250K–$375K base, with competitive equity/upside potential tied to book of business and practice growth

Schedule

Hybrid schedule: 2 days/week in-office (Midtown Manhattan)

Benefits

• Full health benefits
• 401(k) match
• 20 days PTO

Location & Eligibility

Must be able to work in and commute to New York. Visa sponsorship is not available—U.S. citizens or Green Card holders only.