Corporate Counsel, Collections

Headquartered in San Diego, Mulligan Funding serves as a leading provider of working capital ($5K - $2M) to the small and medium-sized businesses that fuel our country. Since 2008, we have prided ourselves on our collaborative, innovative, and customer-focused approach. Enjoying a period of unprecedented growth, driven by the combination of cutting-edge technology, human touch, and unwavering integrity, we are looking to add to our people first culture, with highly motivated and results-oriented professionals, to push the limits of what’s possible while creating value for all of our partners. 
The Corporate Counsel, Collections will provide legal oversight, strategic guidance, and risk management for the organization’s debt collection activities. This role ensures compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, mitigates legal and financial risks, and leads litigation efforts as needed. The ideal candidate has extensive experience in collections law, litigation, and regulatory compliance within the financial services sector. They will collaborate with internal stakeholders, external counsel, and regulatory agencies to develop and enforce best practices in collections, dispute resolution, and contractual compliance. Additionally, they will optimize collections strategies, oversee third-party collection partners, and manage litigation costs to maximize recovery while maintaining compliance and operational efficiency.

You will:

• Develop and drive the organization’s collections strategy to maximize recovery while balancing risk and compliance.
• Lead cross-functional efforts to enhance collections efficiency, including collaboration with finance, credit risk, and operations teams.
• Ensure all collection activities comply with federal, state, and local laws, including the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), and other applicable statutes.
• Develop, implement, and monitor policies and procedures to mitigate legal risks in collections.
• Provide legal and strategic oversight for commercial loan collections, ensuring optimal recovery.
• Negotiate repayment structures, settlements, and loan modifications with borrowers and their representatives.
• Develop best practices for handling commercial collections, ensuring consistency across internal and external collection teams.
• Oversee and manage collections-related litigation, including filing lawsuits, responding to claims, and representing the organization in legal proceedings.
• Work with outside counsel on complex litigation and dispute resolution strategies.
• Lead negotiation and settlement discussions to optimize recovery while mitigating legal risks.
• Address and resolve escalated disputes, including responding to consumer complaints, attorney demands, and regulatory inquiries.
• Review and provide legal guidance on the drafting of collection notices, demand letters, settlement agreements, and other collections-related documents.
• Ensure that all agreements related to collections, credit, and recovery comply with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Manage relationships with third-party collection agencies and law firms, including contract negotiations, performance monitoring, and compliance oversight.
• Review and approve engagement terms with external collection agencies and legal service providers to ensure alignment with company objectives.
• Develop and manage the litigation budget for collections, optimizing costs while maintaining effectiveness.
• Analyze legal expenses and identify opportunities to reduce costs through streamlined processes or alternative dispute resolution methods.
• Ensure that litigation and collections strategies align with financial and risk management goals.
• Serve as the primary liaison with regulatory bodies, external auditors, and industry associations on matters related to collections compliance.
• Represent the organization in discussions with regulators, ensuring positive relationships and proactive compliance efforts.
• Provide legal support and guidance to senior leadership, collections teams, and finance departments on regulatory and risk management matters.
• Provide strategic direction for legal matters impacting collections, aligning legal strategies with business objectives.
• Develop and maintain best-in-class legal practices for debt recovery and dispute resolution.
• Monitor regulatory developments and advise on necessary changes to collection practices.
• Oversee legal compliance training for collections teams, ensuring adherence to best practices.
• Stay informed on industry trends, emerging risks, and evolving regulatory requirements in the financial services and collections sectors.
• Perform other legal duties and responsibilities as assigned to supp