Corporate Counsel

Inside the Role

The Corporate Counsel serves as a key legal advisor to DTFS, providing strategic and practical counsel across a wide range of legal and regulatory matters. This role supports the business in achieving its objectives while ensuring compliance with applicable laws and mitigating legal risk. The Corporate Counsel collaborates closely with internal stakeholders and external counsel to deliver legal solutions that are aligned with DTFS’s operational, transactional, and compliance needs. Areas of focus include regulatory compliance, data protection and privacy, procurement, IT-related support/software licensing, customer-facing operations (including payment systems), litigation management and transactional support. The role requires sound legal judgment, strong communication skills, and the ability to manage complex issues in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.

Posting Information

We provide a scheduled posting end date to assist our candidates with their application planning. While this date reflects our latest plans, it is subject to change, and postings may be extended or removed earlier than expected.

We Take Care of Our Team

What Drives DTFS

Transactional & Project Support

- Provide legal guidance for key DTFS projects and initiatives.

- Serve as a consultant on joint ventures designed to maintain DTFS’ position as a leader in the trucking industry.

- Deliver general transactional legal advice and training to business teams.

- Conduct legal research for transactions and projects, coordinating with outside counsel as needed.

- Assist with dealer and fleet workouts, including drafting modification, forbearance, and related agreements, and conducting loan reviews for troubled accounts.

Regulatory & Legal Compliance

- Support regulatory compliance efforts, including tracking developments, coordinating with outside counsel, and assessing applicability to DTFS business models.

- Advise on general regulatory matters such as credit disputes, FCRA, and ECOA.

- Collaborate with the Local Compliance Officer to ensure alignment on group compliance topics.

- Supervise license renewal processes, respond to state examinations and audits, and address licensing issues.

Litigation & Risk Management

- Manage defensive litigation matters and oversee outside counsel engagement.

- Provide legal support on data protection and information security, advising on risk mitigation and regulatory compliance.

- Partner with the business in implementing credit policies that minimize financial loss.

Operational Legal Support

- Advise the business in the development of innovative dealer programs and new systems to meet the needs of dealers and to facilitate their servicing customers.

- Review and revise legal documents, policies, and procedures for compliance and accuracy.

- Support Procurement with vendor contract review and related matters.

- Provide general support for dealer and fleet documentation, including occasional customization and negotiation with customer or dealer legal counsel.

- Support Client Services, Collections, and Remarketing teams by preparing legally required documents and advising on escalated customer issues.

- Provide support for payment-related issues and products (AutoPay, DT Pay), including refunds, dispute resolution, and escalations. Knowledge of NACHA rules desired.

- Evaluate legal and business considerations to identify practical solutions that meet minimum legal requirements while supporting strategic objectives across a variety of projects. (weekly) (who impacted: various departments).

- Exercise sound legal judgment in assessing potential liability, determining appropriate responses to complaints and litigation, and advising on vendor contracts and procurement matters to ensure balanced risk management and business alignment. (weekly) (who impacted: various departments).

- Serve as a global legal advisor, exercising judgment in cross-border projects involving headquarters in Germany, service centers in Mexico and operations in Canada, ensuring legal alignment and adding strategic value in an international operating landscape. (at least monthly) (who impacted: HQ, NASC, global project coordinators).

Knowledge You Should Bring

• Juris Doctor degree.
• Licensed attorney.
• Minimum of 8 years of work experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience with a law firm or company doing commercial transactional work.

Exceptional Candidates Might Have

• Strong knowledge of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), particularly as it applies to commercial lending and secured transactions (Article 9).
• Proficiency in legal research and analysis, with the ability to synthesize complex information and provide practical guidance.
• Experience in commercial lending, transactional work, and financial services law.
• Ability to stay current on legal developments affecting commercial lending and financial services through ongoing training and professional development.
• Excellent judgment and decision-making skills, especially in areas involving litigation, risk management, and vendor contracting.
• Effective communicator with the ability to collaborate across departments and in a global business environment.
• Excellent research skills with proficiency in online legal research (WestLaw, etc.).

#LI-DTFSUSA  #LI-Hybrid

#LI-CC1

Where We Work

This position is open to applicants who can work in (or relocate to) the following location(s)- 

Charlotte, NC US, Fort Mill, SC US. Relocation assistance is not available for this position.

Schedule Type: 

Hybrid (4 days per week in-office / 1 day remote). This schedule builds our #OneTeamBestTeam culture, provides an unparalleled customer experience, and creates innovative solutions through in-person collaboration.

Daimler Truck Financial is the captive financial services provider for the Daimler Trucks North America family of commercial vehicle products, including Freightliner Trucks, Western Star, SelecTrucks, Sprinter Vans, Thomas Built Buses and Fuso. We have specialized in financing commercial vehicles for more than 40 years. This proven experience gives us critical insights into helping businesses overcome challenges unique to the trucking industry. Additionally, we offer a range of financing solutions that can be customized to meet each individual business's needs, from owner-operators to large fleet managers and nearly every venture in-between.

To achieve our goal of being the first-choice provider of vehicle financial products and services that support our brands, dealers and customers, we are looking for talented, diverse and inspired people with the skills, experience and innovative spirit to provide a first-class experience at every turn. We are committed to providing a great workplace environment that fosters a culture of openness, support and camaraderie. Our employee programs and benefits are reflective of our values and are designed to promote growth, balance and wellness in many aspects of your career and life.

Additional Information

• Applicants must be legally authorized to work permanently in the country of posting

• Final candidate must successfully complete a criminal background check

• Contractors, professional services, or other contingent workers should confirm with their local agency if they are eligible to apply for FTE positions

• EEO - Disabled/Veterans

Daimler Truck Financial Services is committed to workforce inclusion and providing an environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, national origin, age, marital status, family relationship, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (including transgender and transitioning status), genetic information, or veteran status.

For an accommodation or special assistance with applying for a posted position, please contact our Human Resources department at 503-745-8982 or toll free 800-206-3369. For TTY/TDD enabled call 503-745-2137 or toll free 866-355-6935