AVP - Commercial Counsel, Procurement

Focus Financial Partners•St. Louis, MO

3d•$150,000 - $170,000•Remote

About The Position

Focus is seeking an experienced and strategic attorney to join our team as Associate Vice President - Commercial Counsel, Procurement. This pivotal role offers a unique opportunity to support our rapidly growing organization by providing expert legal counsel on a wide range of commercial contracts, with a particular focus on advancing our technology, data and procurement strategy. As a member of our legal team, you will play a significant role in shaping and enhancing Focus’ procurement processes, policies and workflows. The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience in contract negotiation and review, with specialized expertise in procurement, software services, cloud technologies and professional services. This role is ideal for a proactive, business-minded attorney who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is eager to drive meaningful impact across the organization. This role can be based in St. Louis, MO; New York, NY; Boston, MA; Remote.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school and a Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university.
Active attorney’s license in good standing in all jurisdictions of admission.
4+ years of legal experience with a strong foundation in commercial contract law, with a preference for candidates who have focused on technology contracts within the financial services sector, particularly in the registered investment advisor space.
Prior in-house legal experience is required.
Proven expertise in contract negotiation, drafting, and review, with the ability to manage complex agreements efficiently.
Demonstrated ability to manage and prioritize a high volume of contracts across multiple projects in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
Highly detail-oriented with a proactive, strategic approach to problem-solving and risk management.
Strong ability to collaborate cross-functionally with business leaders and stakeholders, providing clear, actionable legal guidance.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex legal concepts to both legal and non-legal audiences.

Responsibilities

Contract Drafting, Negotiation & Review
Draft, review and negotiate a broad range of technology and data-driven commercial agreements, including software, AI-enabled tools, consulting, IT, professional services, non-disclosure agreements and other standard commercial contracts.
Address key contractual terms related to data rights, confidentiality, intellectual property and information security in support of technology-driven and commercial transactions.
Execute contracts from intake through negotiation and execution, supporting timely and commercially sound outcomes and escalating complex or high-risk issues as appropriate.
Stakeholder Collaboration
Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders and cross-functional teams, including finance, tax, technology, procurement, vendor management, cybersecurity and legal colleagues, to ensure contractual terms align with organizational objectives and applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
Serve as a key legal partner throughout the vendor lifecycle, supporting vendor selection and onboarding, ongoing relationship management, contract changes and renewals, and offboarding, as needed.
Contracting Policies & Process Improvement
Contribute to the development, refinement, and maintenance of contract templates, clause libraries, negotiation playbooks, and internal guidance to promote efficiency, consistency, and scalability in contracting and procurement practices.
Support the continuous improvement of contracting and procurement policies, procedures and best practices in alignment with strategic business initiatives and operational needs.
Regulatory Awareness & Compliance
Stay informed on evolving laws, regulations and industry standards impacting commercial contracting, procurement, data privacy and technology transactions, including emerging trends related to AI and technology contracting.
Advise internal stakeholders on relevant regulatory developments and their implications for contractual obligations and business practices, supporting ongoing compliance and risk mitigation.