Head of Legal - Irvine - Hardesty, LLC

Description

Our client a leading private credit and equipment finance firm that designs and delivers innovative capital solutions for mid-sized and large organizations, is looking for a Head of Legal. With billions in funded transactions across equipment, technology, and complex project financing, they are trusted for their independent capital strength, speed of execution, and advisory-driven approach that helps clients move beyond the limits of traditional lending.

The Head of Legal l will lead legal strategy and execution. This role is both hands-on and strategic, drafting and negotiating complex agreements while also shaping legal frameworks, risk policies, and compliance practices that scale with our growth. The Head of Legal will be the senior legal advisor to leadership, partnering across Sales, Credit, Syndication, Accounting, and Operations, while directly managing and mentoring the VP of Lease Administration and the broader Documentation team.

What you'll do

Lead & advise

• Serve as primary legal advisor to the executive team on structuring, documenting, and executing complex equipment finance and project funding transactions.
• Provide leadership and oversight of the Documentation team, including the VP of Lease Administration, ensuring best-in-class standards, efficient workflow, and team development.
• Advise executive leadership on broader corporate legal matters, including governance, employment, and regulatory issues, as needed.
• Coordinate with outside counsel to oversee labor & employment, litigation, IP, and other specialty areas as needed to ensure comprehensive coverage across the business without requiring deep prior expertise in these areas.

Own transactions (hands-on)

• Draft, review, and negotiate equipment lease and loan agreements, assignments, vendor contracts, NDAs, and other key legal documents.
• Negotiate directly with debt sources under master and individual lease assignment agreements to protect client interests while advancing transactions to close.
• Lead documentation negotiations with customers, vendors, and outside counsel to reach commercially sound agreements while safeguarding the company's position.
• Ensure lien perfection, assignment standards, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Oversee documentation workflow & funding QA

• Manage the documentation workflow end-to-end, including preparation, review, and approval of packages for booking and funding.
• Oversee funding and disbursement QA to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with approvals, tax requirements, and lien/title perfection.
• Implement and maintain effective processes for clearing follow-up items and documentation exceptions, ensuring all files remain complete, accurate, and audit-ready.
• Develop and maintain legal policies, SOPs, and templates that ensure compliance across functions and provide clarity to all internal stakeholders.
• Advise on risk-based pricing, credit windows, and creative structures—balancing legal protections with commercial goals.
• Monitor regulatory developments affecting equipment finance and proactively recommend adjustments.

Oversee outside counsel & vendors

• Engage and manage outside legal counsel as necessary, controlling scope and optimizing fees for specialized matters.
• Manage legal vendors (UCC filings, titling, credit bureaus, compliance resources) to ensure cost-effective, accurate service.
• Collaborate with the COO to streamline contract workflows, approval processes, and reporting through LeasePlus, Salesforce, and other systems.
• Create, maintain, and publish reports for senior management on legal, documentation, and funding activities.
• Support audits, diligence requests, and other reporting requirements with timely, accurate legal documentation.

What you'll bring

• JD from an accredited law school and admission to practice in at least one U.S. jurisdiction (California preferred).
• A minimum of 5+ years of experience in contracts, equipment finance, commercial finance, or a related legal field, with a focus on structuring, drafting, and negotiating transactions.
• A collaborative mindset and ability to partner with business leaders at all levels—balancing commercial judgment with practical solutions that are both creative and provide leadership with options. This is not a "one size fits all" role.
• Demonstrated ability to take ownership of projects from start to finish balancing independent execution with team collaboration.
• Proven leadership of legal and documentation teams, including hiring, mentoring, and performance management.
• Experience with equipment finance or complex commercial lending is strongly preferred, but candidates with adjacent transactional backgrounds will be considered.
• Deep knowledge of UCC/perfection, assignments, titling, and multi-state sales/use tax.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating assignment agreements with banks, debt sources, and outside counsel.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build rapport with customers, funding sources, and business partners.
• Ability to organize, prioritize, and manage multiple complex transactions simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Exceptional judgment, negotiation skills, and cross-functional emotional intelligence.
• Ability to learn and implement new software platforms, such as, LeasePlus or similar lease accounting system, Salesforce, and other packages to streamline operations.

How success will be measured

• Quality and timeliness of legal support for transactions.
• Strong compliance and audit outcomes across documentation and funding.
• Reduced reliance on outside counsel and more efficient use of legal spend.
• Positive feedback from internal and external stakeholders on negotiation quality and deal support.
• Growth, engagement, and performance of the Documentation team under your leadership.

Why Work with our Client

• Work at the intersection of private credit and investment banking–style dealmaking, helping clients solve complex capital needs.
• Fast, straightforward execution with the resources and autonomy to "own the outcome."
• Visible impact with senior leadership and opportunity to shape the company's legal foundation as we scale.
• Competitive base salary + annual bonus tied to business impact and performance.
• 401(k), medical/dental, PTO, and professional development support.