Corporate Counsel

Vego Garden•Houston, TX

17h•$120,000 - $160,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Corporate Counsel serves as Vego Garden's primary in-house legal advisor, providing practical, business-focused legal guidance across all areas of the organization. This role partners closely with Leadership, Human Resources, Finance, Marketing, Operations, Supply Chain, Product, and Customer Service to proactively manage legal risk while supporting the company's continued growth. The Corporate Counsel is responsible for managing the company's day-to-day legal matters, drafting and negotiating commercial agreements, advising on employment and compliance matters, supporting corporate governance, and coordinating with outside counsel on specialized legal matters.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
Active license to practice law in Texas.
7+ years of progressive legal experience in a combination of law firm and/or in-house corporate legal environments.
Experience supporting consumer products, retail, e-commerce, or DTC businesses strongly preferred.
Experience with FTC advertising regulations, consumer protection laws, and e-commerce compliance.
Experience supporting intellectual property strategy, including trademarks and brand protection.
Experience negotiating commercial contracts and advising business leaders.
Working knowledge of employment law, commercial transactions, intellectual property, privacy, and corporate governance.
Strong business judgment and practical, solution-oriented legal mindset.
Excellent contract drafting and negotiation skills.
Ability to communicate complex legal concepts clearly to non-legal stakeholders.
Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build trusted relationships across all levels of the organization.
High level of integrity, professionalism, and discretion.
Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
Ability to work independently while partnering effectively across departments.
Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial, and growth-oriented environment.

Responsibilities

Draft, review, negotiate, and manage a wide variety of commercial agreements, including vendor and supplier agreements, sourcing contracts, customer and partnership agreements, distribution agreements, software and SaaS agreements, and NDAs and confidentiality agreements.
Develop and maintain standardized contract templates and legal processes.
Serve as the primary internal legal liaison for import, customs, and international trade matters.
Coordinate with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), customs brokers, logistics partners, and outside trade counsel to support the timely resolution of import-related issues.
Partner with Supply Chain, Procurement, and Logistics teams to identify and mitigate legal and compliance risks associated with international sourcing and importing.
Assist in reviewing import documentation, customs-related processes, and internal procedures to promote compliance with applicable U.S. customs laws and regulations.
Manage the company's relationship with outside customs and international trade counsel, ensuring effective communication, information sharing, and follow-through on legal matters.
Provide legal guidance on employment law matters, employee relations, workplace investigations, disciplinary actions, and policy development.
Review and update employment-related documents.
Advise leadership and HR on compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws.
Ensure compliance with applicable corporate, consumer protection, privacy, and regulatory requirements.
Maintain corporate records and support governance activities.
Monitor legal developments affecting the business and recommend proactive changes.
Review marketing campaigns, advertising, promotions, influencer agreements, sweepstakes, and product claims for legal compliance.
Coordinate trademark filings, renewals, and intellectual property protection with outside counsel.
Assist with brand protection and enforcement efforts.
Identify and mitigate legal and business risks across company operations.
Review insurance claims and legal matters affecting the business.
Support crisis management and legal issue resolution.
Manage relationships with outside law firms.
Coordinate litigation, intellectual property, tax, international trade, and other specialized legal matters.
Control outside legal spend while ensuring high-quality legal representation.
Serve as a trusted legal advisor to Company leadership.
Provide practical, solution-oriented guidance that balances legal risk with business objectives.
Deliver legal training and education to managers and employees as needed.

Benefits

Flexible Paid Time Off
12 PTO days per year, accrued bi-weekly, with incremental increases annually.
7 paid Holidays.
401k contribution match of 4%.
Comprehensive Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life insurance plans. The Company pays 100% of premiums for its employees for Dental, Vision, Life, and select Medical plans.
Toll Roads Allowance of $100 per month for hybrid employees.
Phone Allowance of $50 per month.
Professional Development reimbursement.
Company-sponsored breakfasts and lunches.
Great culture, supportive leadership, engaging activities, employee appreciation, and other perks that make every day at work more rewarding!