General Counsel

Summary:

The General Counsel serves as the chief legal officer of the organization, providing strategic legal guidance to executive leadership and the board of directors. This role is responsible for overseeing all legal matters, ensuring regulatory compliance, managing legal risk, supporting business growth initiatives, and protecting the company's interests across corporate, commercial, employment, litigation, governance, and intellectual property matters.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities:

Legal Strategy & Business Partnership

• Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO, executive team, and board on legal, regulatory, and business matters.

• Provide practical, risk-based legal advice to support strategic initiatives, transactions, and operational decisions.

• Align legal strategy with organizational goals and growth objectives.

Corporate Governance

• Advise on corporate governance, board matters, and fiduciary responsibilities.

• Prepare and review board resolutions, governance documents, and corporate policies.

• Ensure compliance with applicable corporate laws and regulations.

Commercial Transactions

• Draft, review, negotiate, and manage a wide range of contracts, including:

• Customer agreements

• Vendor contracts

• Licensing agreements

• Partnership and strategic alliance agreements

• Confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements

• Develop and improve contract management processes and standards.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Establish and oversee compliance programs and internal controls.

• Monitor legal and regulatory developments affecting the organization.

• Conduct risk assessments and recommend mitigation strategies.

• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, local, and international laws.

Employment & Labor Law

• Provide counsel on employment-related matters, including hiring, terminations, workplace investigations, compensation, and employee relations.

• Support Human Resources in policy development and compliance initiatives.

• Manage employment disputes and external counsel when necessary.

Litigation Management

• Oversee all litigation, disputes, claims, and regulatory investigations.

• Develop litigation strategies and manage outside counsel.

• Evaluate settlement opportunities and legal exposure.

Intellectual Property & Data Privacy

• Protect and manage the organization's intellectual property portfolio.

• Advise on trademarks, copyrights, patents, trade secrets, and licensing.

• Ensure compliance with data privacy and cybersecurity regulations.

Mergers, Acquisitions & Corporate Transactions

• Support mergers, acquisitions, investments, financing transactions, and other strategic initiatives.

• Conduct legal due diligence and negotiate transaction documents.

• Coordinate with internal stakeholders and external advisors.

Leadership & Department Management

• Lead and develop the legal department.

• Manage outside counsel relationships and legal budgets.

• Implement legal technologies, processes, and best practices to improve efficiency.

Other Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

• Comply with all company policies and procedures.

• Maintain regular and punctual attendance.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• This position has direct reports. Manages staff and carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Education and/or Experience:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.

• 10-15+ years of progressively responsible legal experience.

• Significant experience in corporate law, commercial transactions, compliance, and risk management.

• Prior in-house counsel experience strongly preferred.

• Experience advising executive leadership and boards of directors.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

• Active license to practice law and membership in good standing with at least one state bar.

Work Complexity:

Problems and issues faced are frequently complex and multi-dimensional, requiring broad-based consideration of variables that impact areas outside of immediate responsibility. Extensively analyzes problems to seek understanding of the underlying issue and root cause of the problem.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Work is normally performed in a typical interior office work environment which does not subject the employee to any hazardous or unpleasant elements. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

The company is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, ethnicity, color, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, religion, national origin, age (40 and over), disability, military status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

Americans with Disabilities Act:

Applicants as well as employees who are or become disabled must be able to satisfactorily perform the essential job functions of the position either with or without reasonable accommodation. Applicants as well as employees are encouraged to meet with Human Resources as the organization shall review reasonable accommodations on a case-by-case basis in accordance with applicable law.

Job Responsibilities:

The statements reflect the general duties and responsibilities considered necessary to perform the essential functions of the job and should not be considered as an all-inclusive list of all the work requirements of the position. The company may change the specific job duties with or without prior notice based on the needs of the organization.