Associate General Counsel

Spencer Stuart • New York, NY

4d • $200,000 - $250,000 • Remote

About The Position

The Associate General Counsel will lead corporate governance and compliance work within the Legal function, ensuring the Firm observes global corporate formalities. This role involves advising on legal and governance matters for the parent company, providing strategic counsel on fiduciary duties, director obligations, and best practices. The position supports the annual cycle of Board and committee governance activities, oversees the governance and compliance framework for global subsidiaries, and coordinates annual corporate maintenance. The Associate General Counsel will also work closely with Treasury and Finance on corporate matters, support the Firm's employee-owned share structure, oversee the execution and legalization of corporate documentation, and review/update corporate processes. Additionally, the role involves disseminating expertise, understanding emerging themes in the corporate space, and supporting the Chief Legal Officer (CLO) in her Company Secretary responsibilities. The role also includes providing guidance to a Corporate Paralegal and a Compliance Specialist, overseeing outside counsel, and potentially assisting with other legal matters as needed. Approximately 60% of the role will focus on governance, with the remainder dedicated to other legal function needs, including the Firm's share program and transactional initiatives.

Requirements

• Qualified lawyer with 6+ years of legal experience
• Governance experience
• Experience with cross-border, multi-jurisdictional transactions, including entity matters across geographies, and hands-on experience assisting in the support of Board and committee meetings, including agendas, pre-read materials, minutes, resolutions, and written consents.
• Has worked in professional services and/or a global firm, ideally with organizations that are or operate as private partnerships.
• Strong intellectual horsepower
• Ability to navigate nuance and complexity and to work independently
• Ability to think strategically while demonstrating outstanding attention to detail
• Excellent judgment and ability to problem-solve creatively and effectively with an enterprise-wide mindset
• Highly collaborative, able to work effectively with senior stakeholders and multiple functions
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
• Calm under pressure and able to effectively manage multiple competing priorities and deliver consistently with a high standard of excellence on a timely basis

Nice To Haves

• Ideally based in the United States, New York or northeast preferred

Responsibilities

• Leads corporate governance and corporate compliance work in the Legal function, ensuring that the Firm is observing corporate formalities globally.
• Working closely with the Firm’s Chief Legal Officer, advises on legal and governance matters relating to the parent company, providing strategic counsel on governance issues, fiduciary duties, director obligations, and governance best practices.
• Supports the full annual cycle of Board and committee governance activities, including meeting planning, agendas, materials, minutes, resolutions, director onboarding, and governance calendars.
• Oversees the governance and compliance framework for Spencer Stuart's global subsidiaries and affiliated entities, partnering with local teams and external advisors across multiple jurisdictions.
• Coordinates annual corporate maintenance activities, including director and officer changes, statutory filings, corporate secretarial requirements, and legal entity governance obligations worldwide.
• Ensures compliance with the Firm’s governance documents and requirements of the Firm’s domicile of incorporation.
• Works closely with Treasury, Finance and other functions on corporate matters, including supporting any restructuring, reorganization, or other corporate projects and initiative.
• Partners with other members of the Legal function and Treasury to support the Firm's employee-owned share structure and related governance initiatives.
• Oversees execution and legalization of corporate documentation and maintains corporate files and records, including entity management.
• Reviews, develops, and updates corporate processes and templates to improve efficiency.
• Provides advice and counsel on governance issues, develops and disseminates expertise to other stakeholders.
• Understands and captures emerging themes within the corporate space, shares best practices, templates, and approaches; disseminates knowledge effectively, and guides other colleagues in the Legal function, ensuring consistent approaches globally.
• Works closely with and supports the CLO in carrying out her Company Secretary responsibilities vis-à-vis the Board and its committees.
• Provides support to the CLO and senior management on governance issues that impact the Company's partnership model, partnership culture and succession planning.
• Partners with the CLO to help manage Board and shareholder matters, carry out elections for the Chair, Managing Partner/CEO, Board, Partner, and Principals of the firm, and support of other key partnership culture and governance processes.
• Consistently evaluates current resources and capabilities, and raises key issues with the CLO.
• Provides guidance and oversight to other colleagues on the team: a Corporate Paralegal based in the United States and a Compliance Specialist based in Ireland.
• Oversees the work of outside counsel when outside support is needed, being mindful to be an excellent steward of the Firm’s resources.
• The remainder of the time will be spent as needed by the Legal function, which may include helping on matters relating to the Firm’s share program (the Firm’s securities issued to certain employees of the Firm), corporate, transactional, and other initiatives as needed in consultation with the Firm’s CLO.

Benefits

• Retirement savings plan with discretionary profit sharing contribution and employer match
• PTO (minimum 15 days per year, increases with tenure), paid sick time (10 days per year), company holidays (12 days per year), and paid leaves of absence when applicable
• Comprehensive health benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, and healthcare flexible spending account
• Life Insurance, and short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Wellness benefits, including an employee assistance program, virtual mental health program, and mindfulness program
• Voluntary benefit options, including supplemental life insurance, identity theft protection, and whole life insurance with long-term care and critical illness coverage
• Annual discretionary bonus program

What This Job Offers

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