Assistant General Counsel

Cushman & Wakefield • Chicago, IL

21h • Hybrid

About The Position

The successful candidate for this position will join a dynamic legal team with direct responsibility for providing corporate, transactional, labor & employment, and litigation support to Cushman & Wakefield’s Global Occupier Services (GOS) business in North America. The candidate will be responsible for proactively supporting the GOS businesses, with a varied client base, and fostering C&W's dynamic, collaborative, and practical culture. This position may include providing assistance to other Cushman & Wakefield Service Lines and working on special projects as they arise. This role includes oversight of senior counsel, strategic risk management, and executive-level collaboration, and reports to the Associate General Counsel - GOS and plays a key role in shaping legal strategy for major client engagements and corporate initiatives. This role is Hybrid (minimum 2 days/week in the office) and located in Chicago.

Requirements

• J.D. from a leading law school required.
• Combination of private practice and in-house experience preferred, with the latter more critical.
• Bar admission in good standing.
• Requires 12+ years of relevant broad based commercial law experience across multiple business lines and jurisdictions which preferably should include at least 3 years representing U.S. companies.
• 4+ years of merger & acquisition and business outsourcing experience a must
• Expertise in the outsourcing of Facilities Management, Project Management, Property Management, and Commercial Real Estate Experience.
• Demonstrated Customer/Client Focus.
• Ability to multi-task and be productive in stressful, time-sensitive situations and fast-paced environments.
• Exceptional organizational, writing and communication skills, along with strong legal and analytical skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively and creatively in various team environments and independently.
• Innovation fluency with the ability to generate ideas quickly and adapt to change to drive innovation.
• Executive presence and ability to influence senior stakeholders.
• Strategic leadership, problem solver, and decision-making.
• Advanced negotiation and risk management skills.
• Ability to engage with evolving technologies and AI to work more effectively, smarter, faster and delivering deeper insight to both legal and business teams.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in M&A highly valued for the position.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review and negotiate complex regional and global outsourcing agreements with regards to real estate, facility management, transaction management, project management, lease administration, property management, procurement, brokerage & capital markets and consulting (e.g., master service agreements, property management agreements, local country agreements, vendor/subcontractor agreements, license agreements, employee transfer agreements, etc.).
• Consistently analyze and mitigate complex contractual risk, while increasing efficiency and consistency in contracting.
• Advise and counsel internal business clients with respect to the legal policies and the legal implications of proposed transactions; maintain open communication and good working relationships with both internal business clients and clients of the Company.
• Manage pre-litigation strategy and dispute resolution process regarding contract performance issues.
• Oversee litigation and labor & employment matters for GOS businesses in North America, in coordination with C&W litigation counsel and the Associate General Counsel - GOS.
• Collaborate with Assistant General Counsels and Associate General Counsels and internal business clients to share best practices, implement risk management strategies, craft negotiation strategy, and follow corporate directives, policies and procedures.
• Assist Senior Counsel and other Assistant General Counsels to develop training for internal clients.
• Demonstrate the ability and willingness to work under time-sensitive deadlines and be productive in fast-paced environments with multiple competing priorities.
• Research, analyze and keep current on legal issues and laws, legislation, regulations, and court decisions affecting the outsourcing commercial real estate industry and real estate service providers.
• Collaborate with internal procurement Assistant General Counsel with regards to GOS procurement activities and with the North America Compliance Director on compliance matters.
• Perform any and all other related duties as required or requested.

Benefits

• Cushman & Wakefield also provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health, vision, and dental insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life, and disability insurance programs, and paid and unpaid time away from work.
• In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, Cushman and Wakefield provide eligible employees with competitive pay, which may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, total hours worked, job type, business line, and applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree