Deputy General Counsel

Centersquare•, FL

About The Position

The Deputy General Counsel (DGC) serves as a senior legal leader within the Office of the General Counsel, providing strategic legal guidance, managing complex legal matters, and supporting the organization's mission, operations, and governance. The DGC assists the General Counsel in directing the legal department's activities, supervising legal staff, and serving as acting General Counsel in the General Counsel's absence. This position requires exceptional legal acumen, sound judgment, and the ability to advise executive leadership on a broad range of legal, regulatory, and compliance issues.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an ABA-accredited law school.
Active bar admission in good standing in the state of primary employment; admission in additional jurisdictions a plus.
Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible legal experience, with significant time spent in both a law firm setting and in-house legal environment.
Minimum of five (5) years in a supervisory or managerial legal role with demonstrated responsibility for leading teams and managing legal department functions.
Substantial experience advising executive leadership and/or Boards of Directors on complex legal, regulatory, and governance matters.
Demonstrated expertise in at least three of the following: commercial transactions and contracts, corporate governance, employment law, regulatory compliance, litigation management, intellectual property, real estate, or data privacy.
Must maintain active bar licensure and satisfy all applicable continuing legal education (CLE) requirements throughout employment.
Ability to pass a comprehensive background check, including criminal history review and verification of professional credentials and bar status.
No prior disciplinary action by any state bar association, unless fully disclosed and resolved to the organization's satisfaction.
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States; the organization does not sponsor employment visas for this position.
Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and comply with all attorney-client privilege and work product protection obligations.
Where applicable, ability to obtain and maintain required security clearances or other regulatory authorizations specific to the organization's industry.

Nice To Haves

Admission in additional jurisdictions a plus.
Ability to work extended hours, including evenings and weekends, as required to meet critical deadlines or manage time-sensitive legal matters.
Willingness and ability to travel domestically and, if applicable, internationally, up to approximately 15–20% of the time.

Responsibilities

Advise the General Counsel, executive leadership, and Board of Directors on legal matters affecting organizational strategy, risk, and operations.
Serve as acting General Counsel during periods of absence, assuming full responsibility for department oversight and legal decision-making.
Develop and implement legal strategies aligned with the organization's goals, risk tolerance, and regulatory environment.
Monitor legislative and regulatory developments and proactively advise leadership on potential impact.
Supervise and mentor attorneys, paralegals, and other legal department staff, fostering professional growth and a high-performance culture.
Manage the department's day-to-day legal operations, including workflow management, matter tracking, and outside counsel relationships.
Oversee the selection, retention, and evaluation of outside counsel; review and approve legal invoices and budgets.
Establish and improve legal department processes, policies, and systems to enhance efficiency and service delivery.
Draft, review, and negotiate complex contracts including vendor agreements, partnership agreements, licensing arrangements, and other commercial transactions.
Provide guidance on mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and other significant business transactions.
Maintain and update standard contract templates and playbooks.
Lead or support the organization's compliance programs, including regulatory compliance, ethics policies, and internal controls.
Identify, assess, and manage legal and regulatory risks across the organization; present risk findings to leadership.
Investigate and respond to potential compliance violations, working with relevant stakeholders to remediate issues.
Manage litigation matters, including coordinating with outside litigation counsel, overseeing discovery, and advising leadership on litigation strategy and risk.
Represent the organization or supervise representation in regulatory proceedings, mediations, and arbitrations.
Implement and oversee litigation holds and legal document preservation obligations.
Support Board of Directors governance activities, including preparation of Board materials, resolutions, and minutes.
Advise on corporate governance best practices and ensure compliance with applicable corporate law.
Maintain corporate records and manage entity formation, qualification, and dissolution activities.