Senior Counsel

Johnstone Supply, North Americas leading wholesale distributor of HVACR equipment, parts, and supplies has a great opportunity for Senior Counsel to join our team. Over the last seven decades Johnstone has grown into the industry leader with over 450 distributor branches and 6 distribution centers throughout North America resulting in over $4 billion in annual sales. We work with some of the largest companies in the world, including Daikin/Goodman, Honeywell, Emerson, Johnson Controls, Google and Fujitsu, to provide contractors with world class products, technical expertise and quality service.

As a member of the Legal Team, the Senior Counsel is responsible for managing corporate law, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), complex transactions, regulatory compliance, and risk management within a large, multi-entity environment and provides strategic legal guidance to business units and the Senior Leadership Team (SLT).

Now is the best time to join Johnstone Supply. As an established performer in the industry for over 70 years, Johnstone has a demonstrated history of creating career opportunities. The individual selected for this role will have the chance to work with a growing organization – and be a key legal advisor to senior leadership, shaping corporate governance, compliance strategies, and business decisions across multiple subsidiaries.

Position responsibilities:

• Provides legal counsel and guidance to senior management and various business units on corporate governance, antitrust, franchise laws, data privacy, contracts, regulatory compliance, and intellectual property.
• Oversees and manages legal risks and opportunities across multiple subsidiaries and business units within the company.
• Drafts, reviews, and negotiates complex contracts, including vendor agreements, joint ventures, and commercial agreements.
• Manages and resolves legal disputes, including coordination with external counsel as necessary.
• Provide guidance on antitrust, franchise laws, and other regulatory considerations.
• Provides comprehensive legal support for Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) transactions, including due diligence, structuring, negotiating, drafting, and reviewing transaction documents (e.g., purchase agreements, shareholder agreements, and ancillary documents).
• Supports the development and implementation of company-wide legal policies and best practices.
• Supports internal investigations, particularly related to corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and business conduct.
• Stays current on evolving legal trends and regulations, advising the company on necessary actions to mitigate risks and capitalize on opportunities.
• Collaborates with cross-functional teams, including finance, HR, operations, and corporate development, to ensure legal considerations are addressed in business decision-making.

Position requirements:

• Juris Doctor (J.D) degree from an accredited law school, at least five years of relevant legal experience, preferably at a company or law firm with a focus on complex commercial transactions, M&A, corporate governance, and regulatory matters. In-house legal experience at a company is preferred, but not required for this role.
• Admission to any bar in the US, and in good standing, is required for this role. A license to practice law in Oregon or Texas is preferred, but not required for this role.
• Skill and ability to handle Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) transactions, including due diligence, deal structuring, and negotiation. 
• Skill and ability to advise multiple business entities, subsidiaries, or divisions within a large organization
• Strong understanding of corporate law, mergers & acquisitions, contracts, intellectual property, and regulatory compliance.
• Knowledge of legal and ethical rules and local, state, and federal regulations regarding mergers & acquisitions.
• Ability to manage complex legal issues in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
• Ability to draft, review, and negotiate deal documents.
• Ability to manage outside counsel.
• Skill in using technology applications including Microsoft Office applications, DocuSign, current business document management software, and cloud contract management platforms.
• Problem-solving skills: listening to, interpreting, and meeting the needs of others; diagnosing and rectifying problems.
• Project-management skills: ability to manage the legal aspects of a complex transaction, including due diligence, closing, and integration.
• Ability to take direction or instructions from multiple sources and stakeholders.
• Ability to maintain and hold confidentiality of information at the appropriate level of confidence.
• Ability to understand and research legal issues.
• Ability to work in the office as needed and travel to and from court, regulatory hearings, and other legal proceedings to represent the company in legal matters.
• Ability to be readily available for digital conferencing and in-person collaboration with internal teams, external counsel, and key stakeholders to address legal matters efficiently.
• Ability to communicate with all levels of the organization, and internal and external stakeholders with diverse interpersonal styles and priorities.
• Ability to build strong relationships with senior leadership, business units, and external stakeholders.
• Ability to demonstrate and model the highest standards of ethical behavior, integrity, and professional responsibility in all legal matters and business interactions.

Johnstone Supply is strongly interested in hiring a great candidate that exhibits work behaviors & values that are conducive to building and maintaining a strong and effective company culture. These behaviors include:

• Safety: Always prioritizes safety, both at work and at home, while ensuring those who work for you work safely.
• Customer Focused: Take the perspective of those we serve, anticipate their needs, and responding quickly.
• One Team: We win together by collaborating with each other, focusing on the common goal, and leveraging the strengths of the team.
• Own It: Take the initiative, act with a sense of urgency and pride, do things right the first time, and always act with integrity.
• Innovate: Embrace and create change that drives continuous improvement and customer-valued solutions.

Johnstone offers a competitive wage and benefits that include medical, dental, vision, life, LTD, 401(k) with company match, and PTO after 90 days. Our commitment to continuous improvement & investment in our people is only matched by our commitment to superior customer experience. If you are ready to take the next step in your career, apply now.

Visit our website https://www.johnstonesupply.com/our-history for more information about our growing company.

EOE & E-Verify Participating Employer.