Chief Legal Officer

About the role

Responsible for overall firm risk management and compliance, the Chief Legal Officer will serve as a key member of the firm's leadership team. This individual will oversee a team of attorneys in providing legal support and guidance to the firm in the oversight and management of 60+ national offices. Reporting to the Chief Operations Officer, the Chief Legal Officer will collaborate with firm leadership, the board, and cross-functional teams and stakeholders in providing proactive legal advice to mitigate risk.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead firm legal strategies and compliance programs to support the mitigation of firm-wide legal and reputational risks, including but not limited to malpractice exposure, ethical issues, and regulatory compliance
• Serve as trusted advisor to senior leadership including the firm chair and firm managing principal, board of directors, principals, and a cross-functional team of chiefs on matters of significance
• Identify, assess, and manage legal regulatory risk across the firm
• Advise on the development and implementation of firm policies; provide guidance on appropriate audit and governance structures to mitigate risk
• Manage all legal matters including contracts, outside counsel guidelines, litigation, intellectual property, and corporate transactions
• Effectively manage relationships with outside counsel, opposing counsel, and regulatory bodies
• Provide guidance to attorneys and practice leaders on professional responsibilities; oversee compliance with applicable rules of professional conduct and bar regulations across jurisdictions
• Oversee a team of attorneys and other professionals in the day-to-day execution of the OGC functions
• Define processes, implement appropriate governance/controls, and operationalize a cadence to review and update firm-wide policies, while building team structure and overseeing key functions such as risk management
• Support the resolution of conflicts governance and process matters
• Support internal investigations and confidential matters involving policy violations or professional conduct
• Collaborate with HR, IT, Risk, and Finance teams to ensure integrated governance and compliance oversight

Qualifications

• JD from ABA Accredited Law School
• Working in house at a large multi-office AMLAW 200 law firm as the General Counsel (or Deputy General Counsel if the remit is broad enough) is required
• 20+ years of relevant and progressive experience
• Active member in good standing with the state bar
• Must be a well-versed and experienced business/commercial lawyer
• Law firm experience required; preferred industries include professional services
• Proven ability to provide strategic business-oriented legal counsel in a large matrixed organization with experience operating within billion-dollar enterprises and navigating the complex, sophisticated challenges inherent to large-scale environments
• Excellent attention to detail
• Excellent written and oral communication, negotiation, and judgement skills
• Strong organizational and project management skills

Pay

For New York Metro, California, and Colorado, the expected salary range for this position is between $700,000 and $800,000. This position is also eligible for annual bonuses. The actual compensation will be determined based on experience and other factors permitted by law.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Flexible Spending & Health Savings Account
• Firm-paid holidays, vacation, and sick time
• Employee assistance program and other firm benefits