Associate General Counsel

Associate General Counsel - (US – Remote/Illinois) 

What to expect when you join the Sikich family 

Team members at Sikich have a lot in common while also being part of a rich and diverse group of contributors, creating a distinct and thriving culture. Chief among our commonalities is a desire for growth and a shared unity of purpose in our professional lives. We believe that through diverse perspectives, challenging the status quo and rewarding action, we accelerate innovation and drive growth – for our clients, for ourselves and for our communities. 

The professional services landscape continues to evolve. For Sikich, this means we have an opportunity to further cement our leadership position in this industry and continue to grow our organization in increasingly exciting ways. This growth is meaningful for every team member at our company because larger companies simply see more interesting client opportunities and can attract impressively talented individuals like you. Through a dedicated focus on key business priorities and intentionally creating a rewarding employee experience, Sikich has developed into a highly regarded provider of professional services and a sought-after employer of choice. 

Do you want to work with other skilled practitioners and serve clients in a way that makes a difference? Are you seeking a supportive environment backed by a deep and extensive set of skillsets? Are you ready to make an impact and be acknowledged for your contributions? If you answered yes to these questions, we see a mutually beneficial and gratifying relationship on the horizon! 

Are you ready to grow with us? 

Position Summary 

The position of Associate General Counsel (AGC) will be responsible for providing strategic and operational support to senior leadership across various legal matters. The AGC will work closely with internal stakeholders, including executive management, and will be responsible for advising on complex legal issues, managing outside counsel, and helping to shape the company's legal strategy.

Essential Job Duties:

• Provide high-quality, strategic legal advice to senior management on a range of legal issues such as corporate governance, regulatory compliance, employment, intellectual property, etc.
• Identify and assess potential legal risks, providing proactive guidance to mitigate these risks while advancing business objectives.
• Oversee the drafting, negotiation, and review of high-value and complex contracts, agreements, and other legal documents to ensure the company’s interests are protected.
• Manage and oversee resolution of legal disputes, including contract disputes, employment matters, and intellectual property issues; work with outside counsel as necessary, to protect the company’s interests and achieve favorable outcomes.
• Handle day-to-day issues such as responses to subpoenas, third-party demands, and ethics inquiries.
• Assist in the company’s compliance efforts by ensuring adherence to relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards; provide training and guidance to internal teams to maintain compliance.
• Assist in company governance matters, such as maintaining company records and ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Develop and implement legal policies, procedures, and best practices to improve efficiency and mitigate legal risks across the organization.
• Provide leadership to junior attorneys and support staff within the legal department; foster a culture of professional growth and development.
• Work cross-functionally with other departments, including Finance, HR, Operations, etc. to provide legal guidance on business initiatives, product launches, and company policies.
• Oversee and manage relationships with outside counsel to ensure efficient and cost-effective service delivery.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school
• Must be admitted, active, and in good standing with the Illinois state bar or eligible for admission as Registered In-House Counsel.
• Seven (7) plus years of corporate/transactional law firm or in-house experience (professional services organization experience preferred) and commercial contract negotiation; including drafting or reviewing complex engagement agreements, identifying relevant issues, e.g., liability limitations, indemnification, etc. and manage negotiation escalation and resolutions.
• Substantive experience with litigation, arbitration, mediation, investigations, settlement; drafting, reviewing, negotiating, revising agreements; client advising.
• Comprehensive knowledge of Federal Rules of Evidence, and Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, preferred.
• Experienced with handling privacy matters, preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in managing complex legal issues and leading projects with cross-functional teams.
• Expertise in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts, as well as handling mergers, acquisitions, and other corporate transactions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex legal concepts in a clear and business-oriented manner; confidently articulate and negotiate with sophisticated counterparties to defend company positions to achieve timely, successful outcomes.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a focus on business acumen and practical solutions; ability to contribute to the organization’s long-term goals by aligning legal strategy with business objectives.
• Proficient at building strong relationships across all levels of the organization and working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Exceptional attention to detail, with strong organizational and time-management skills to manage multiple projects effectively.

In addition, specific skills/experience required are as follows: 

• Servant Leader – You are hyper focused on engaging employees, fostering their development, and building a positive culture. 

• Solutions Focused – You see opportunities in every business problem and can develop, articulate, and implement solutions. 

• Collaboration – You are a relationship builder across all levels of the organization and across all business units. 

• Instills Trust - You do what you say, and you follow through on commitments, you act with integrity, you are consistent and are perceived as credible. 

• Impact & Influence Thinking – You gain support for ideas, proposals, and solutions, and get others to act, with or without formal authority, to advance initiatives/objectives. 

About Sikich  

Sikich is a global company specializing in Accounting, Advisory, and Technical professional services. With employees across the globe, Sikich ranks as one of the largest professional services companies in the United States. Our comprehensive skillsets, obtained over decades of experience as entrepreneurs, business owners and industry innovators, allow us to provide insights and transformative strategies to help strengthen every dimension of our clients’ businesses. 

Sikich Total Rewards 

Our team members enjoy expansive benefits ranging from competitive compensation and insurance options to wellness programs and a flexible time off policy, to name only a few. Sikich also takes pride in prioritizing team members’ health, total wellbeing and time spent with family, friends and in the pursuit of personal goals, hobbies, and endeavors. 

In compliance with this state’s pay transparency laws, the midpoint of the salary range for this role is $215,000. This is not a guarantee of compensation or salary, as final offer amount may vary based on factors including but not limited to experience and geographic location. 

Some examples of our many benefits: 

• Sikich maintains a Flexible Time Off (FTO) Policy. We encourage every full-time employee, as your role permits, to utilize paid time off (personal time, mental/physical health care, vacation, sick leave, etc.). Waiting for time off to accrue is common at other companies. At Sikich, you do not have to wait for this benefit to kick in. FTO is activated on your first day with our organization. 

• Sikich will also recognize paid holidays during the year and strives to permit employees to have time off the last week of the calendar year when client and project work permits.   

• Sikich offers a comprehensive wellness program to engage, challenge and empower team members to take responsibility for their wellbeing. Activities can be tracked through our wellness provider to obtain gift cards and other rewards. 

 
 
We also offer: 

• Flexible work arrangements 

• Health, dental, vision, life, and accident/death/disability insurance options 

• HSA employer contribution 

• Nine (9) paid holidays annually. 

• A robust paid Parental Bonding Leave program covering birth, adoption, and foster      children.  

• 401(k) with employer contributions 

• CPA bonus with four (4) paid exam days & four (4) paid study days. 

• Tuition reimbursement 

• Generous employee referral bonus program 

• Client referral bonus program 

• Pet insurance 

• FORCE – Sikich community volunteer program enabling each team member to use up to four hours of paid time annually to volunteer and make a difference in their local communities. 

Want to learn more? Visit our Careers website or Glassdoor profile. 

Sikich is an Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V  

Sikich currently practices in an alternative practice structure in accordance with the AICPA Professional Code of Conduct and applicable law, regulations, and professional standards. Sikich CPA LLC is a licensed CPA firm that provides audit and attest services to its clients. Sikich LLC has a contractual arrangement with Sikich CPA LLC under which Sikich LLC provides Sikich CPA LLC with professional and support personnel and other services to support Sikich CPA LLC’s performance of its professional services, and Sikich CPA LLC shares certain client information with Sikich LLC with respect to the provision of such services.

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