General Counsel

Tandy Leather Factory • Fort Worth, TX

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The General Counsel serves as Tandy Leather Factory, Inc.’s chief legal officer, overseeing legal, regulatory, and compliance matters. This strategic and hands-on role provides practical legal guidance to executive leadership, business teams, and the Board of Directors. As a member of the leadership team, the General Counsel reports directly to the CEO and helps shape company strategy, governance, and risk management. The position is based at the company’s headquarters in Benbrook, Texas.

Tandy Leather is a specialty retailer and resource for leather workers, with more than 100 retail stores across the United States, Canada, and Spain. The company sells leatherworking products and provides classes and other teaching resources.

The General Counsel leads legal work across human resources, compliance and risk management, commercial matters, strategic transactions, and corporate governance. The role includes advising on employment and HR issues, maintaining company-wide compliance programs, managing litigation and external counsel, negotiating commercial agreements, supporting corporate transactions, and overseeing intellectual property protection. The position also supports public-company securities compliance and board and stockholder meeting processes.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
• Active bar membership in good standing; Texas membership preferred.
• At least 8 years of legal experience, including significant in-house legal experience; public-company experience preferred.
• Demonstrated experience advising senior executives and Boards of Directors.
• Proven commercial acumen and experience supporting business growth initiatives.
• Experience with employment law and HR-related legal matters.
• Strong business judgment and a commercial mindset.
• Ability to operate in a lean, fast-paced environment.
• Executive presence and ability to engage effectively with the Board.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• High ethical standards and integrity.

Nice To Haves

• Public-company experience.
• Texas bar membership.
• Experience in a retail or consumer-facing company.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. securities laws and public-company compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead internal investigations, including employee-related and whistleblower matters.
• Provide legal guidance on employment law, including hiring, terminations, and employee relations.
• Advise on compensation, equity plans, and benefits programs.
• Draft, review, and maintain employee policies, and consult on other HR matters.
• Develop and maintain company-wide compliance programs, including workplace policies and codes of conduct.
• Monitor regulatory requirements affecting a publicly traded company with domestic and international operations.
• Identify and mitigate legal risks across the organization.
• Manage litigation, disputes, external counsel, and the legal budget.
• Partner with the leadership team and provide commercially focused legal advice supporting business strategy and revenue growth.
• Structure, draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreements, including vendor, partnership, lease, independent contractor, and nondisclosure agreements.
• Balance legal risk with business objectives in a pragmatic, solutions-oriented manner.
• Advise on corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, financings, and strategic partnerships.
• Oversee intellectual property portfolio management and protection strategy.
• Ensure compliance with SEC and stock exchange regulations, including periodic filings such as 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K, and proxy statements.
• Oversee insider trading and other governance policies and disclosure controls.
• Advise the Board of Directors and leadership team on governance best practices.
• Work with the Board and its Audit, Compensation, and Nominating/Governance committees.
• Serve as Company Secretary and lead preparation for Board, committee, and stockholder meetings, including agendas, minutes, and other materials.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation with a strong pay-for-performance culture.
• Regular performance- and productivity-based incentive bonus programs, including cash and equity.
• 10 paid holidays available on the first day of employment.
• Unlimited paid time off beginning after 60 days of employment.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage options.
• Life and disability insurance.
• Company-matched 401(k) plan.
• Employee discounts on company products.

What This Job Offers

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