Senior Corporate Counsel

CJ Logistics•Des Plaines, IL

15d•$190,000•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Senior Corporate Counsel to join our dynamic legal team. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in corporate law, either in private practice or an in-house legal environment (or combination thereof), demonstrating a strong command of contract drafting, negotiation, and risk management across various business areas, particularly within the logistics and transportation sector. Why You’ll Love This Role: You’ll work with a team that values collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement Every day presents new opportunities to grow, lead, and make an impact Schedule: Ability to work a hybrid schedule, typically your schedule will be 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM with (4) days in person at our Des Plaines, IL location. Salary Range: Your base pay is one part of your total compensation package. We anticipate this role to pay a minimum base salary of $190,000, but actual base pay will depend on the successful candidate’s skills, qualifications, and experience. This role is also eligible for an annual incentive plan.

Requirements

Experience: A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience practicing law, with a significant portion of that experience focused on corporate and commercial law, preferably within the logistics, transportation, or supply chain industries.
Education: Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
Licensure: Active membership in good standing with the Illinois Bar
Contract Expertise: Proven expertise in drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements, including indemnification, liability limitations, and service level provisions.
Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly and concisely present legal advice to business leaders and non-legal stakeholders.
Business Acumen: Strong business judgment and the ability to balance legal risk with commercial goals.
Collaboration: Work closely with General Counsel, Corporate Counsel, and Legal Administrator (Paralegal), as well as business leaders across the enterprise.
Willingness to work in person at least four days per week at our Corporate Office, located in Des Plaines, Illinois.

Nice To Haves

International Law: Experience with business legal matters in Canada and/or Mexico is preferred.

Responsibilities

Transportation and Logistics Contracts
Surface Transportation: Draft, review, and negotiate high-volume, complex contracts for all modes of surface transportation, including:
Truckload (TL) and Less-than-Truckload (LTL)
Intermodal (Rail and Truck)
Brokerage and Agent agreements
Global Forwarding: Provide legal support for our global logistics operations, focusing on contracts related to:
Air and Ocean Freight Forwarding
Customs Brokerage
Drayage and terminal services
Customer Agreements: Negotiate and finalize comprehensive customer agreements for integrated logistics services, including warehousing, distribution, and managed transportation.
Real Estate and Construction
Leasing: Support the full lifecycle of commercial real estate matters, including drafting, reviewing, and negotiating facility leases, subleases, and license agreements.
Construction: Provide legal oversight for capital improvement projects and new facility construction, including negotiating construction contracts, design agreements, and related vendor agreements.
Insurance and Vendors
Risk Management: Provide legal review and support for the company's insurance programs, claims, and policies, ensuring adequate coverage and compliance.
Vendor Management: Draft and negotiate a wide range of vendor, supplier, and professional services agreements across the organization (e.g., Finance, IT, HR, Marketing).
Litigation Management
Manage and oversee outside counsel on litigation matters, claims, and disputes arising from areas of responsibility.