Commercial Counsel

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP•Sacramento, CA

3d•$180,000 - $240,000•Hybrid

About The Position

With 500+ professionals and 350+ business professionals, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP (www.manatt.com), is a multidisciplinary, integrated national professional services firm known for quality and an extraordinary commitment to clients. The Firm’s groundbreaking approach—bringing together legal services, advocacy and business strategy—differentiates Manatt from its competitors and positions the Firm to provide a distinct and compelling value proposition. Opportunity Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP is seeking a Commercial Contracts Counsel to join its Legal and Risk Management team, serving as counsel to the firm. This pivotal role is responsible for leading the firm’s third-party contract review process, overseeing contract workflow including drafting, editing, reviewing, and negotiating key contractual terms. The Commercial Contracts Counsel will draft and update policies and procedures governing the firm’s contract review, negotiation, and execution processes. Acting as a liaison between the Procurement and Operations teams, Legal and Risk Management, and the firm’s attorneys and professional staff, the council will facilitate vendor and service provider contract reviews. Contract types handled include software/SAAS (including AI), cloud services, purchase agreements, subscription agreements, data protection agreements, as well as event, sponsorship, and site-related agreements. This role will not be a billing professional but will be a Business Professional role and sit within the Legal and Risk Management department.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (JD) degree and active bar membership in good standing.
Minimum of five (5) years of experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial contracts in an in-house or law firm setting
Demonstrated expertise in software/SaaS agreements (including AI SaaS products), purchase agreements, subscription agreements, professional services agreements, and NDAs
Strong knowledge of legal concepts, processes, and industry practices applicable to commercial contracts
Strong Outlook, Excel and Word skills required
Effective and succinct oral communication and clear and concise written communication
Effective analytical, logical reasoning, and problem-solving abilities
Experience with legal ethics and privilege issues
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
Possess exceptional judgement, professionalism and confidentiality
Ability to demonstrate strategic focus, define goals and follow through to achieve results
Possess reliability, dependability and motivation
Commitment to exceptional internal and external client service
Demonstrated reliability and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a hybrid (remote and in-office) team environment.
The Firm operates on a hybrid work schedule requiring in-office presence Tuesday through Thursday, with optional remote work permitted on Mondays and Fridays. All employees must remain available for onsite work up to five days per week as business needs dictate. This schedule is subject to change; flexibility is required

Nice To Haves

Experience with privacy and data protection laws is a plus

Responsibilities

Draft, review, and negotiate a wide variety of vendor and service provider contracts, including software/SaaS (including AI), cloud services, purchase agreements, subscription agreements, data protection agreements, and event, sponsorship, and site-related agreements.
Lead and collaborate throughout the contract review process, analyzing significant business, financial, and legal risks and aligning contract terms with Firm policies and risk tolerance.
Develop, maintain, and implement contracting playbooks, templates, and workflows to support efficient and consistent contract review processes.
Identify potential compliance vulnerabilities and risk areas; develop and implement corrective action plans to resolve problematic issues.
Provide guidance to the Procurement team and work closely with the General Counsel’s Office and Firm attorneys.
Develop and implement creative solutions and mitigation strategies for key negotiation points.
Apply advanced knowledge of contract law, Firm policies, and industry best practices to protect the Firm’s interests.
Track and incorporate Firm policy decisions and risk management practices into contract terms.
Support the Firm’s cyber-security insurance program and related risk management initiatives.
Assist with governance matters and legal and regulatory compliance issues.
Participate in special projects and other responsibilities as assigned.