General Counsel Job Description

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General Counsel Job Description

Job descriptions
Legal

Job summary 1

We are seeking a proactive and experienced General Counsel to manage all legal matters and risks. The General Counsel will primarily be responsible to examine and drafting business agreements and contracts with customers, vendors, and other outside parties, managing copyrights, trademarks, patents, trade secrets, insurance matters, and employee relations. The General Counsel will ensure legal compliance regarding Government Contracting, support mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity, employee safety and data protection programs, and corporate governance and establish the prudence of defending and prosecuting lawsuits. To ensure success the General Counsel needs to have sound knowledge and understanding of applicable laws and regulations, including but not limited to the Federal Acquisition Regulation, and the ability to make prudent legal decisions. Top candidates will be team players with outstanding advocacy and people skills.

Duties & Responsibilities 1

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Requirements & Skills 1

Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school.
5+ years of practice with an established law firm or relevant in-house counsel experience.
Proficient legal experience in a wide range of contracts, human resources, and M&A.
Experience with corporate governance issues and corporate secretarial duties.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Knowledge of statutes, rules, and regulations about businesses.
- Proficient understanding of business sensitivities and confidentiality.
- Must be able to speak/read/write English.
- Must be able to lift up to 35 lbs.

Job summary 2

We are searching for a General Counsel who is excited to apply their knowledge in the areas of real estate development, construction, senior housing management, and business law to assist our growing company.

Duties & Responsibilities 2

Negotiation and preparation of real estate development and general business agreements
Review of all finance documents
Review of contracts
Formation of limited liability companies
Maintenance of corporate records
- Litigation management
- Employment law
- Provision of legal advice to all departments on a myriad of issues

Requirements & Skills 2

Current member of the State Bar Association
- Minimum of seven years experience in a large law firm and as in-house counsel is preferred
- Experience working in real estate, construction, and business law
- Experience working as part of an executive team, in a fast-paced, challenging work environment

Job summary 3

As General Counsel you will be a strong legal and compliance generalist with specific state law experience and sound knowledge of personal data requests standards, law enforcement, consumer protection, and data protection laws. The main purpose of the role is to lead the legal and compliance function globally, to ensure that the Company adheres to all legal, and regulatory requirements and best practices. You will be responsible for enforcing policies and regulations in all aspects and levels across the Company as well as providing guidance on legal and compliance matters

Duties & Responsibilities 3

Requirements & Skills 3

Job summary 4

The General Counsel is a Director-level attorney position primarily responsible for providing daily legal support for individual Employment Law related matters while advising various business units and allied businesses regarding the interaction between strategic plans for the business and Employment Law requirements. The General Counsel will be responsible for maintaining expertise in this area of law and making broad connections concerning the impacts on the business regarding changes in the legal landscape while also driving to completion of projects designed to minimize enterprise risk while increasing employee effectiveness.

Duties & Responsibilities 4

Provides legal services to the company’s human resources department, finance department, senior management, and operating business managers.
Acts as a subject matter expert for the legal function, with an emphasis on providing specialized legal and regulatory advice to the human resources department concerning welfare benefit plans, retirement plans, compensation, and total rewards programs, related corporate contracts and benefits related tax matters and regulatory compliance for employment, benefit, welfare, Affordable Care Act, ERISA, and HIPAA matters, including reviewing and advising on corporate benefit plans, corporate employment policies, and corporate policies and procedures designed to facilitate compliance with applicable employment, benefit, and welfare laws.
- Monitors developments, including proposed legislation and court decisions related to compensation and benefits, and evaluates the impact on operations.
- Serves as advisor to the company’s administrative committee for certain benefit plans.
- Conducts legal research and applies research to business objectives and can communicate the analysis in an easily understood work product to leadership.

Requirements & Skills 4

JD from an ABA-accredited institution
Licensed to practice law and in good standing in at least one state
8 or more years of substantive Employment Law counseling and litigation management with a law firm and/or an in-house legal department
Significant prior employment law experience with a law firm or in-house corporate legal department
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to multi-task and manage a substantial workload in a fast-paced environment
- Strong writing, analytical and communication skills
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a team

Job summary 5

As a General Counsel, you be responsible for providing day-to-day guidance on legal issues and risk mitigation strategies. This role will effectively make recommendations on direction and issue resolutions and implementation of process improvements, policies, and procedures.

Duties & Responsibilities 5

Conduct research regarding specific legal and regulatory issues.
Participate in the definition and development of corporate policies, procedures, and programs and provide continuing counsel and guidance on legal matters.
Monitor and maintain current knowledge of current trends in relevant areas of law and pursue ongoing professional development to maintain current knowledge of best practices.

