Role Overview
As Senior Counsel - Americas Legal, you will deliver strategic legal support to business units across the Americas, functioning as a trusted advisor in a fast-moving, transaction-intensive setting. Your responsibilities will center on offering real-time counsel that aligns legal outcomes with business objectives, ensuring compliance, mitigating risk, and enabling operational agility.
Key Responsibilities
- Act as a primary legal resource for business divisions, applying commercial insight to resolve complex legal and regulatory challenges efficiently.
- Lead the negotiation and structuring of major commercial agreements, including master service agreements and integrated deal frameworks, under tight timelines.
- Deliver clear, actionable advice on contract terms, risk allocation, and market-facing obligations to improve consistency and reduce legal exposure.
- Advise on labor and employment issues across diverse worker types—employees, independent contractors, and brokerage personnel—covering performance, conduct, separations, and restrictive covenants.
- Collaborate with HR and leadership on sensitive workforce transitions, investigations, accommodations, and compliance matters.
- Proactively identify emerging legal and operational risks, providing forward-looking guidance across regulatory, financial, and talent domains.
- Coordinate with Litigation and Compliance teams to ensure cohesive risk strategies and organizational alignment.
- Design and lead training initiatives that simplify legal concepts into practical tools for business teams.
- Work with the Contracting Center of Excellence to refine processes, improve clarity in documentation, and strengthen cross-functional collaboration.
Qualifications
- Juris Doctor and active membership in at least one U.S. state bar.
- Minimum of 8 years of legal experience, including at least 3 years at a law firm, with a focus on complex commercial transactions and advisory roles.
- Proven track record advising senior leaders on high-stakes commercial, financial, and operational issues with sound judgment and strategic clarity.
- Experience supporting transaction-driven sectors such as brokerage, capital markets, or valuation services, or similar fast-paced commercial environments.
- Strong understanding of labor and employment frameworks across various workforce models.
- Ability to distill complex legal concepts into concise, business-relevant recommendations for executive audiences.
- Demonstrated independence in managing multiple priorities under pressure, with precision and speed.
- Leadership in adopting innovative tools—including AI and legal technology—to improve efficiency, quality, and consistency in legal operations.
Work Environment
This hybrid role is based in Chicago, with flexibility to work remotely across the Americas. The position requires periodic in-office collaboration and engagement with cross-functional teams.
Compensation and Benefits
Base salary ranges from $161,670 to $190,200. The organization offers comprehensive health and financial protection benefits, including medical, vision, and dental insurance, flexible and health savings accounts, retirement plans, life and disability coverage, and paid leave programs.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is committed to equal opportunity for all qualified individuals, including veterans and people with disabilities. Discrimination in any form is strictly prohibited in hiring, employment, and advancement practices.
