Associate Counsel

Reports to: General Counsel

Location: Newark, NJ | Full-time | M-Th 8AM-5PM, F half-day

Position Overview

The Associate Counsel supports the General Counsel in executing the company’s legal strategy, with a focus on transactional and commercial legal matters that enable day-to-day business operations. Along with General Counsel, this role owns contract review, regulatory compliance support, and risk identification, partnering closely with teams across the organization to provide clear, practical legal guidance. This is a hands-on, individual contributor role with meaningful ownership and exposure across the business.

Key Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide variety of commercial agreements, including, e.g., equipment purchases, software-as-a-service (SaaS) agreements, professional services agreements, and leases.
• Provide timely, practical legal guidance to business teams on contracts, risk, and operational decisions.
• Support corporate governance and regulatory compliance efforts in partnership with General Counsel.
• Identify legal risks and propose clear, business-oriented solutions to mitigate exposure.
• Manage and track contract workflows to ensure efficiency, consistency, and proper documentation.
• Partner with internal stakeholders (Sales, Operations, HR, Finance) to align legal support with business needs.
• Help oversee outside counsel for specialized matters, ensuring cost-effective and targeted use.
• Support internal investigations and compliance initiatives, including policy development and adherence.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school and active bar admission in good standing.
• 2 - 6 years of experience in transactional or commercial law (law firm or in-house), preferably in a small to mid-sized firm or business environment.
• Strong contract drafting and negotiation skills, with attention to detail and sound judgment.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, prioritize effectively, and operate without heavy oversight.
• Practical, business-oriented mindset with the ability to balance risk and speed.
• Strong interpersonal skills; collaborative, low-ego approach with a willingness to support team goals.
• Quick, efficient, resourceful, with the ability to learn new areas and adapt in a fast-paced environment.