General Counsel (15+ yrs) – Financial Services/Broker-Dealer
About the Position:
Our client, a leading employee-owned investment bank based in Chicago, is seeking a General Counsel to lead its legal function and serve as a strategic advisor to executive leadership. The ideal candidate for this role is an experienced leader in financial services, specifically in broker-dealer or investment management businesses, with a generalist orientation. This is a high-impact opportunity for an attorney who enjoys building teams, enhancing processes, and partnering closely with business leaders in a sophisticated, growth-oriented environment.
No relocates. Chicago area candidates only.
Highlights:
- Strategic leadership position with significant visibility across the organization
- Highly collaborative, business-facing culture
- Employee-owned firm with strong financial performance and long-term stability
- Hybrid work arrangement in Chicago
- Comprehensive benefits package, including ESOP participation
Responsibilities:
- Provide legal oversight for broker-dealer activities and advise on regulatory and financial services matters
- Serve as the principal legal advisor to executive leadership on strategic, operational, regulatory, and governance matters
- Lead and develop the Legal Department, including attorneys, paralegals, and outside counsel
- Partner with Compliance, Risk, Operations, Finance, HR, and business leaders to support firm initiatives
- Develop practical legal frameworks, templates, policies, and workflows that enable business growth while managing risk
- Advise senior leadership regarding legal and regulatory developments impacting the organization
- Support corporate governance matters and board-level initiatives
Required Experience:
- 15-25 years of experience advising financial institutions or other regulated financial services organizations
- Significant broker-dealer legal and regulatory experience
- Experience advising on complex financial products, structured transactions, and the acquisition and integration of FINRA-regulated entities
- Proven track record leading legal teams and managing attorneys, paralegals, and outside counsel, as well as experience advising senior executives and boards of directors
- Experience building processes, improving legal operations, and supporting organizational growth
Location:
Chicago, IL (Hybrid)
Compensation:
The anticipated salary range for this position is $700,000+.
About Us:
McCormack Schreiber Legal Search is Chicago’s leading legal search firm. We leverage more than 30 years of experience in the Chicago legal market to assist attorneys seeking new opportunities and employers searching for top legal talent.
