Description:

Position Summary:
The General Counsel serves as the chief legal officer for a publicly traded manufacturing company specializing in less-lethal weapons and related safety products. This executive role is responsible for all legal, regulatory, and compliance matters, including public company and SEC reporting, Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance, employee relations, export control, product liability, privacy & security compliance and risk management. The General Counsel provides strategic, business-oriented legal guidance to the CEO and executive leadership team, ensuring the company operates ethically, lawfully, and efficiently while protecting shareholder value and supporting long-term business objectives.

Key Responsibilities:
Legal & Strategic Leadership

Serve as the company's chief legal advisor, providing practical, solution-oriented guidance to the CEO and executive leadership team.
Work with CEO & CFO to develop proactive legal and compliance strategies aligned with operational and financial goals.
Lead the legal function, manage external counsel, and maintain cross-departmental legal alignment.

Public Company & SEC Compliance

Oversee insider trading compliance.
Ensure accurate and timely preparation of 8-K, proxy statements, and Section 16 filings, in partnership with Finance and Investor Relations.
Advise leadership on corporate reporting, SOX compliance, and disclosure controls.
Partner with Finance to maintain internal control documentation, audit readiness, and risk disclosures.
Support investor relations and consistent, compliant communication with shareholders and regulators.

Regulatory & Product Compliance

Ensure compliance with all laws and regulations governing the manufacture and sale of less-lethal weapons, including export controls (EAR/ITAR), product safety, environmental, and OSHA standards.
Lead investigations and coordinate responses to regulatory inquiries, audits, and enforcement actions.
Maintain relationships with relevant regulatory agencies and ensure company operations align with evolving standards.

Contracts & Commercial Transactions

Draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreements including supplier, distribution, OEM, licensing, and government procurement contracts.
Ensure that contracts balance risk, protect intellectual property, and advance strategic business objectives.
Support mergers, acquisitions, and other strategic transactions through due diligence and documentation management.

Employee Relations & Employment Law

Advise Human Resources and management on all aspects of employment law and employee relations, including performance management, disciplinary actions, separations, and internal investigations.
Work with Human Resources to develop and enforce consistent legal standards for workplace conduct, compliance, and documentation.
Ensure compliance with federal and state labor laws (EEO, FMLA, ADA, FLSA, etc.) and provide counsel on employment policies and handbooks.
Support leadership in addressing workforce matters, promoting fair and compliant employee treatment while protecting the company's legal interests.

Risk Management & Litigation

Develop and oversee the company's enterprise risk management framework.
Identify, assess, and mitigate key legal and operational risks across all business functions.
Oversee litigation strategy, dispute resolution, and coordination with outside counsel.
Partner with Finance and Operations to evaluate risk exposure and mitigation strategies, including insurance coverage, contractual risk transfer, and compliance monitoring.

Cross-Functional & Operational Partnership

Collaborate closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, HR, Finance, and Sales to embed compliance and legal risk management in everyday operations.
Participate in site visits, operational audits, and supplier assessments to ensure adherence to internal and external requirements.

Requirements:
Qualifications:

Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
Active membership in good standing with a U.S. state bar.
10–20 years of progressive legal experience, including in-house counsel experience at a public company.
Demonstrated expertise in corporate and securities law ('34 Act), SOX compliance, employee relations, and export controls (EAR/ITAR).
Strong background in contract negotiation, product liability, and litigation management.
Proven ability to provide balanced, practical legal guidance to senior executives and operational teams.
High integrity, sound judgment, and ability to manage sensitive and confidential matters effectively.