Senior Counsel

Wella•New York, NY

5h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Counsel, Corporate Governance will be a key member of the Legal team, reporting to the VP, Legal – Corporate, Governance & Securities..This role reflects the continued growth of the Corporate & Securities function and requires a strong foundation in U.S. corporate and securities law, ideally from a nationally recognized law firm. Experience with private and public companies and SEC and capital markets matters is required, with global exposure a significant plus. Experience with procurement contracting in manufacturing, IT contracting, and familiarity with the beauty industry are also a plus. The position involves close partnership with colleagues across the legal team and broader business, including cross-border collaboration. A strong work ethic, initiative, and practical, solutions-oriented approach are essential. This role will be based in New York and requires in-office three days per week.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (JD) with strong academic credentials; active NY Bar membership.
7+ years of corporate law experience at a leading law firm required; in-house experience preferred.
Strong U.S. corporate and securities background required
Strong US corporate securities background required
Experience working within a global organization or supporting cross-boarder entities preferred
Experience with capital markets and related transactions.
Proven excellent negotiation, drafting, and communication skills.
Demonstrated initiative, independence, and ability to drive matters to completion.
Strong work ethic and practical, solutions-oriented problem-solving skills.
Ability to manage multiple complex projects under tight timelines.
Experience with diligence portals, virtual data rooms, subsidiary management tools, and collaboration platforms (e.g., SharePoint).
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel for tracking and analysis.

Nice To Haves

Industry experience in beauty, CPG, manufacturing, or related sectors a plus.
Experience with supply chain, procurement, and IT contracting a plus.

Responsibilities

Advise on securities law compliance, including disclosure obligations and review of investor communications and external materials.
Support development of public-company governance frameworks, including securities trading, Regulation FD, and disclosure controls.
Contribute to public reporting processes, including proxy statement and management of Section 16 reporting.
Provide legal support for capital-raising and financing activities.
Support equity compensation programs and related compliance.
Develop governance best practices and monitor emerging trends.
Partner with EU Corporate Senior Counsel, Tax, and Finance on global entity optimization.
Support cross-border governance, entity management, and compliance as part of a global structure, including preparation of meeting materials and drafting corporate minutes and resolutions.
Manage digital governance tools, subsidiary management platforms, entity management systems, databases, and internal repositories (e.g., SharePoint).
Support setup and administration of diligence portals and virtual data rooms.
Provide legal support to supply chain and procurement teams, including drafting and negotiating procurement agreements in manufacturing and IT contracting.
Ensure compliance with laws and regulations affecting supply chain and procurement operations.
Work closely with Corporate and Procurement legal team members, contributing to a cohesive, collaborative legal function and supporting shared objectives.
Partner with cross-functional teams to provide practical, business-focused legal advice across corporate and procurement matters.
Support compliance with corporate policies and continuous improvement initiatives.