Requirements & Skills 5

JD - Appropriately licensed to practice law
3-5 years' experience
- Excellent speaking and writing skills, including the ability to clearly describe complex issues
- Ability to exercise judgment and diplomacy while addressing sensitive or challenging issues with internal or external stakeholders
- Ability to think creatively and strategically

Job summary 6

The primary purpose of this role is to identify legal risks and execute a mitigation plan by understanding legal issues and translating them into easily understood and practical legal advice and counsel to the applicable client groups. This includes responsibility for managing, negotiating, drafting, and overseeing a variety of complex and cutting-edge commercial and technology matters and agreements. The position will: review, draft, negotiate and provide business-focused legal advice concerning digital and technology transactions (SaaS, software license, and software/application development agreements); establish and update digital and technology agreement forms; conduct legal research; provide legal advice on routine issues impacting the business; and analyze and summarize routine legal documents. The General Counsel manages and supports client groups by providing practical legal advice and recommendations on day-to-day legal issues, enabling the client to meet its business objectives consistent with the Company's risk tolerance. The ideal candidate is a business-minded commercial attorney who understands business objectives and helps balance legal risks under tight deadlines. This person is also a creative problem-solver with a great attitude and a collaborative team player.

Duties & Responsibilities 6

Requirements & Skills 6

Master's Degree in Law and/or Juris Doctor degree
- 2+ years of relevant experience in a top-tier law firm or mixture of relevant experience in a top-tier law firm, corporate legal department setting, and/or government agency; experience with negotiating against Technology companies
- Active state bar member in good standing of at least one U.S. jurisdiction
- 1+ years of direct experience with public company legal issues, processes, and procedures

Job summary 7

A General Counsel works independently to provide legal advice to the Company and its subsidiaries on a variety of complex legal issues. Facilitate projects with strategic impact.

Duties & Responsibilities 7

Coordinating efforts with internal clients as well as other internal and external attorneys, independently providing legal advice regarding complex issues in connection with the Company's operations, governance, and strategic initiatives on a broad range of topics as further described below.
Lead the internal legal support of the Company's Acquisitions & Development program by advising the internal operations team on legal and business issues that arise during transactions, negotiating purchase agreements and related transaction documents with counterparties and their legal counsel, recommending revisions to such agreements based on Company needs, assisting with transaction due diligence efforts, and participating in post-closing integration activities and post-closing disputes.
Working closely with the Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer, and other Company executives, including the Chief Strategy & Development Officer and Director of Corporate Development, provide legal support to senior officers and the board of directors on mergers and acquisition transactions, strategic initiatives and other corporate transactions.
Help enable the success of the Company's finance department by providing legal advice on a wide variety of treasury, corporate tax, accounting, and audit-related activities.
Serve as a department subject matter expert on matters related to domestic and international governance structure, certain financing activities, and a variety of strategic initiatives that arise from time to time.
- Manage outside counsel regarding tactical work on strategic transactions.
- Some domestic or international travel may be required.
- Other duties as assigned.

Requirements & Skills 7

Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills.
Ability to plan and coordinate multiple projects and work initiatives at the same time. Five to ten years of corporate legal experience at a large law firm or corporate legal department.
Effective oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills. Strong presentation skills are necessary to communicate and persuade a wide range of audiences.
Effective negotiation skills and sufficient interpersonal gravitas to lead negotiations
Experience dealing with clients and external constituencies.
Ability to spot issues and recommend effective solutions.
- Demonstrated creativity in the resolution of complex disputes.
- Strong business acumen and an eagerness to partner with internal business colleagues to solve business issues.
- A positive attitude, a collegial approach to client interaction, and an instinct to go " above and beyond"to achieve the optimal outcome for the Company.

Job summary 8

The General Counsel will be a key member of the regional leadership team who will have a significate impact on business strategy. The successful incumbent will ensure the company operates within the law at all times, offer counsel on legal issues, serve as an effective guardian of the organization, and facilitate business development.

Duties & Responsibilities 8

Requirements & Skills 8

J.D. from top tier university; licensed to practice law in at least one US jurisdiction; bachelor’s degree in finance or accounting and/or MBA preferred.
15+ years’ experience as General Counsel or similar role.
Deep knowledge in a broad range of legal disciplines including, but not limited to, corporate law, employment/labor law, insurance, real estate, privacy & security, and regulatory issues.
Strong finance and accounting expertise and significant experience managing complex transactions.
Demonstrated leadership as a “Doer” or hands-on and detail-oriented leader; a player/coach for their team; this executive must be comfortable operating at all levels within the organization and with multiple and diverse audiences.
- Transformational leader with the ability to create a world-class team; a motivational leader who embraces diversity as a core value; an eye for talent and committed to developing others.
- High level of diplomacy; gravitas to deal with senior client, regulatory and executive leaders.
- Comfort with frequent domestic and international travel up to 25%.

