Associate General Counsel - M&A - Chicago, IL

Archer Daniels Midland Company • Chicago, IL

51d • Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a highly motivated Associate General Counsel to join our in-house legal team. This role will be responsible for leading the legal support on a wide range of corporate transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, strategic investments, corporate venture transactions, and corporate finance transactions. The Associate General Counsel will also focus on public company securities reporting and corporate governance, and as well as on commercial contracts and other related matters. This is a key role within a Fortune 50 global company, providing strategic legal counsel to corporate development, finance, investor relations, and senior management teams. The successful candidate will combine strong technical expertise with sound business judgment, excellent communication skills, and a collaborative, pragmatic approach. This position is ideal for a lawyer with 10+ years of experience either inhouse or at a leading law firm who is looking to broaden their skills and lead a small but effective team in a dynamic in-house environment.

Requirements

• A Juris Doctor or equivalent law degree; admission to practice in at least one jurisdiction.
• At least a combined 10 years of experience managing M&A legal activity in house or at a large, nationally recognized law firm, with a strong focus on M&A transactions; must be able to take on the role of lead M&A counsel, providing leadership and/or support for all elements of transactions, including structuring, overall due diligence, documentation, and coordinating signing and closing.
• Experience with corporate finance, public company securities law compliance and corporate governance.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple projects simultaneously and work effectively in a fast-paced, matrixed, global environment.
• Proven leadership capabilities with experience managing and developing legal professionals.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with business stakeholders at all levels.
• Business-oriented mindset with the ability to align legal strategy with commercial objectives and practical problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the execution of domestic and international M&A, divestitures, joint ventures, and investment transactions from inception through closing and integration, including drafting and negotiating agreements, managing due diligence, and coordinating with internal and external stakeholders.
• Manage legal support on corporate finance and treasury transactions, including debt and equity offerings, credit facilities, securitization transactions, and other financing matters.
• Prepare and review SEC filings and advise on securities law compliance, including insider trading, Section 16 reporting, earnings reports, investor engagement and Regulation FD.
• Advise on corporate/public company governance matters, including board and committee processes, materials and best practices, NYSE reporting and compliance.
• Support all aspects of the Company's annual proxy statement and annual stockholders meeting.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial contracts, including procurement, services, licensing, and other business agreements.
• Partner with internal stakeholders across finance, tax, corporate development, and other functions, as well business unit and regional counsel, to provide practical legal advice aligned with business objectives.
• Support general corporate matters, including internal reorganizations, capital transactions, and the Company's legal entity formation and management.
• Manage outside counsel efficiently and effectively.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Food Manufacturing
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees