Description:

A Family-Owned Company is seeking an experienced Corporate Counsel to establish an in-house legal and risk function. The Corporate Counsel will handle a wide range of legal and risk matters, including contract review and negotiation, regulatory compliance, and risk management. This role will also liaise between A Family-Owned Company leadership and external counsel.

Principal Duties:

Contract Review and Negotiation: Draft, review, and negotiate agreements between A Family-Owned Company and its suppliers, customers, agents, employees, and other partners.
Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management: Advise on best practices for compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, including but not limited to those related to food production and certification, employment, safety, data privacy, and environmental issues. Create and manage a risk register to proactively assess the business interruption, legal and liability implications of business decisions and ensure key stakeholders understand associated risks and mitigation strategies.
Insurance Management: Managing insurance procurement, claims, and relationships with insurance providers.
Legal Liaison: Act as a key point of contact between A Family-Owned Company leadership and external counsel, ensuring mutual understanding and providing an additional legal perspective to A Family-Owned Company.
Litigation & Dispute Management: Represent the company in legal disputes where appropriate and oversee litigation handled by external counsel, including but not limited to litigation involving product liability and commercial disputes.
Intellectual Property Management: Ensure protection of A Family-Owned Company intellectual property, including but not limited to trademarks, patents, and trade secrets.
Crisis Management: Lead legal response to product recalls, contamination claims, or other crises, coordinating with regulatory bodies and external counsel as needed.
Policy Development: Draft, review, and maintain internal legal policies and procedures to mitigate risk and ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
Legal Research and Training: Stay up-to-date with legal developments relevant to the business and keep stakeholders apprised of such changes. Responsible for creating and maintaining practical legal tools and resources (e.g. contract templates, compliance checklists) for the company.

Work Schedule and Travel
Work schedule will be hybrid, with time between at the Dallas headquarters and working remotely. Business needs will periodically require additional in office days and travel.

Qualifications:

Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
Active license to practice law in Texas with ability to obtain in-house counsel registration where required.
Minimum 10 years of relevant legal experience.
Strong background in contracts, risk management, litigation management, and regulatory compliance.

Skills: