Products & Platforms Ecosystems Counsel - Manager

About the role

The Products & Platforms Ecosystems Counsel is a member of the Technology & Managed Services (TMS) team within the Ernst & Young LLP (EY) U.S. General Counsel’s Office (GCO). This position provides a unique opportunity to support and advise the TMS team and their business clients on complex legal matters.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the applicable Service Line Counsels for Products & Platforms on go-to-market initiatives, ensuring alignment with EY's product and platform commercialization objectives.
• Coordinate with EY Procurement, Alliances, and sourcing functions to provide strategic legal guidance on third-party technology, data, AI, supplier arrangements, alliances, and third-party partnerships.
• Collaborate with the Products & Platforms Coordinating Counsel, IP Counsel, and the broader TMS team on legal and commercial considerations spanning EY’s products and platforms ecosystem.
• Work collaboratively with internal procurement, alliances, product, and technology teams and the relevant Service Line leaders to address identified issues and provide strategic legal advice.
• Advising internal procurement, alliances, product and technology teams and the relevant Service Line leaders on key legal risks of the proposed project or contract, including the legal and regulatory issues that need to be addressed early in the process.
• Provide input and feedback concerning GCO contracting procedures and ensure compliance with EY policies.
• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts with third parties, including master service agreements, professional services agreements, NDAs, outsourcing agreements, technology services agreements, systems implementation agreements, data agreements, and other technology related agreements.
• Support integration of ecosystem-specific issues and risk matters into TMS team priorities, such as addressing key third-party dependencies and risks in client-facing contracts.
• Consult with legal counsel in other member firms around the world to explain the objective of the activity, the data or personnel that will be impacted, how risks will be mitigated and managed; and address any remaining local issues with the affected member firms, the counterparty, and other stakeholders.
• Interpret and explain contract terms and conditions for internal clients and stakeholders.
• Confirm that contracts are compliant with EY policies and maintain an understanding of the impact of any changes in EY’s policies, organizational structure, and procedures.
• Contractually protect EY’s intellectual property to prevent loss or infringement by third parties.
• Provide advice based on the appropriate balance of risk mitigation and business interests on a real-time basis.
• Escalate identified key issues and contractual provisions in accordance with EY policies/protocols.
• Work independently on projects, with limited direction, and draw upon knowledge and experience to deliver quality risk management.

Qualifications

• Excellent organizational skills; demonstrated ability to create, plan, and successfully execute projects; and the ability to meet multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to interface and communicate effectively and diplomatically with all levels of EY personnel.
• Experience with negotiation techniques, transactional analysis, contract law, IP, commercial agreements, and workload/project management.
• Excellent negotiation, drafting, and interpersonal skills, with high degree of cultural and emotional intelligence.
• Ability to understand, and accurately articulate and document, complex concepts.
• Understanding of when to consult with and seek the input of others.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks with competing deadlines.
• Foster teamwork and maintain effective working relationships with internal clients/stakeholders.
• Responsive with ability to manage high workload volumes efficiently and effectively.
• Commercial, solution-oriented thinking, with a focus on exceptional client service.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited 4-year college or Juris Doctor from an accredited law school.
• 3 - 7 or more years of relevant work experience in a related role, with a particular emphasis on commercial matters.
• Membership in a State Bar as an attorney; qualified to practice law as an in-house attorney in state of residence.
• Good standing with the State Bar, including being current on individual state Continuing Legal Education requirements.