Legal Counsel, North America

James Hardie•Chicago, IL

9d•$145,000 - $180,000•Hybrid

About The Position

James Hardie is the industry leader in exterior home and outdoor living solutions, with a portfolio that includes fiber cement, fiber gypsum, composite and PVC decking and railing products. Our family of trusted brands includes Hardie®, TimberTech®, AZEK® Exteriors, Versatex®, fermacell®, and StruXure®. With over 8,000 employees and our U.S. operating entities headquartered in Chicago, we boast 31 operating sites, 6 recycling facilities, and 6 research and development centers globally. Powered by a dynamic workforce, we’re united by our purpose of Building a Better Future for All™ through sustainable innovation, a Zero Harm culture, and a commitment to empowering our people and communities. For more information, visit www.jameshardie.com . Summary Must live in Chicago - Hybrid work environment with Chicago office presence of minimum 3 days/week The Legal Counsel will assist the legal team in supporting regional (North America – US & Canada, Europe, APAC) businesses with legal matters. The Legal Counsel will work under Assistant General Counsel, North America, with additional guidance by senior legal counsel, and will engage with many different company clients in varying situations. The department goal is to protect the interests of the company’s shareholders and company assets, to facilitate the company’s business interests, and to overcome legal and regulatory challenges in a hypercompetitive and dynamic industry. The goal for each team member is not just to be a legal resource but also a trusted advisor to the business.

Requirements

Juris Doctor degree required
Minimum of four years of experience as outside counsel or inhouse counsel is required, preferably in a corporate manufacturing environment
Experienced with contract and document review/drafting required
Licensed to practice law in one of the 50 states with ability to waive into Illinois bar required (North America)

Nice To Haves

Prior experience reviewing and advising on marketing materials, advertisements, press releases, informational materials, warranties, product literature, websites, and the like, including proper trademarks and attribution statements considered a plus
Knowledgeable about relevant law and civil litigation procedures
Basic knowledge of trademark laws and trade secret laws
Excellent written and verbal communication skills resulting in audience engagement, understanding, and retention
Professional demeanor with a high level of integrity
Demonstrated ability to influence and gain commitment across different interpersonal styles
Ability to develop and maintain effective relationships over large geographic and time differences
Act on initiative with the ability to work as part of a team as well as independently
Ability to identify and understand issues, problems, and opportunities and effectively choose a course of action or develop appropriate solutions
Act as a continuous learner and share and apply new knowledge and skill
Self-motivated with a pro-active approach and a desire to go above and beyond
Takes personal responsibility and ownership and shows a conscientious commitment to assigned work
Focuses on being part of solutions and achieving results by delivering on commitments
Considers self a member of the team by supporting decisions 100% and following through on commitments
Ability to accept personal feedback openly and non-defensively
Understands the business and uses that understanding to recommend opportunities for efficiencies and improvement
Demonstrates basic business sense in making decisions
Engages eagerly with development opportunities with a desire to acquire knowledge or skills identified as important

Responsibilities

Act as a legal resource and a trusted advisor to the business
Review and draft legal agreements and documents for assigned clients under the supervision and direction of senior counsel
Assist with conducting products litigation, including organization, review and preparation of discovery materials and interacting with outside counsel
Review and advise clients on all forms of information and documents to be published to the public by the company for consistency with company intellectual property and products, including marketing materials, advertisements, press releases, informational materials, warranties, product literature, websites, and the like
Advise business in environmental, social, governance and sustainability matters and participate in Sustainability / ESG global practice group
Assist team in maintaining legislation and regulation tracking and developing various reporting
Represent the legal function in various internal company projects
Perform various legal administrative tasks as part of the Legal & Compliance Department including review of outside counsel billing, preparation of filings and reports for clients and the company, attending various company presentations and events
Assist in identifying and protecting intellectual property generated by company research organizations as well as manufacturing units
Develop familiarity with processes and procedures designed to protect trade secrets; offer guidance to R&D personnel and others in the company
Proactively shares information or resources with others to further their success and that of the overall organization

Benefits

Comprehensive low-cost co-pay Health Insurance; medical, dental, prescription, and vision insurance benefits for every 30+ hour full-time employee. Insurance starts on day one!
401 (k) Retirement plan that will match 100% of employees saved dollars up to the first 6% of your salary
Paid holidays, paid vacation including Jury Duty and bereavement leave
Wellness Program
Employee Assistance Program
Parental Leave
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Community Involvement & Sustainable Solutions

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