Internal Counsel

Acceleration Partners•Chicago, IL

2d•Remote

About The Position

Acceleration Partners has grown significantly over the last several years, and with that growth has come increasingly complex legal needs. Our global footprint now spans Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Australia, and we work with some of the world's leading brands. With over 300 employees across multiple countries and a commitment to running a profitable, operationally excellent business, we are looking for full-time Legal Counsel who will serve as our in-house legal resource across contracts, and occasionally support compliance, data privacy and HR matters. This role serves as a key legal partner to the business, providing practical, risk-balanced guidance while enabling commercial objectives across a globally distributed organization. This is a unique opportunity for an attorney who wants meaningful, substantive work, applying deep legal expertise in a more focused, flexible environment — fully remote. At Acceleration Partners, everything we do comes back to three core values: Own It, Embrace Relationships, and Excel & Improve. This role requires contract expertise, sound judgment, and the ability to build trust quickly with internal teams and external clients alike. If you're looking for a role where your legal instincts directly shape how a growing company operates, this is it.

Requirements

J.D. and active bar membership (or retired in good standing)
8+ years of legal experience, with meaningful depth in contract law
Prior in-house or agency/services industry experience preferred
Experience with data protection/privacy matters (e.g., GDPR, cross-border data transfers, DPAs) strongly preferred
Experience advising on employment and HR-related legal matters is a plus but not required
Strong communication skills — written and verbal — with the ability to work across functions
Comfortable with international contracts and multi-jurisdictional considerations
Confident making decisions independently while knowing when to escalate

Nice To Haves

Have deep contract law expertise and the judgment to know when to move quickly and when to slow down.
Are comfortable operating independently with minimal oversight.
Can translate complex legal language into plain, clear guidance for non-lawyers.
Bring a practical, business-minded approach — you understand that legal decisions exist in a business context.
Have working familiarity with data privacy concepts (e.g., GDPR) as applied in commercial contracts.
Are organized, deadline-driven, and take personal ownership of your work.
Thrive in a remote environment and communicate proactively with distributed teams.
Are looking for a role with real responsibility and a manageable pace — substantive work without the grind.
Are able to operate as a trusted advisor, balancing legal risk with business objectives in a fast-moving environment.

Responsibilities

Own the end-to-end client contract process. Draft, review, and negotiate client services agreements using a clear understanding of both our business and the client's needs. Ensure all language is legally sound, enforceable, and aligned with company interests. Work directly with our sales team to redline and negotiate non-standard terms.
Serve as the primary legal point of contact for vendor relationships. Review supplier agreements to verify compliance with company policies and applicable international, federal, and state regulations. Flag risk and recommend practical solutions that keep the business moving. Ensure vendors meet data privacy and security standards, including appropriate data processing, cross-border transfer mechanisms, and confidentiality obligations.
Handle low-level disputes and legal inquiries that arise in the normal course of business. Provide sound, practical legal guidance to internal teams for routine matters. Liaise with external counsel as needed on more complex issues, and draft and manage legal correspondence, including demand letters, cease and desist notices, and other dispute-related communications. Significant litigation, regulatory matters, or high-risk disputes will be managed in coordination with external counsel.
Partner with our People team to advise on employment-related legal questions, including compliance, policy questions, and employee relations matters. Provide practical, business-oriented guidance that balances legal compliance with operational realities. Escalate complex, multi-jurisdictional, or high-risk employment matters to external counsel where appropriate.
Support basic corporate governance matters across the company’s global entities, including drafting of company resolutions or coordination with internal stakeholders and external service providers on entity management and required filings, as needed.
Maintain accurate records for all active and completed contracts. Monitor contract timelines and proactively manage renewals, extensions, and close-outs. Proofread and fact-check all legal documents for accuracy and consistency, and communicate contract terms clearly to non-legal colleagues.