Legal Counsel, Contracts Attorney (Hybrid)

In-house corporate attorney specializing in the drafting, negotiation, and review of a broad range of commercial contracts and other transactional documents as well as providing general transactional legal research, analysis, and counseling across Belk’s business units. The attorney will have direct involvement with multiple areas of Belk’s business including information technology (IT), marketing, stores, e-commerce, human resources (HR), finance, supply chain, merchandising, and other business areas. This position is ideal for an experienced attorney looking to join a dynamic in-house legal team.

Essential Functions:

• Independently lead, negotiate, draft, and review commercial contracts (SaaS and non-SaaS) across Belk’s business, including, IT, marketing, stores, ecommerce, HR, finance, supply chain, merchandising, and other business areas.
• Take ownership of the contracts/negotiation process, legal/business projects, and other legal/business needs to drive items to execution.
• Provide strategic, practical legal advice to executives and their teams within requested timelines.
• Lead multiple stakeholders through business, legal, corporate communications, and corporate governance issues.
• Assist in the development, and maintenance of Belk’s contract compliance program, including procedures in various applicable subject matter areas.
• Support the Head of Legal, VP of Legal, and other Legal team members, as requested, in connection with legal matters.
• Build positive cross-functional partnerships with internal business partners to promote collaboration and ensure material issues/risks are being sent to Legal for review. 
• Enable internal partners to reach out for legal advice prior to making decisions that include legal or business risk.
• Proactively research and stay up to date on retail industry trends, risks, and issues.
• Support Legal and Business Team needs as requested, including outside of area of expertise.
• Effectively maintain records and files of legal department for matters overseen or managed.
• Maintain confidentiality and impeccable ethical standards at all times.
• Critically review, analyze, and assess contract needs and requirements in relation to business standards.
• Correctly identify and redline material issues and risks in the contract/negotiation process and minimize time and redlines on non-material issues and risks.
• Effectively prioritize urgent requests and communicate clearly with business partners regarding status and drafting.
• Accurately track workload to minimize delays in responding to business needs.
• Work independently to drive strategy, workload/process efficiency, and legal operations.
• Demonstrate a business-savvy, creative approach to problem-solving, including advising on risk and providing practical business-oriented solutions.
• Deliver Belk’s brand and standards.
• Communicate clear expectations and accountabilities to internal and external partners.
• Prioritize delivering excellent work product and focus on key issues.
• Keep the Head of Legal, VP of Legal, executives, and their teams informed regarding applicable changes in regulations and laws which directly or indirectly impact Belk’s business.
• Proactively communicate with Legal team members.
• and internal stakeholders, including senior business leaders, regarding legal impact and risk.
• Confront complex legal issues and conflicts in a professional, assertive, and proactive manner.
• Possess excellent negotiation and writing skills and properly follow Belk’s contract standards.
• Function as a solution-oriented advisor by assisting the business in strategically finding legal alternatives when faced with business constraints.
• Must be approachable, confidential, and preserve attorney/client privilege.
• Must be capable of quick and in-depth legal research and understanding of complex business issues that are not in the usual scope of practice areas, but which are necessary to address Belk’s business needs and partners.
• Proficient in prioritization, flexibility, and working under deadlines to deliver legal services in a timely manner.
• Requires designated hybrid in-office work schedule

Education: 

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Must have a Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school.
• Specific Certifications: Must be licensed and able to practice law in the state of NC. License must be in good standing. Must comply with annual CLE requirements for maintaining license to practice law.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills along with a demonstrated ability to collaborate with internal and external partners to drive business results.
• Strong work ethic, prudent judgment, and ability to manage risk and internal compliance and control policy enforcement.

Experience:

• Minimum of 3 years of transactional legal practice required.
• Prior experience as an in-house transactional attorney with experience negotiating and drafting commercial contracts preferred.
• Experience drafting and negotiating intellectual property, privacy, and data security terms preferred.
• Experience drafting and negotiating various technology, intellectual property, and data-related commercial contracts, including software and data licensing, master services agreements, data protection agreements, and similar agreements preferred.
• Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) certification preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Excellent drafting skills with keen attention to detail.
• Ability to critically think through complex legal matters.
• First-class verbal/written communications skills.
• Excellent organizational and negotiation skills.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships, credibility, and trust with internal business partners, colleagues, vendors, and outside legal counsel.
• Work independently.
• Ability to work effectively with and manage outside legal counsel and other outside service providers, if applicable.
• Proficient in the personal use of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
• Work within and sometimes lead cross functional teams.
• Serve as a positive Belk ambassador in interactions with customers, vendors, other employees, and the community.
   

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