Senior Counsel

Universal Corporation•Richmond, VA

About The Position

AS SENIOR COUNSEL AT UNIVERSAL, YOU WILL LEAD COMPLEX INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS, DRAFTING AND NEGOTIATING KEY AGREEMENTS AND PROVIDING STRATEGIC LEGAL GUIDANCE TO SUPPORT GLOBAL BUSINESS OPERATIONS. YOU’LL SHAPE AND IMPROVE CONTRACTING PROCESSES BY DEVELOPING POLICIES, TEMPLATES, AND PLAYBOOKS, WHILE PARTNERING CLOSELY WITH CROSS‑FUNCTIONAL TEAMS TO ENSURE COMMERCIAL INITIATIVES ALIGN WITH LEGAL AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS. YOU WILL ALSO ADVISE ON CONTRACT INTERPRETATION, COMPLIANCE, AND RISK MITIGATION ACROSS JURISDICTIONS AND MANAGE OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO SUPPORT THE COMPANY’S INTERNATIONAL OBJECTIVES.

Requirements

J.D. from an accredited law school.
Admission to practice in at least one jurisdiction.
7 or more years of relevant experience.
Exceptional contract-drafting skills, including the ability to craft clear, accurate, and legally sound agreements, anticipate risk in contract language, and tailor provisions to support business objectives.
Strong communication, negotiation, and analytical skills, with the ability to translate complex legal concepts into practical business guidance.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
Demonstrated ability to influence and communicate effectively with senior management.
Superior legal and analytical expertise and a business-oriented approach to problem-solving.
Exceptional interpersonal skills and a commitment to professionalism, integrity, and collegiality

Nice To Haves

Law firm experience strongly preferred.
Experience with international or cross‑border transactions preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead and manage complex commercial transactions, including supply, manufacturing, and services agreements across multiple jurisdictions.
Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements with global customers, vendors, and logistics providers.
Provide strategic legal counsel to business teams on international commercial operations, regulatory risk, and cross‑border contractual frameworks.
Develop, implement, and maintain contracting policies, templates, and playbooks to streamline commercial processes for international business units.
Partner closely with finance, compliance, procurement, and operations teams to align legal strategy with organizational goals and commercial objectives.
Contribute to corporate governance matters, commercial policy development, and internal process improvements for a multinational business environment.
Advise on contract interpretation, compliance, and risk mitigation.
Ensure contracts align with laws and company policies across global operations.
Identify, assess, and manage legal risks associated with global commercial operations.
Manage outside counsel as needed.