- Employment
- Full-time
- Seniority
- Senior
- Compensation
- $200,000–230,000/year
- Department
- Legal & Compliance
- Posted
- Nov 10, 2026
About Sotheby's
Sotheby’s is an auction house founded in London in 1744. Its specialists work across fine art and collecting categories including jewelry, watches, handbags, wine, design, and classic cars. The house connects collectors through live and online auctions, private sales, and fixed-price purchases. Its work spans specialist research and cataloging, client services, marketing, technology, finance, and operations, supporting the preparation, sale, and movement of objects across its international network.
Sotheby’s Financial Services seeks a Senior Counsel for its U.S. legal team in New York City, supporting art- and collectibles-backed loans, consignor advances, and other transactions in the U.S. and abroad. The role drafts and negotiates financing documents, advises on transaction structuring, and supports due diligence, closings, compliance, process improvement, and business training. Proposed base salary is $200,000–$230,000, with eligibility for a discretionary bonus and competitive benefits.
Role & Responsibilities
- Draft, review, and negotiate agreements, including term loan and revolving credit facilities, security agreements, collateral documents, and guarantees.
- Advise the Sotheby’s Financial Services team on structuring finance transactions backed by fine art and collectible assets, including collectible cars, for clients in multiple jurisdictions.
- Conduct due diligence and facilitate transaction closings.
- Contribute subject matter expertise to playbooks, templates, and operational best practices.
- Ensure policies and procedures are followed and that related documents reflect negotiated terms and comply with applicable laws and regulations.
- Partner internally to identify opportunities for process improvement, scalability, and enhanced service delivery.
- Lead training for business partners on legal issues.
- Participate in negotiations with borrowers, outside counsel, and counterparties.
- Provide additional legal support as required by the business, at the direction of the General Counsel.
Qualifications
- 5+ years of relevant legal experience in banking or finance; in-house legal department experience preferred.
- Bachelor’s degree and JD.
- Admitted to the New York State Bar, active and in good standing.
- Strong work ethic and ability to multitask, prioritize, and manage numerous projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
- Commitment to responsiveness, accountability, and timely follow-through, with the ability to manage stakeholder expectations and communicate proactively about priorities, timelines, and legal risk.
- Strong attention to detail and quality of work product.
- Exceptional drafting, communication, analytical, and interpersonal skills.
- Excellent business judgment and ability to assess legal risk while thinking strategically and providing practical advice.
- Practical approach to legal drafting and problem-solving, with the ability to translate legal issues into clear, plain-English guidance for non-lawyers.
- Collaborative team player willing to take on additional responsibilities, while also able to work independently and think strategically.
- Ability to work effectively with individuals at all organizational levels.
- Comfort working within established legal processes and technology platforms, with strong adoption of matter management, contract lifecycle management, workflow, and reporting tools.
Skills
Experience
5+ years of relevant legal experience in banking or finance; in-house legal department experience preferred.
Education
Bachelor’s degree and JD.
Workplace
This position is based in New York, New York, USA.
Explore jobs in New York or in the USA.
Compensation
The base compensation for this position ranges from USD 200,000 to USD 230,000 per annum.
Benefits
Eligible candidates may receive a discretionary bonus and a competitive benefits package.
Culture
Sotheby’s describes its culture in terms of client service, specialist knowledge, curiosity, collaboration, and ethical conduct. Its careers materials emphasize working across disciplines and encouraging employees to explore internal opportunities.
About Cerulean
Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.