Legal Counsel – Business Aviation

Standard Aero•Scottsdale, AZ

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Legal Counsel – Business Aviation serves as a legal advisor to StandardAero’s Business Aviation division and reports directly to the Assistant General Counsel – Business Aviation. The role provides strategic and practical guidance across commercial contracting, regulatory compliance, risk management, and operational matters supporting global MRO operations. It partners with division executives and teams across operations, sales, supply chain, quality, finance, and HR to support business objectives while managing legal, regulatory, and reputational risk. The position is based in Scottsdale, Arizona, or Dallas, Texas, and may require travel up to 20% of the time. The role handles commercial agreements and negotiations; advises on aviation regulations and compliance; manages risks, claims, disputes, and litigation; and supports cross-functional business matters, strategic initiatives, transactions, governance, policies, and training. It requires a strong understanding of aviation operations, customer and supplier contracts, employment law, and regulated industrial environments, as well as the ability to act as a trusted advisor in a fast-paced, customer-focused business.

Requirements

Must be authorized to work in the U.S.
Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school and active license to practice law.
Minimum seven (7) years of relevant transactional legal experience in a law firm or in-house legal department.
Strong experience with commercial contracts and operational legal support.
Proven ability to partner with senior business leaders and influence outcomes.
Excellent judgment, communication, writing, presentation, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to manage deadlines and balance competing priorities.

Nice To Haves

Experience in aerospace, aviation, manufacturing, or MRO environments.
Familiarity with aviation regulatory frameworks and safety-critical operations.
Experience supporting global or multi-site operations.
Background in dispute management, investigations, or compliance programs.
General knowledge of anti-bribery laws, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, U.K. Bribery Act, and Canadian Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act.
Knowledge of trade compliance matters, including ITAR, EAR, and global sanctions.

Responsibilities

Draft, review, analyze, and negotiate customer contracts, master service agreements, proposals and requests for proposals, pricing terms, warranties, indemnities, and liability frameworks.
Advise on supplier and vendor agreements, including parts sourcing, tooling, and service providers.
Support negotiation of long-term agreements with OEMs, operators, and fleet customers, as well as dealer agreements, intellectual property licensing agreements, agent and sales intermediary agreements, and non-disclosure agreements.
Review and analyze FAA, EASA, and international equivalent regulations and advise on aviation regulatory requirements and compliance obligations applicable to business aviation MRO operations.
Partner with Quality, Safety, and Compliance teams to manage regulatory risk and audit responses.
Support investigations, incident response, and corrective actions as needed.
Serve as the division legal point of contact for anti-corruption and trade compliance matters, coordinating with corporate anti-corruption and trade compliance teams.
Identify, assess, and mitigate legal risks related to operations, contracts, and customer relationships.
Manage claims, disputes, and litigation, including discovery and e-discovery, lien filings, secured transactions, abandoned assets, and demand and response letters, in coordination with internal stakeholders and external counsel.
Support insurance matters and risk transfer strategies.
Collaborate with Finance on pricing structures, commercial risk, and revenue recognition considerations.
Partner with HR on employee relations matters, investigations, litigation, and policy application within the division.
Work with Supply Chain and Operations on sourcing, logistics, and performance issues.
Provide legal support for division-level strategic initiatives, including site expansions, customer programs, and integration activities.
Support M&A activity impacting the Business Aviation Division, including diligence and integration planning.
Ensure division alignment with corporate legal policies, standards, and governance requirements.
Develop and improve contract management and administration processes, policies, and procedures in coordination with the legal team and business stakeholders.
Develop and deliver legal and compliance training tailored to business aviation operations.
Promote a culture of integrity, accountability, and compliance.