General Counsel
- Employer
- ISSA
- Location
- Des Plaines
- Salary
- Competitive
- Posted
- Jun 01, 2023
- Closes
- Jun 03, 2023
- Practice
- Litigation
- Position
- Counsel
- Contract Type
- Permanent
The General Counsel (GC) manages all legal matters related to the management and operation of ISSA, an Illinois nonprofit trade association and its charitable organization, ISSA Charities, and all their respective divisions and affiliates (collectively "ISSA"). The GC reports directly to the association's executive director.
As such, the GC supports the legal needs of the executive team of ISSA, and provides daily legal support for the association and its various business units, divisions and affiliates. The GC is primarily responsible for ensuring ISSA's legal compliance with state and federal laws and regulations, and with the association's articles of incorporation, bylaws and policies.
In addition, the GC facilitates commercial transactions by drafting, reviewing and negotiating business agreements and contracts with customers, business partners, vendors and other third parties that are entered into in furtherance of the association's day to day operations. The GC also provides legal support related to mergers, acquisitions, and asset purchase agreements including but not limited to assisting with due diligence and drafting of the appropriate agreements.
The GC also plays an important supporting role to the ISSA Director of Government Affairs (DGA). Specifically, the GC monitors regulatory developments at the federal and state levels on issues of concern to the cleaning industry including but not limited to regulation of chemical cleaners. The GC also assists the DGA in developing strategies in support of or in opposition to such regulatory proposals that are critical to the cleaning industry. Once laws or regulations are passed that impact the cleaning industry, the GC prepares summaries to assist the industry in its efforts to comply.
Duties and Responsibilities
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As such, the GC supports the legal needs of the executive team of ISSA, and provides daily legal support for the association and its various business units, divisions and affiliates. The GC is primarily responsible for ensuring ISSA's legal compliance with state and federal laws and regulations, and with the association's articles of incorporation, bylaws and policies.
In addition, the GC facilitates commercial transactions by drafting, reviewing and negotiating business agreements and contracts with customers, business partners, vendors and other third parties that are entered into in furtherance of the association's day to day operations. The GC also provides legal support related to mergers, acquisitions, and asset purchase agreements including but not limited to assisting with due diligence and drafting of the appropriate agreements.
The GC also plays an important supporting role to the ISSA Director of Government Affairs (DGA). Specifically, the GC monitors regulatory developments at the federal and state levels on issues of concern to the cleaning industry including but not limited to regulation of chemical cleaners. The GC also assists the DGA in developing strategies in support of or in opposition to such regulatory proposals that are critical to the cleaning industry. Once laws or regulations are passed that impact the cleaning industry, the GC prepares summaries to assist the industry in its efforts to comply.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Advising executive, senior management and board of directors on various matters such as nonprofit corporate governance, the bylaws and policies of the association, and its legal rights and obligations
- Reviewing and drafting a broad range of contracts including agreements for the acquisition/sale of assets, mergers, employment, collaboration, leases, software licenses and other matters that support the operational needs and commercial interests of the association.
- Managing the association's legal matters related to intellectual property, including but not limited to the registration of trademarks, licensing of IP, matters related to protecting the IP of the association and any allegations of infringement.
- Provide legal support to the association's human resources department related to employment law, immigration and other pertinent matters.
- Analyze new laws and regulations to determine impact on the association and advise appropriate business units accordingly.
- Responding to or initiating legal actions to protect the interests of the association.
- Represent association in all legal proceedings (i.e., litigation, administrative proceedings, etc.)
- Identifying legal/compliance issues and operational risks on an ongoing basis
- Engage with and manage outside legal counsel when warranted.
- Monitoring federal and state regulations for initiatives that would impact chemical cleaning products and the companies that produce such products.
- Drafting compliance advisories for the members of ISSA related to federal and state regulations that impact their operations.
- Assisting in the production of webinars and workshops designed to educate membership and the industry in general on compliance with new laws and regulations pertinent to the cleaning industry.
- Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school
- Licensed to practice law in Illinois
- 7+ years of practice with an established law firm or relevant in–house counsel experience
- Experience with nonprofit trade associations and corporate governance issues
- Experience working as part of an executive team in a fast–paced, challenging work environment
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Previous experience with nonprofit trade associations and corporate governance issues strongly preferred
- Previous experience working as part of an executive team in a fast–paced, challenging work environment strongly preferred
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