General Of Counsel

Position Overview
The General Counsel serves as the chief legal advisor to the firm’s leadership, including the Managing Partner, Executive Committee, and practice group leaders. This role oversees all legal, regulatory, risk management, and compliance matters affecting the firm. The GC provides strategic guidance on firm governance, ethics, professional responsibility, internal policies, and complex business issues, ensuring the firm operates within all applicable laws and maintains the highest standards of professional conduct.

---

Key Responsibilities

Firm Governance & Advisory

• Advise firm leadership on legal, regulatory, and business matters impacting the firm’s operations, strategy, and risk profile.

• Provide guidance on partnership matters, including lateral hiring, departures, compensation, and internal investigations.

• Draft, review, and update firm policies, partnership agreements, governance documents, and internal procedures.

Ethics & Professional Responsibility

• Serve as the firm’s primary ethics advisor, offering counsel related to conflicts of interest, confidentiality, client representation issues, and bar compliance.

• Oversee the conflicts department and ensure adherence to conflict-checking procedures and ethical rules.

• Manage reporting and resolution of professional responsibility issues and grievances.

Risk Management & Compliance

• Identify, assess, and mitigate operational, reputational, and regulatory risks.

• Oversee compliance with federal, state, local, and international laws relevant to law firm operations.

• Manage outside counsel when needed to address specialized risk or regulatory matters.

Litigation Management

• Oversee and coordinate the firm’s response to litigation, subpoenas, and government inquiries.

• Manage litigation holds, eDiscovery obligations, and documentation related to internal or external disputes.

Employment & HR Legal Support

• Advise on employment policies, investigations, disciplinary actions, and compliance with employment laws.

• Provide legal support regarding partner and employee relations, terminations, and harassment or discrimination claims.

Contracts & Business Transactions

• Review, negotiate, and approve commercial agreements, vendor contracts, technology licenses, NDAs, and client engagement terms.

• Advise on real estate, insurance, IP, and other operational matters impacting the firm.

Training & Education

• Develop and deliver internal training related to ethics, risk management, and firm policies.

• Serve as a resource for attorneys and staff regarding professional responsibility and compliance issues.

---

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school; strong academic credentials preferred.

• Minimum 10 years of legal experience, preferably including experience within a law firm or professional services environment.

• Deep knowledge of legal ethics, professional responsibility rules, and law firm governance.

• Proven ability to advise senior leadership and manage sensitive, confidential matters.

• Strong communication, judgment, and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and influence firm-wide policy adoption.