Legal Recruitment

Today’s banking legal landscape demands attorneys who can drive complex transaction execution and regulatory compliance excellence while building scalable, sophisticated legal practices across investment banking, capital markets, and commercial real estate. Legal innovation is transforming global financial institutions as regulatory complexity increases across jurisdictions, digital asset frameworks emerge, and ESG compliance requirements create new advisory opportunities in structured finance and capital markets transactions.

Banking executives face a critical mandate: build legal capabilities that enable profitable deal execution and regulatory compliance while scaling transaction volumes and maintaining pristine regulatory standing across evolving compliance frameworks. As traditional banking legal work expands into fintech regulation, cryptocurrency compliance, and cross-border regulatory coordination, new advisory opportunities emerge daily for institutions with the legal expertise to navigate them systematically. Yet with sophistication comes complexity—multi-jurisdictional regulatory requirements creating execution challenges, evolving compliance standards threatening operational continuity, regulatory enforcement risk requiring robust legal frameworks, and the imperative to maintain regulatory relationships while enabling innovative financial products that drive competitive advantage across market cycles.

Banking Legal Leadership Search

Today's banking legal landscape demands attorneys who can drive complex transaction execution and regulatory compliance excellence while building scalable, sophisticated legal practices across investment banking, capital markets, and commercial real estate. Willard Powell delivers exceptional banking legal leadership across global financial institutions, regional banks, investment banks, and specialty finance companies. Our deep understanding of financial services legal frameworks and extensive networks enable us to identify leaders who combine legal expertise with business acumen to execute complex transactions and build enduring legal practices.

Investment Banking Legal Leadership

Investment banking legal leadership drives transaction execution excellence through sophisticated M&A advisory, complex financing structures, and strategic client counseling. Success demands leaders who understand deal mechanics, regulatory frameworks, and the operational infrastructure required to execute high-value transactions across diverse market conditions and regulatory environments.

Today's investment banking legal organizations require leadership that balances transaction execution with risk management:

  • M&A Transaction Execution - Complex acquisitions, divestitures, strategic transactions, cross-border deal structuring
  • Corporate Finance & Capital Raising - Debt and equity offerings, leveraged finance, structured products
  • Client Advisory & Relationship Management - Strategic counseling, regulatory guidance, deal origination support
  • Cross-Border & Multi-Jurisdictional Deals - International transactions, regulatory coordination, compliance frameworks
  • Risk Management & Documentation - Legal risk assessment, transaction documentation, regulatory compliance

We deliver exceptional investment banking legal leadership across:

Transaction Execution & Deal Leadership

  • General Counsel - Investment Banking - Legal strategy, transaction oversight, regulatory relationship management
  • Managing Directors - Legal - Senior transaction leadership, client relationships, deal execution oversight
  • M&A Legal Directors - Mergers & acquisitions expertise, transaction structuring, due diligence coordination
  • Corporate Finance Legal Heads - Capital markets transactions, financing structures, securities compliance
  • Cross-Border Transaction Leaders - International deals, multi-jurisdictional compliance, regulatory coordination

Specialized Transaction & Advisory Leadership

  • Leveraged Finance Legal Directors - Complex financing structures, credit agreements, syndicated lending
  • Restructuring & Distressed Legal Leaders - Workout transactions, bankruptcy proceedings, creditor representation
  • Sector-Focused Legal Directors - Industry expertise in technology, healthcare, energy, financial services
  • Transaction Services Legal Heads - Due diligence oversight, legal risk assessment, deal support

Investment banking legal leadership requires sophisticated understanding of transaction mechanics, regulatory coordination capabilities, and the business acumen needed to execute complex deals while managing legal and regulatory risks. Our clients seek leaders who can drive transaction success through legal excellence and strategic advisory capabilities.

Our difference? We understand that investment banking legal success requires more than transaction expertise—it demands leaders who can build comprehensive legal capabilities that enable deal execution, client advisory excellence, and regulatory compliance. Our networks span bulge bracket investment banks, boutique advisory firms, and specialty finance companies, providing access to leaders who combine deep legal expertise with proven ability to execute complex transactions and build client relationships.

Connect with our founder to discuss your investment banking legal leadership needs:

David McInnis – david.mcinnis@willardpowell.com

Capital Markets Legal Leadership

Capital markets legal leadership drives successful securities offerings and complex financing transactions through sophisticated regulatory expertise, innovative structuring, and systematic compliance management. Success demands leaders who understand securities regulation, market dynamics, and the operational requirements to execute capital raising transactions across public and private markets.

