Corporate Counsel, Yogurt Divisions

Lactalis LHD • Chicago, IL

16d • $130,000 - $145,000

About The Position

Ready for more than just a job? Build a career with purpose. At Lactalis in the USA, we’re committed to providing meaningful opportunities for our people to learn, grow, and thrive—whether you’re just starting your journey with us or looking to take the next step in your career. From day one, we offer the tools and support to help you succeed. As the world leader in dairy, Lactalis is a family-owned company with over 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals across the globe. Each day, we’re proud to produce award-winning dairy products that bring people together. In the US, we proudly offer an unrivaled house of beloved brands, including Galbani® Italian cheeses and ricotta, Président® specialty cheeses and butters, Kraft® natural and grated cheeses, Breakstone’s® cottage cheese, Cracker Barrel®, Black Diamond® cheddar, and Parmalat® milk. Our yogurt portfolio includes siggi’s®, Stonyfield Organic®, Brown Cow™, Oui®, Yoplait®, Go-Gurt®, :ratio®, Green Mountain Creamery®, and Mountain High®, along with a growing family of ethnic favorites like Karoun®, Gopi®, and Arz®. At Lactalis, we live by our core values—Ambition, Engagement, and Simplicity. We foster a workplace where innovation thrives, diverse perspectives are celebrated, and everyone’s unique background and ideas are valued. Even if you don’t meet every qualification, we encourage you to apply. We want to hear about your PASSION, your STORY, and how your EXPERTISE can help us shape the future of dairy. From your PASSION to ours The Corporate Counsel, Yogurt Division (“Corporate Counsel”), assists the General Counsel, and Associate General Counsels of the Yogurt Division (the “Division”). The position advises internal stakeholders, collaborates with legal department attorneys and regulatory team members, and works with outside counsel. The successful candidate must demonstrate initiative and independent judgment to manage a diverse range of responsibilities in a fast-paced environment. From your EXPERTISE to ours Commercial Contract Drafting and Negotiation for Yogurt Division Review, draft, and negotiate the Division commercial agreements (including equipment purchase and leases; sales, purchase, supply, distribution, and broker agreements; services agreements; marketing, influencer, and co-branding agreements; capex and construction agreements; co-manufacturing agreements; transportation agreements; and intercompany agreements). Work with procurement and other stakeholders to resolve contract-based disputes with business partners. Update and maintain contracts management database – Galexy. Coordinate and distribute relevant contract information to appropriate internal stakeholders, as needed. Provide internal contracts report for interim and end-of-year audit, as needed. Support legal training sessions for internal stakeholders (e.g., on basic contract formation, negotiation, key terms). Food Law and Advertising Law for Yogurt Division Review advertising/marketing/packaging copy to advise brand teams on regulatory and litigation risk. Advise on promotions (e.g., sweepstakes, contests, coupon giveaways, and commercial co-ventures), including drafting of official rules, reviewing advertising and label copy, and managing any required state registrations. Litigation Strategy and Management for Yogurt Division Support litigation matters, as directed, including working with outside litigation counsel and senior management to create and implement strategies to achieve cost-effective results. Negotiate resolutions of disputes when appropriate and/or recommend settlements to appropriate business leadership. Support in an advisory capacity internal stakeholders regarding strategy, applicable laws, and developments in key litigation risks. Intellectual Property Matters for Yogurt Division Advise the Yogurt Division on trademark use and protection strategy and coordinate with outside counsel on trademark issues, filings, and portfolios. Conduct preliminary trademark clearance for product/packaging innovation and renovation projects. Support intellectual property training sessions for internal stakeholders. Other Responsibilities Work on other projects and perform duties, including administrative duties, as may be assigned from time to time.

Requirements

• Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school.
• Currently admitted to the bar as an active member in good standing in at least one jurisdiction within the United States.
• 5 to 7 years with a national law firm and/or in-house legal department.
• Knowledge of food and/or consumer products industries.
• Knowledge of FDA labeling requirements surrounding food products.
• Knowledge of FTC advertising, promotion, and claims laws, regulations, and guides.
• Shows initiative and the ability to work independently and exercise good judgment in a complex business environment.
• Takes active ownership of areas of responsibility.
• A self-motivated, strong teammate with the ability to identify and get ahead of problems.
• Demonstrates strategic ability.
• Anticipates legal issues and estimates legal risks.
• Develops creative, proactive, and practical solutions to mitigate legal risks in support of the business.
• Models high ethics and integrity.
• Possesses an eagerness and ability to understand the business.
• Possesses excellent interpersonal, organizational, and communication (verbal and written), relationship management, and internal client service skills.
• Acute attention to detail and ability to manage multiple projects at a given time.
• Demonstrates excellent negotiation skills.
• Operates well in multi-functional teams and a fast-paced environment.
• Is committed to continuous improvement, company mission and values, training, and continued education on changing laws and regulations.
• Creates processes and procedures that effectively mitigate legal and regulatory risk.
• Is a quick and flexible learner, intellectually curious, open-minded, adaptable, comfortable with ambiguity and risk, and excited by dynamic change.
• Makes sound, complex cost/benefit assessments.
• Inspires trust, effectively forges relationships, builds consensus, and earns the confidence and cooperation of divisional business partners.

Responsibilities

• Commercial Contract Drafting and Negotiation for Yogurt Division Review, draft, and negotiate the Division commercial agreements (including equipment purchase and leases; sales, purchase, supply, distribution, and broker agreements; services agreements; marketing, influencer, and co-branding agreements; capex and construction agreements; co-manufacturing agreements; transportation agreements; and intercompany agreements).
• Work with procurement and other stakeholders to resolve contract-based disputes with business partners.
• Update and maintain contracts management database – Galexy.
• Coordinate and distribute relevant contract information to appropriate internal stakeholders, as needed.
• Provide internal contracts report for interim and end-of-year audit, as needed.
• Support legal training sessions for internal stakeholders (e.g., on basic contract formation, negotiation, key terms).
• Food Law and Advertising Law for Yogurt Division Review advertising/marketing/packaging copy to advise brand teams on regulatory and litigation risk.
• Advise on promotions (e.g., sweepstakes, contests, coupon giveaways, and commercial co-ventures), including drafting of official rules, reviewing advertising and label copy, and managing any required state registrations.
• Litigation Strategy and Management for Yogurt Division Support litigation matters, as directed, including working with outside litigation counsel and senior management to create and implement strategies to achieve cost-effective results.
• Negotiate resolutions of disputes when appropriate and/or recommend settlements to appropriate business leadership.
• Support in an advisory capacity internal stakeholders regarding strategy, applicable laws, and developments in key litigation risks.
• Intellectual Property Matters for Yogurt Division Advise the Yogurt Division on trademark use and protection strategy and coordinate with outside counsel on trademark issues, filings, and portfolios.
• Conduct preliminary trademark clearance for product/packaging innovation and renovation projects.
• Support intellectual property training sessions for internal stakeholders.
• Work on other projects and perform duties, including administrative duties, as may be assigned from time to time.

Benefits

• At Lactalis, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards Program with a variety of affordable benefits and coverage options.
• We support insurance costs significantly, contribute generously to retirement plans, and offer Paid Time Off from day one.
• We are committed to your professional growth, providing training and development opportunities, including Education Reimbursement.

What This Job Offers

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