Job summary 9

The General Counsel is responsible for providing legal advice for the Board, Executive Director, and other Board staff. We are looking for an individual that is highly motivated and organized with the enthusiasm to learn and adapt quickly.

Duties & Responsibilities 9

Provide guidance, consultation, and support
Provide legal opinion concerning the application of the Board’s statutes and regulations
- Draft documents for disciplinary case resolution
- Draft proposed regulations, amendments, and statutes and oversee the legislative process for regulation and statues
- Represent the Board for administrative hearings and civil/criminal litigation

Requirements & Skills 9

Juris Doctor degree from an ABA-accredited law school
At least five years’ experience as a licensed attorney
Must be admitted to practice law

Job summary 10

We are looking for a General Counsel to join our team.

Duties & Responsibilities 10

The preparation, and drafting of commercial contracts; including software licensing, support & maintenance, and implementation agreements.
Monitoring of contract performance and compliance in accordance, with contract management planning, risk management planning, and compliance with organizational policies and procedures.
Establishing and maintaining strong business relationships with internal and external stakeholders including the effective management of contract inquiries, issues, disputes, variations, and risks, and undertaking negotiations as required.
Maintaining a high level of quality communication with the commercial and legal teams throughout the negotiating and drafting process ensuring all necessary approvals are received and contract standards are maintained.
- The provision of practical legal advice and support to sales, finance, leadership, and HR teams, including employment-related advice, corporate/company secretarial, and general commercial and compliance matters.
- Drive the continuous improvement of standard form agreements and legal processes.
- Other responsibilities as assigned, including the support of M&A activities from time to time.

Requirements & Skills 10

Candidates must hold a Juris Doctor (J.D) or equivalent law degree from an accredited institution
Demonstrated experience (8 + years minimum) in a legal (or equivalent) role, in particular in software project implementation and enterprise software systems
Demonstrated experience in stakeholder management.
Strong deal-making skills that go beyond negotiating legal terms and resolving legal issues
Ability to change complex legal requirements into flexible business solutions.
- A general understanding of the legal issues that commonly arise in the ordinary course of business operations, together with the ability to quickly learn and grasp the legal importance of new and unfamiliar issues, is necessary for the position.
- The demonstrated ability to function as a legal generalist and promptly provide practical legal advice to experienced business managers in a fast-paced commercial environment is required.
- Hands-on team player who is happy to roll up their sleeves.

Frequently asked questions

What are the skills of a general counsel?

A general counsel (GC) is a top-level corporate attorney responsible for managing all legal affairs and advising the company's management on legal matters. The following are some of the skills and daily duties of a general counsel:

Skills of a General Counsel:

Legal Expertise: A general counsel must have a deep understanding of the law and the legal system, including corporate law, employment law, contract law, intellectual property law, and regulatory law.

Business Acumen: A general counsel must have a keen understanding of the business, its strategy, and its industry, to provide practical legal advice that aligns with the company's objectives.

Communication: A general counsel must have excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, to explain complex legal concepts and advice to non-lawyers, and to negotiate effectively with other lawyers and external stakeholders.

Strategic Thinking: A general counsel must be able to think strategically and anticipate legal issues that could arise in the future, and devise proactive strategies to mitigate those risks.

Leadership: A general counsel must have strong leadership skills, to manage a team of lawyers, paralegals, and other legal professionals, and to advise senior executives and board members.

What are the daily duties of a general counsel?

Daily Duties of a General Counsel:

Legal Advice: A general counsel provides legal advice to the company's management and employees on a broad range of legal issues, including corporate governance, employment law, contracts, and intellectual property.

Risk Management: A general counsel must identify and manage legal risks faced by the company, and devise strategies to mitigate those risks.

Compliance: A general counsel must ensure that the company complies with all applicable laws and regulations, and establish compliance policies and procedures to ensure ongoing compliance.

Contract Negotiation: A general counsel negotiates and drafts contracts on behalf of the company, including employment contracts, vendor agreements, and customer contracts.

Litigation Management: A general counsel manages the company's litigation portfolio, including overseeing outside counsel, managing legal disputes, and ensuring the company is protected in legal proceedings.

Corporate Governance: A general counsel advises the board of directors and senior executives on corporate governance matters, including board procedures, regulatory compliance, and ethical considerations.

Mergers and Acquisitions: A general counsel manages the legal aspects of mergers and acquisitions, including due diligence, contract negotiation, and integration planning.

Olivia Powell
Recruiting expert

Last updated Sep 20

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General Counsel Job Description

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Frequently asked questions

What are the skills of a general counsel?

What are the daily duties of a general counsel?

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