Commercial Contracts Principal - Consumer Brands

Job Description

Foster Garvey PC is seeking a partner-level attorney with at least eight years of sophisticated commercial contracting and transactional experience to join our Consumer Brands Industry Group. We are looking for an experienced commercial lawyer who understands how businesses operate and can help clients structure, negotiate, and manage the relationships that allow them to develop, manufacture, market, sell, and distribute their products.

While the role includes exposure to corporate matters, it is not primarily focused on corporate or M&A work. The successful candidate will have substantial experience serving as a day-to-day commercial and strategic advisor to operating businesses, with deep experience drafting and negotiating complex business-to-business agreements. Experience representing consumer brands, manufacturers, or other product-based businesses is strongly preferred.

Our Consumer Brands Industry Group delivers comprehensive legal and regulatory counsel to emerging and established companies across the food and beverage, supplement, beauty, pet, apparel, home good, consumer electronic, toy & game, baby product and broader consumer products industries. We advise clients throughout the business lifecycle, from launch and growth through strategic transactions and exit.

The ideal candidate will have significant hands-on experience structuring, drafting and negotiating agreements involving:

• Raw material, ingredient, component and packaging supply;
• Contract manufacturing, co-manufacturing and co-packing;
• Product development, formulation, research and development and commercialization;
• Purchasing, procurement and vendor relationships;
• Sales representatives, brokers and other sales channels;
• Wholesale and retail distribution;
• Warehousing, fulfillment, transportation and logistics;
• Private-label and white-label products;
• Licensing, co-branding, collaborations and strategic partnerships;
• Intellectual property rights arising in commercial relationships;
• Quality, specifications, forecasting, ordering, pricing and service-level arrangements; and
• Other complex operational and commercial relationships critical to product-based businesses.
  
  

The successful candidate should be comfortable advising clients not simply on what a contract says, but on how a proposed relationship should work. We are looking for someone who can identify business and legal risks, anticipate operational problems, develop practical and creative solutions, and translate those solutions into clear contractual structures.

This role requires excellent judgment and unusually strong critical-thinking, creative problem-solving and project-management skills. The successful candidate will be expected to take ownership of matters, identify issues without waiting for them to be pointed out, keep complex projects organized and moving forward, and provide clients and colleagues with practical recommendations rather than simply identifying legal risks.

Experience with general corporate matters, strategic transactions, licensing or transactional intellectual property is welcome but is not required if the candidate has sufficiently deep commercial contracting experience.

At Foster Garvey, you will work with attorneys and staff motivated by excellent client service. You will find resources and mentors to help you grow professionally and work with a team that values everyone’s contributions. You will also be encouraged to work on pro bono and public service matters. The Firm has a track record of litigating significant pro bono cases that protect the rights of some of society’s most vulnerable people.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values at Foster Garvey and enhance our ability to provide clients with innovative, creative, and collaborative advocacy. The Opportunity & Progress Council (OPC) guides Foster Garv ey’s actions in these important areas by executing the Firm’s strategic initiatives to break down institutional and cultural barriers to diversity, equity, and inclusion and to create a shared environment where everyone can do their best work together.

Candidates in Seattle, WA; Spokane, WA; Portland, OR; New York, NY; or Washington, D.C. will be considered.

Job Requirements

• At least eight years of sophisticated commercial contracting and transactional experience;
• Significant experience independently drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex commercial agreements for operating businesses;
• Demonstrated experience with multiple categories of supply chain, manufacturing, distribution, sales, logistics, licensing or other operational commercial agreements described above;
• Excellent business judgment and the ability to understand a client’s objectives, identify material risks and develop practical, creative solutions;
• Exceptional critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, including the ability to spot issues, anticipate downstream consequences and connect issues across complex matters;
• Strong project-management and organizational skills, with the ability to take ownership of matters and manage multiple projects, workstreams and deadlines simultaneously;
• Exceptional attention to detail and a commitment to delivering accurate, thoughtful and complete work;
• Excellent client-facing skills and the ability to communicate sophisticated legal and business issues clearly and practically;
• A highly responsive, collaborative and service-oriented approach;
• Excellent drafting, analytical and negotiation skills;
• JD from an ABA-accredited law school and license to practice law;
• Enthusiasm to work as part of a diverse, multidisciplinary team; and
• Demonstrated ability to build strong client relationships, expand existing relationships and generate new business is a plus.
  
  

Experience with consumer products, food and beverage, beauty, pet, apparel or other product-based businesses is strongly preferred. Experience with general corporate matters, M&A, strategic transactions or transactional intellectual property is a plus, but deep commercial contracting experience is the priority for this position.

Salary Range

The annualized salary range for this position is $300,000 to $550,000. Actual pay will be adjusted based on the candidate’s relevant experience, qualifications, location, and other job-related factors permitted by law.

Other Compensation And Benefits

Foster Garvey offers a competitive compensation and benefits package** including, but not limited to, the following:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance;
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer contributions;
• Commuter allowance;
• Disability and life insurance;
• Parental leave;
• Billable credit hours for approved Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Pro Bono work; and
• Annual bonus and more!
• The provision of benefits is contingent on an employee’s ability to meet the eligibility requirements for the various types of benefits as outlined in the benefit plan documents and Firm policies.
  
  

Pre-Employment Screening

Any job offer will depend upon the successful completion of a pre-employment background screening.

Interested candidates who meet the qualifications should submit their resume, cover letter, and reference sheet via our Careers Portals webpage. If you need assistance with the application process or have questions about the position, please contact Georgia Woodruff, Attorney Recruiting Manager, at georgia.woodruff@foster.com .

Foster Garvey values diversity and is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, citizenship, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, physical or mental disability, political ideology, familial relationships, or status in any other legally protected group.