Today's capital markets legal organizations require leadership that balances innovation with regulatory compliance:

  • Securities Offerings & Public Markets - IPOs, follow-on offerings, high-yield bonds, convertible securities
  • Private Placements & Structured Products - Rule 144A offerings, private equity structures, alternative investment products
  • Regulatory Compliance & SEC Matters - Securities regulation, disclosure requirements, enforcement defense
  • Derivative Products & Structured Finance - Complex derivatives, asset-backed securities, structured credit products
  • ESG & Sustainable Finance - Green bonds, ESG compliance, sustainability-linked financing structures

We deliver exceptional capital markets legal leadership across:

Securities & Public Markets Leadership

  • Capital Markets Legal Directors - Securities offerings expertise, regulatory compliance, market transaction leadership
  • SEC Reporting & Compliance Directors - Public company advisory, disclosure compliance, regulatory relationship management
  • Debt Capital Markets Legal Heads - Bond offerings, credit facilities, structured debt products
  • Equity Capital Markets Leaders - Equity offerings, convertible securities, equity-linked products
  • Derivatives & Structured Products Directors - Complex derivatives, structured finance, regulatory compliance

Specialized Markets & Innovation Leadership

  • Private Markets Legal Directors - Private placement expertise, alternative investment structures, regulatory coordination
  • Digital Assets & Fintech Legal Leaders - Cryptocurrency compliance, blockchain transactions, regulatory innovation
  • ESG & Sustainable Finance Directors - Green finance structures, ESG compliance, sustainability frameworks
  • Cross-Border Capital Markets Leaders - International offerings, multi-jurisdictional compliance, global regulatory coordination

Capital markets legal leadership requires deep understanding of securities regulation, market structure evolution, and the innovative capabilities needed to structure complex financing transactions while maintaining regulatory compliance across multiple jurisdictions.

Our difference? We understand that capital markets legal success requires more than regulatory knowledge—it demands leaders who can build innovative legal frameworks that enable complex capital raising while navigating evolving regulatory requirements. Our networks across investment banks, institutional investors, and regulatory bodies provide access to leaders who combine deep securities expertise with proven ability to structure and execute sophisticated capital markets transactions.

Connect with our founder to discuss your capital markets legal leadership needs:

David McInnis – david.mcinnis@willardpowell.com

Real Estate Finance Legal Leadership

Real estate finance legal leadership drives transaction execution through sophisticated structuring, complex financing arrangements, and comprehensive risk management across commercial real estate markets. Success demands leaders who understand property law, financing structures, and the operational capabilities required to execute large-scale real estate transactions and development projects.

Today's real estate finance legal organizations require leadership that balances transaction execution with risk mitigation:

  • Commercial Real Estate Transactions - Acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, development projects
  • Real Estate Finance & Lending - CMBS transactions, construction loans, mezzanine financing, bridge lending
  • REITs & Real Estate Securities - REIT formations, real estate securities offerings, regulatory compliance
  • Real Estate Private Equity - Fund formations, investment structures, investor relations, regulatory compliance
  • Distressed Real Estate & Workouts - Restructuring transactions, foreclosure proceedings, asset recovery

We deliver exceptional real estate finance legal leadership across:

Real Estate Transaction & Finance Leadership

  • Real Estate Legal Directors - Transaction leadership, deal structuring, regulatory compliance oversight
  • Real Estate Finance Legal Heads - Financing structures, lender representation, borrower advisory
  • CMBS & Securitization Legal Leaders - Commercial mortgage securitization, structured finance, investor protection
  • Construction & Development Legal Directors - Development projects, construction lending, regulatory compliance
  • Real Estate Private Equity Legal Officers - Fund structures, investment advisory, regulatory compliance

Specialized Real Estate Legal Leadership

  • REIT Legal Directors - REIT formations, regulatory compliance, public company advisory
  • Distressed Real Estate Legal Leaders - Workout transactions, restructuring expertise, asset recovery
  • Real Estate Capital Markets Officers - Real estate securities, public offerings, regulatory compliance
  • Hospitality & Specialized Property Legal Directors - Hotel transactions, specialized property types, regulatory frameworks

Real estate finance legal leadership requires understanding both property law complexity and financing innovation, managing large-scale transactions while coordinating multiple stakeholders, and building legal capabilities that enable real estate business growth across market cycles.

Our difference? We understand that real estate finance legal success requires more than transactional expertise—it demands leaders who can build comprehensive legal capabilities that enable complex real estate transactions, financing innovation, and regulatory compliance. Our networks across real estate investment banks, REITs, private equity firms, and institutional lenders provide access to leaders who combine deep real estate expertise with proven ability to execute complex transactions and build scalable legal practices.

Connect with our founder to discuss your real estate finance legal leadership needs:

David McInnis – david.mcinnis@willardpowell.com

Regulatory & Compliance Legal Leadership

Regulatory and compliance legal leadership drives business protection through sophisticated regulatory expertise, comprehensive compliance frameworks, and systematic risk management across complex financial services regulation. Success demands leaders who understand evolving regulatory requirements, enforcement trends, and the operational capabilities required to maintain regulatory excellence while enabling business growth.

