Assistant General Counsel

Greenpeace USA•Washington, DC

3h•Hybrid

About The Position

Greenpeace lawyers help change the world for the better by ensuring that Greenpeace organizations are internally strong and well-defended, as well as through proactive litigation and other strategic legal initiatives. The Assistant General Counsel is charged with supporting the General Counsel and Legal Team in identifying and advising on organizational legal risks and opportunities. This includes working to protect the organization by, among other things, ensuring regulatory compliance, identifying and helping to mitigate risks and legally vetting publications, contracts and other documents. The Assistant General Counsel may also work with outside counsel to assist in managing litigation to defend activists. Additionally, this role provides legal guidance and training to staff on a wide range of issues with emphasis on non-profit corporate, tax, employment, labor, contract, campaign finance, intellectual property and environmental matters. The Assistant General Counsel may also collaborate with attorneys in the global Greenpeace network to optimize movement lawyering principles, mitigate and reduce cross-organizational liability issues, especially related to global campaign activities. This Assistant General Counsel is a full-time, hybrid, exempt, benefits-eligible position, preferably based in Washington, D.C. Candidates in other GPUS-authorized locations (DC, MD, VA, NY, NJ, CT) will be considered. This role reports to the General Counsel.

Requirements

Minimum 3 years of legal experience
U.S. J.D. or non-U.S. law degree with U.S. L.L.M. degree
Admission to practice in a U.S. state and qualification to be admitted to the bar of the District of Columbia
Experience with one or more of the following areas: nonprofit law; political law such as lobbying, PAC and Foreign Agents Registration Act compliance; contracts, employment, tax and labor law; First Amendment law; civil and/or criminal defense of activists
Ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally, as needed (estimated as 1-2 times per quarter)
Ability and willingness to work outside of normal business hours, across time zones and/or on weekends, as needed
Ability and willingness to work in-person 1-5 days per quarter for team meetings and required in-person activities
Only applicants eligible to work and live in the United States without any legal restrictions need apply for this opportunity.

Nice To Haves

Experience with environmental, human rights, and international law, preferred
Experience working in-house or in management at a progressive non-profit, preferred
Knowledge of U.S. political landscape, culture, social movements and socio-economic environment, preferred
Bilingual or multilingual abilities are a plus

Responsibilities

Provide legal guidance and advice to various stakeholders, including leadership and staff, on a variety of in-house legal issues, such as nonprofit corporate, tax, employment, labor, campaign finance, publication review, contracts and intellectual property, as directed by the General Counsel and/or Deputy General Counsel
Provide legal guidance on array of issues that may arise for one or more Greenpeace Inc. campaigns, which may include development and application of international treaties, domestic laws, legal threats, and opportunities to advance campaigns through legal strategies, as directed by the General Counsel and/or Deputy General Counsel
Work with colleagues in other Greenpeace national and regional organizations to integrate compliance considerations on relevant issues of U.S. law ,as appropriate
Assist in ensuring organizational compliance with federal, state and local laws, including non-profit corporate and tax, lobbying, political activities, contracts and entity separation for 501(c)4 and 501(c)3 entities –liaising with internal staff to support compliance processes
Support fundraising work to ensure timely charitable fundraising registrations and compliance with fundraising regulations
Support one or more systems relating to registration and protection of organizational solicitation activities, intellectual property rights, grants management, contract management, and legal review of organizational outputs
Conduct risk assessments on organizational and campaign activities, and implement mitigation measures
Provide training to staff in at least one area to support and increase legal compliance
Advise activists and organizations on legal risks and constitutional rights
Supervise outreach activities related to cases and campaigns
Collaborate in team problem-solving, litigation strategy, and project management
Build rapport and collaborate with attorneys around the global Greenpeace network, communicating the GPUS legal perspective and ascertaining and reporting back on the international perspective, to optimize movement lawyering principles and to anticipate, mitigate and reduce cross NRO liability issues, especially related to global campaign activities
Collaborate with the Legal Team and the Communications Department to develop communication strategies around cases and campaigns
Liaise and collaborate with outside counsel on various legal matters requiring subject area expertise
Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned by the manager, as organizational or team priorities arise and/or shift.