Corporate Counsel

Since 1977, PAFCO has been a leading seafood company with warehousing and distribution facilities. PAFCO is searching for a thoughtful and hard-working attorney to join its growing team. The Corporate Counsel will be responsible for providing legal advice and support for a range of legal matters, including employment, operational, and transactional issues. This position reports directly to the CEO and works closely with the CFO and Operations team. We need a partner that will offer actionable legal and risk mitigation advice The corporation counsel will be the sole attorney at the company. Ideal candidate is willing to grow into an AGC and GC position, and build a strong legal and/or Risk Management team, as required by the company.

Location: Vernon, CA (on-site)

Compensation: $150,000.00-$200,000 per year doe

Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic advice from a legal perspective across the company’s activities
• Act as continuous improvement for legal, HR, and Risk
• Draft or edit commercial agreements in-house and create sound contract management process.
• Liaise with and drive litigation matters by working closely with outside counsel and/or resolving prior to litigation
• Attend to all regulatory and supply chain issues of the company
• Provide guidance to HR team on employment matters
• Attend to workers compensation matters to drive down Ex-mod, improve safety, and close claims
• Assist CFO with insurance renewals, policy matters, and outstanding insurance claims of company
• Develop a risk management system / team to reduce exposure
• Proactively assist with M&A review & diligence
• Support CEO with ad-hoc requirements and projects
• Assist with and resolve pre-litigation disputes
• Draft internal policies and procedures across the company

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school
• Licensed to practice law in the state of California
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant legal experience, with at least 3 years at a law firm preferred
• Experience in employment matters and leading HR preferred
• Strong analytical skills and familiarity with Microsoft Excel preferred
• Any experience in international law, international shipping law,  and logistics would be a huge plus

Key Competencies:

• Legal expertise: The In-House Counsel must have a strong understanding of employment and HR rules in California, as well as transactional and litigation matters. They must also have the ability to provide sound legal advice and support across departments.
• Communication skills: The In-House Counsel must have excellent communication skills, both verbal and written. They must be able to communicate complex legal concepts in a clear and concise manner.
• Analytical skills: The In-House Counsel must have strong analytical skills and the ability to review legal documents and contracts to identify potential issues. Capabilities of collaboration on wage/hour data, overtime compliance preferred.
• Team Player: The In-House Counsel must be able to collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders, including operations teams and outside counsel.
• Adaptability: The In-House Counsel must be able to adapt to changing legal requirements and best practices, as well as evolving business needs.