Today's financial services regulatory legal organizations require leadership that balances compliance with business enablement:

  • Banking Regulation & Supervision - Federal and state banking law, regulatory examinations, supervisory relationships
  • Securities Regulation & Enforcement - SEC compliance, FINRA regulation, enforcement defense, regulatory investigations
  • Anti-Money Laundering & Financial Crimes - BSA/AML compliance, sanctions programs, financial crimes prevention
  • Consumer Protection & Fair Lending - CFPB compliance, fair lending requirements, consumer regulatory frameworks
  • Fintech & Digital Innovation Regulation - Digital assets regulation, fintech compliance, regulatory innovation frameworks

We deliver exceptional regulatory and compliance legal leadership across:

Banking & Financial Services Regulatory Leadership

  • Chief Compliance Officers - Enterprise compliance strategy, regulatory relationship management, risk oversight
  • Regulatory Legal Directors - Banking regulation expertise, examination management, regulatory advisory
  • Securities Compliance Legal Officers - SEC compliance, securities regulation, enforcement defense
  • AML & Financial Crimes Legal Directors - BSA/AML compliance, sanctions programs, financial crimes prevention
  • Consumer Compliance Legal Leaders - CFPB compliance, fair lending, consumer protection frameworks

Specialized Regulatory & Innovation Legal

  • Fintech Regulatory Legal Directors - Digital innovation compliance, regulatory sandboxes, emerging technology frameworks
  • Digital Assets Legal Officers - Cryptocurrency regulation, blockchain compliance, regulatory coordination
  • Privacy & Cybersecurity Legal Directors - Data protection compliance, cybersecurity regulation, incident response
  • International Regulatory Legal Leaders - Cross-border compliance, multi-jurisdictional regulation, global coordination

Regulatory and compliance legal leadership requires deep understanding of complex regulatory frameworks, proactive risk management capabilities, and the strategic vision needed to navigate evolving compliance requirements while supporting business innovation and growth.

Our difference? We understand that regulatory compliance legal success requires more than rule interpretation—it demands leaders who can build comprehensive compliance frameworks that protect the business while enabling innovation and growth. Our networks across global financial institutions, regulatory agencies, and compliance technology firms provide access to leaders who combine deep regulatory expertise with proven ability to build and manage compliance programs that support business objectives while maintaining regulatory excellence.

Connect with our founder to discuss your regulatory and compliance legal leadership needs:

David McInnis – david.mcinnis@willardpowell.com

Connect with Willard Powell Leadership

Whether you're an executive seeking new opportunities or looking to build your leadership team, we're here to help.

For Executive Leaders

Explore exceptional leadership opportunities with leading organizations across diverse industries. Our team connects top-tier executive talent with companies seeking transformational leaders.

Recommend Yourself

  1. Email us your resume and brief leadership introduction
  2. Specify your functional expertise and leadership experience
  3. Include your industry background and career aspirations
  4. Highlight your achievements, impact metrics, and compensation expectations

Why Executive Leaders Choose Us

  • Access to exclusive C-suite, VP, and senior leadership roles
  • Confidential representation across multiple industries
  • Strategic career guidance for leadership advancement
  • Deep expertise in executive requirements across sectors
  • Long-term partnership approach to career development
  • Understanding of both functional skills and strategic leadership needs

For Organizations

Build exceptional leadership teams that drive organizational transformation and competitive advantage. We partner with companies to identify and secure transformational executive talent for critical roles.

Request Leadership Talent Recommendations

  1. Email us your specific leadership needs and requirements
  2. Describe the role, functional requirements, and ideal leader profile
  3. Include strategic objectives, organizational culture, and growth plans
  4. Specify timeline, industry considerations, and confidentiality needs

Our Leadership Expertise Spans

  • Executive Leadership - CEOs, COOs, Presidents, General Managers
  • Operations & Strategy - Transformation leaders, process optimization, strategic planning
  • Sales & Marketing - Revenue growth, brand development, customer acquisition
  • Finance & Analytics - CFOs, financial planning, business intelligence, data strategy
  • Human Resources - Talent strategy, organizational development, culture transformation
  • Technology & Innovation - Digital transformation, product development, innovation management
  • Risk & Compliance - Governance, regulatory affairs, enterprise risk management
  • Industry Specialists - Sector-specific expertise across multiple verticals

Ready to Connect?

Reach out to our leadership team to discuss your executive leadership needs or career aspirations:

David McInnis
Founder & Managing Partner
david.mcinnis@willardpowell.com

Stewart Sloan
Partner
stewart.sloan@willardpowell.com