Legal Counsel, Client Terms & Compliance

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, one of the world’s leading global law firms with offices in strategic hubs of commerce, law, and government across North America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, is seeking to hire a highly skilled and detail-oriented attorney with experience reviewing and negotiating contracts to join the Firm’s Office of General Counsel. In this role, the Legal Counsel - Client Terms & Compliance will be responsible for reviewing and revising numerous client terms of engagement, including outside counsel guidelines, firm engagement letters, vendor agreements, requests for proposals, due diligence questionnaires and client surveys.  The ideal candidate will have a strong legal background, with a particular focus contract negotiation legal compliance. This position reports directly to the Assistant General Counsel and ultimately to the General Counsel.

Morgan Lewis recognizes the benefits of supporting flexible working arrangements. This position can be resident in any of the following offices: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Chicago or New York and a hybrid in-office working arrangement is available.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Partner with the Assistant General Counsel and Director of Client Guidelines to review, analyze and revise non-standard terms of engagement, including outside counsel guidelines, client engagement letters, non-disclosure agreements, and vendor agreements to ensure legal compliance, accuracy, and alignment with the firm’s objectives.

• Liaise with the Assistant General Counsel to communicate any desired changes to client terms of engagement to the partner in charge of the client relationship. Prepare legal correspondence and exception letters outlining the proposed changes. Respond to partner requests to prepare special terms of engagement to meet the partner’s or the client’s needs. 

• Assess legal risks in client agreements, questionnaires and surveys. Provide practical solutions to help mitigate those risks. Ensure compliance with relevant laws, industry standards and internal firm policies. Provide guidance to the Firmwide Operations Manager to aid in the review of client due diligence questionnaires, surveys and codes of conduct.

• Work closely with partners and internal stakeholders, including business units, to understand client needs and to ensure that all agreements reflect those needs appropriately.

• Work closely with the firm’s Marketing and Business Development teams to review and respond to requests for proposals. Provide guidance to the firm’s Procurement Services team regarding vendor agreements.

• Provide legal advice to internal teams regarding contractual obligations, best practices, and potential legal issues associated with client terms of engagement. Timely respond to any questions surrounding the application of terms of engagement. Meet weekly with internal teams to offer guidance.

EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS

This job requires:

• A Doctoral degree (J.D.), from an accredited law school.

• Must be barred or eligible to be barred in the state where the Morgan Lewis office is located (Pennsylvania, Chicago or New York).

• Minimum 3-5 years of related experience, preferably with a global law firm or in an in-house legal role.

• Strong knowledge of contract negotiation, legal document review, and legal risk assessment.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to think critically and provide strategic legal solutions.

• Proven experience as a collaborative team player with the ability to build relationships across departments.

Qualified candidates must apply online by visiting our website at www.morganlewis.com and selecting “Careers.”

#LI-Hybrid

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The base salary or hourly wage range for this position will be determined during the interview process and will vary based on multiple factors, including but not limited to prior experience, relevant expertise, current business needs, and market factors. The final salary or hourly wages offered may be outside of this range based on other reasons and individual circumstances. Additionally, salary or hourly wages may be only part of the total compensation package. The total compensation package for this position may also include a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits (including 401(k) eligibility and various paid time off benefits, such as vacation, sick time, and parental leave), dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, the employee will be in an "at-will position" and the firm reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation or benefit program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, firm or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

For positions in Chicago, IL, the salary range for this job posting is: $109,300.00 - $174,775.00

For positions in New York, NY, the salary range for this job posting is: $124,200.00 - $198,600.00

The base salary or hourly wage range for this position will be determined during the interview process and will vary based on multiple factors, including but not limited to prior experience, relevant expertise, current business needs, and market factors. The final salary or hourly wages offered may be outside of this range based on other reasons and individual circumstances. Additionally, salary or hourly wages may be only part of the total compensation package. The total compensation package for this position may also include a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits (including 401(k) eligibility and various paid time off benefits, such as vacation, sick time, and parental leave), dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, the employee will be in an "at-will position" and the firm reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation or benefit program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, firm or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is committed to equal employment opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities. We value inclusion and solicit applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, gender identity, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Pursuant to applicable state and municipal Fair Chance Laws and Ordinances, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

California Applicants: Pursuant to the California Consumer Privacy Act, the following link contains the Firm's California Consumer Privacy Act Privacy Notice for Candidates which explains the categories of personal information that we collect and the purposes for which we use such personal information. CCPA Privacy Notice for Candidates

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP reasonably accommodates applicants and employees who need them to perform the essential functions of the job because of disability, religious belief, or other reason protected by applicable law.  If you believe you need a reasonable accommodation during the application process, please contact Talent Acquisition at 888.534.5003 or [email protected]

If hired, your employment relationship with the firm will be on an "at-will" basis, meaning that the firm may modify the terms and conditions of your employment at any time, and that either you or the firm will be free to end the relationship at any time with or without cause and with or without advance notice, although reasonable notice would be expected.