General Counsel

AutoBidMaster•Portland, OR

About The Position

We are seeking a practical, hands-on General Counsel to serve as AutoBidMaster’s primary in-house legal advisor. The role focuses on commercial transactions, contracts, regulatory compliance, litigation, and dispute resolution. The General Counsel will own the company’s legal strategy; manage, handle, and resolve legal matters, including disputes, litigation, and regulatory issues; make strategic legal decisions; and drive matters through resolution.

Requirements

J.D. from an accredited law school and active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar.
Approximately 8+ years of legal experience preferred, including meaningful experience as a corporate generalist.
Strong experience drafting and negotiating commercial contracts and business agreements.
Experience managing customer disputes, regulatory complaints, litigation, arbitration, and outside counsel.
Strong business judgment and ability to evaluate both legal and commercial risk.
Ability to analyze issues independently, make strategic recommendations, and take ownership of outcomes.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Highly organized and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-moving environment.
Practical, self-motivated, and comfortable working independently.
Hands-on approach and willingness to personally draft documents, conduct research, and manage day-to-day legal matters.
Willingness to travel occasionally as needed.

Nice To Haves

Multiple state bar admissions are preferred, particularly Florida, Oregon, and Texas.
Prior in-house experience is strongly preferred.
Experience with consumer-facing, e-commerce, automotive vehicle sales, dealerships, auctions, marketplaces, technology, or other regulated businesses is preferred.
Experience with DMV, dealer licensing, title, or related automotive regulatory matters is a plus.

Responsibilities

Oversee and maintain Terms & Conditions, customer agreements, e-commerce disclosures, sales documentation, and other transaction-related legal materials.
Lead the company’s legal strategy for commercial transactions, contracting, and related business risk.
Advise executive leadership on material transactions, contractual rights and obligations, risk allocation, and commercial decision-making.
Provide strategic legal guidance for new products, services, partnerships, and business initiatives, identifying risks and developing practical solutions that support business objectives.
Establish scalable contracting standards, templates, and processes that support efficient business operations while appropriately managing risk.
Draft, review, and negotiate key commercial agreements, including vendor, partner, technology, service, and insurance contracts.
Lead and manage the company’s DMV, dealer licensing, consumer protection, and related state and federal regulatory requirements; identify risks and own execution of required actions.
Manage and maintain licenses, registrations, corporate filings, and entity compliance.
Form and maintain corporate entities and prepare resolutions and other corporate documents.
Monitor relevant regulatory developments and recommend changes to company processes, policies, and documentation.
Work with operations and other departments to implement practical compliance solutions.
Own and resolve escalated customer complaints and disputes, including matters involving legal, regulatory, or significant business risk.
Review and respond to complaints involving governmental agencies, regulators, consumer organizations, and other third parties.
Recommend appropriate resolution strategies based on legal exposure, cost, and business considerations.
Identify recurring issues and recommend improvements to contracts, disclosures, products, or company processes.
Own, manage, and resolve litigation, arbitration, small claims, lawsuits, and other disputes involving the company.
Develop and execute litigation strategy, including recommendations on when to defend, pursue, settle, or otherwise resolve matters based on legal, business, and economic considerations.
Handle litigation and arbitration directly when appropriate, using outside counsel selectively when specialized expertise or local representation is required.
Maintain ownership of litigation strategy, objectives, deadlines, outcomes, and legal spending.
Serve as the primary legal advisor to executive leadership and business teams.
Identify legal risks and provide clear, practical recommendations that balance legal protection with business objectives.
Translate complex legal issues into concise, actionable guidance.
Conduct legal research and provide written or verbal recommendations as necessary.
Own legal matters and drive them through resolution.
Support other legal and business projects as needed.