Associate General Counsel

A leading organization is seeking an experienced attorney to join its Legal Department as Associate General Counsel. This role will support a broad range of commercial transactions and corporate contracting activities while partnering closely with internal business stakeholders.

The Associate General Counsel will lead the negotiation, drafting, and review of complex commercial agreements and play a key role in advancing organizational priorities through practical legal advice and risk management. The role requires strong collaboration with internal teams including property operations, technology, marketing, human resources, construction, development, risk management, and finance.

This individual will also contribute to the development and improvement of contract templates, processes, and policies that enhance contracting efficiency and strengthen governance across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the negotiation, drafting, and review of a wide range of commercial agreements, including:
• Technology and SaaS agreements
• Construction contracts
• Vendor and service agreements
• Property management agreements
• Consulting and staffing agreements
• Marketing, advertising, and strategic partnership agreements
• Joint venture and other business collaboration agreements
• Provide practical legal guidance to business stakeholders to support efficient execution of commercial transactions while mitigating risk.
• Identify, analyze, and summarize legal, financial, and operational issues in both standard and complex contracts.
• Ensure accuracy and consistency in agreements, amendments, renewals, and extensions, and manage related contract lifecycle activities.
• Develop and maintain standardized contract templates and playbooks to streamline negotiations and improve internal processes.
• Design and enhance policies, procedures, and governance related to contract lifecycle management and procurement processes.
• Support business transactions related to asset acquisitions, dispositions, and portfolio changes, ensuring contracts are properly reviewed and transitioned.
• Manage and prioritize a high volume of contract matters across multiple internal clients and business units.
• Retain and manage outside counsel when specialized legal expertise is required.
• Support special projects and strategic initiatives within the legal department as needed.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school with strong academic credentials
• Admission to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction; Illinois admission preferred or ability to obtain
• Minimum of 7+ years of commercial transactional experience, preferably with a combination of law firm and in-house experience
• Demonstrated ability to independently structure, draft, negotiate, and close sophisticated commercial agreements
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with a pragmatic and business-focused negotiation style
• Experience working cross-functionally with business teams in a fast-paced environment
• Familiarity with privacy, trademark, and copyright issues as they intersect with commercial agreements
• Experience with contract lifecycle management (CLM) systems or contract process improvement initiatives preferred
• Proven ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality legal advice within tight timelines