SVP, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary (On-Site Atlanta, Georgia, Not Remote)

We are looking for a dynamic and experienced general counsel or deputy/divisional general counsel that can lead the company’s legal and compliance function. This is an exciting opportunity to join a global company with a 40-year history of providing leading products, software and solutions worldwide.

POSITION

The General Counsel will serve as a strategic business advisor and partner in support of the company’s business goals and strategic initiatives. He/she will serve as the primary legal advisor to the CEO, the board of directors (the “Board”), and other members of the senior executive team. The General Counsel will anticipate and mitigate legal, regulatory and business risks in the course of protecting the company’s reputation and interests globally. He/she will bring a results-oriented, business-minded focus with sophisticated legal judgment and the leadership skills necessary to successfully drive both the business and legal strategy.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Direct Reporting - This position reports to the President and Chief Executive Officer and is a member of the senior executive team.

Other Relationships – This position also takes direction from the Board.

Location – Atlanta, Georgia. This is not a remote or hybrid position, and the selected candidate will need to work in the company’s Atlanta office full time and live in Atlanta.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

The General Counsel of the company must have a broad technology business orientation and a proven track record of success with publicly traded companies. The General Counsel will have responsibility for the following:

• Serving as a trusted advisor to the CEO, the Board and members of the senior executive team with the paramount goal of protecting the company;
• Actively participating as a fully engaged member of the senior executive team in the resolution of a wide range of general management issues; counseling on issues of major importance to the company and contributing to the corporate strategy; providing multi-functional leadership and critical thinking on all business matters, not limited to legal issues;

• Advising and counseling the company on Board governance, SEC reporting, compliance with Nasdaq listing standards, equity plan matters, and other corporate matters for a public company operating globally.
• Leading and advising the corporate compliance function for the company and advising the CEO, CFO, the Chairman of the Board, the Audit Committee Chair and the Board of Directors on key compliance initiatives, reviews, matters and policies.
• Counseling on both the business and legal ramifications of significant strategic imperatives, possible mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic business development relationships, financings and other possible investments and negotiating and structuring major contracts (customer, vendor and contract manufacturing). Experience with competition/antitrust matters is required.
• Leading and coordinating the legal services provided to the company, including overall administrative management of the legal function such as choosing, managing and evaluating the quality and costs of services of outside counsel;
• Advising the company on litigation risks of possible business decisions; proactive and preventive legal counseling;
• Actively leading and managing threatened and pending litigation (including patent infringement litigation). Selecting outside counsel for litigation matters; oversight of material settlement negotiations and alternative dispute resolution matters;
• Advising on and coordinating the protection of all forms of intellectual property, including patents, trade secrets, trademarks, copyrights and other IP rights and assets;
• Participating and working with the CHRO and HR team, as appropriate, in the resolution of labor and employment issues;
• Working with tax and treasury group functions on financing and tax issues impacting the group; and
• Overseeing the development and dissemination of compliance policies that will ensure that the company is in compliance with all laws, rules and regulations that may apply to the company’s activities on a global basis; monitoring the regulatory landscape and anticipating changing regulations and policies and their impact on the company.

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EDUCATION

The successful candidate should hold a law degree from an accredited U.S. law school and be a member of the bar, although it is not necessary for the attorney to be a member of any specific state bar. The candidate may need to seek single client qualification in the State of Georgia. A track record of academic distinction is required.

IDEAL EXPERIENCE

A minimum of 15-20 years as a practicing lawyer with experience in private practice as well as in a global publicly held corporation; ideally a sitting General Counsel, although deputy or divisional general counsel with sufficient experience may be considered;

A successful track record of working closely with the CEO and Board on issues of critical importance including governance matters. Has successfully provided commercial and strategic advice at the management and board levels, both with regard to legal risk management and more broadly across the business;

Significant public company experience, domestic and international transactional and supervisory experience on M&A and financing;

Experience assessing legal risk in very difficult situations such as matters of acute time pressure and/or involving issues of great materiality to a company. A track record of delivering results under pressure without a complete set of facts or under ambiguous circumstances;

Experience working for technology or industrial companies that operate globally;

Working knowledge of the full range of relevant legal subject areas, including corporate and governance law, securities law (SEC & Nasdaq/NYSE), contracts, labor, employment, IP, antitrust, and litigation management;

Proven skills in consummating complex transactions and identifying and implementing value-added solutions to business problems;

Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate and interact effectively at all levels of the organization; requires gravitas, judgment and self-confidence but also respect for others, regardless of position, and a willingness to work as a fully engaged and invested team member with minimal supervision and direction; and

Experience managing the day-to-day operations of a legal function, including budgeting and resource allocation.

CRITICAL LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES

Legal Skills

The successful candidate must be a pragmatic, business-oriented lawyer of high intellect and demonstrated technical legal expertise, with experience in handling domestic and international transactions; a results-oriented attorney who has full command of the legal function and is willing to roll up his/her sleeves to get the job done; a lawyer who by stature and reputation has demonstrated intellect, vision, and judgment with an ego well in check.

The General Counsel must have demonstrable presence and gravitas and must possess the self-confidence necessary to set forth opinions even in the face of contrary views; he/she should be knowledgeable about current and impending laws, regulations, policies, practices and trends affecting the business; has a strong, company-oriented approach to negotiations including strong alignment with the CEO’s position.

Business Acumen and Partnership/Collaboration

The General Counsel must demonstrate a strong and pragmatic general business perspective and commercial orientation; a lawyer who understands the role the legal function can play in supporting business objectives; must demonstrate a desire to be a contributing member of a high performing executive team; uses knowledge of the business and the law to advise on risk/reward trade-offs; sees ahead clearly and can identify how to accomplish future goals and possesses an interest in advising on business strategy. The successful candidate must have excellent judgment, sensitivity and experience, and the ability to take a stand as appropriate on those important occasions when management appropriately looks to its chief legal officer for decisive guidance. The individual must have the strength of character to provide the CEO and Board with an objective and independent point of view. The General Counsel must possess a sufficient level of personal security and self-awareness to both recognize and quickly react to a change in circumstances or an error in judgment. Someone who will naturally assert himself/herself into the flow of the business (rather than waiting to be pulled in).

Leadership

Demonstrated track record in leading a legal function that is fully engaged in and successfully contributes to the commercial activities of the company; a lawyer who leads by example and possesses a strong work ethic, is collegial and collaborative, and who brings a proven commitment to the creation of a positive working environment within the legal organization. The General Counsel must have a demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across an organization; ability to build credibility and work well with members of the management team and the Board. Relationship oriented; naturally fosters a team approach rather than operating in an isolated task-oriented manner.

OTHER PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Broad based business leader beyond legal function
• Willing to travel as necessary to perform duties
• Excellent listener
• Team Player
• Ego in check
• Unquestioned ethics and integrity
• Commitment to excellence
• Commitment to continuous improvement