Corporate Counsel

Ace Hardware•Oak Brook, IL

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Corporate Counsel plays a critical role in supporting business operations by providing practical, risk balanced legal guidance across multiple functions. This position partners closely with business leaders and external counsel to ensure compliance, mitigate risk, and enable strategic decision making. You will draft and negotiate contracts, advise on and support marketing, franchising, and other corporate matters, such as mergers and acquisitions and business licensing. This role requires sound judgment, strong communication skills, and the ability to build relationships with business partners. You will report to senior legal leadership and contribute to enterprise-wide initiatives that protect and advance the organization.

Requirements

Juris Doctor degree and active bar admission
Minimum of 5 years law firm or corporate law department experience
Ability to provide clear, business focused legal advice
Strong judgment and problem solving skills
Ability to manage multiple priorities with attention to detail

Nice To Haves

Experience working in a retail, distribution, or corporate environment
Experience supporting multi state operations

Responsibilities

Draft, review, and negotiate a range of commercial contracts
Develop and maintain contract templates
Provide legal advice regarding marketing, franchising, and other corporate matters, such as mergers and acquisitions and business licensing.
Support activities relating to franchise disclosure documents
Partner with internal stakeholders to identify and mitigate legal risk
Assist business clients with contract and other commercial disputes
Manage outside counsel and legal spend as needed
Communicate effectively with business partners and members of the legal department
Perform special assignments or projects as assigned.

Benefits

Incentive opportunities
Generous 401(k) retirement savings plan with a fully vested matching contribution the first year in addition to quarterly contributions and annual discretionary contribution
Comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, vision and disability – up to 26 weeks short-term disability and long-term disability) & life insurance benefits for you and your dependents
21 days of vacation immediately available (prorated in the first year) and up to 6 paid holidays depending on the month of hire
Company Car, phone and fuel card are provided for field-based positions
Annual Ace Cares Week
20 hours off work per year to volunteer at an organization of your choice
Opportunities to help Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the Ace Helpful Fund through the Ace Foundation
On-site classes, facilitator-led courses, and a generous tuition assistance program
Frequent campus events like Employee Appreciation Week, vendor demos, cookouts, and merchandise sales
Services such as mobile spas, auto maintenance, car wash and detailing, dry cleaning, dentists, eye doctors, flu shots, recycling and more!
Employee discounts on Ace merchandise (including top brands like Weber, Traeger, Yeti, Craftsman, DeWalt and more), travel, fitness, computers and thousands more
Birth/Adoption bonding paid time off
Adoption cost reimbursement
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – access to free visits to therapists and lawyers, guidance on financial matters, elder and childcare, and assistance with tickets to entertainment events
Identity theft protection