Commercial Counsel
Job Title: Commercial Counsel
Location: Lake Forest, IL
Flexibility: 3 days in-office, 2 days remote
Compensation: $150,000 - $210,000
Position Details
Our client, a global leading manufacturer & distributor is looking to bring on a strategic Commercial Counsel to their legal team. This role has will be heavily involved in drafting, reviewing, negotiating, and managing complex customer, supplier, procurement, technology, SaaS, and other commercial agreements that support key business objectives.
Working closely with stakeholders across Sales, Procurement, Supplier Management, Marketing, Technology, Finance, Operations, and other business units, the Commercial Counsel helps drive business growth while effectively managing legal and commercial risk. The position evaluates contractual and business issues, develops pragmatic solutions, and partners with leadership to navigate complex transactions and emerging business initiatives.
Responsibilities:
Lead the drafting, review, negotiation, and management of a wide range of commercial agreements, including customer, supplier, procurement, services, confidentiality, technology, SaaS, and other strategic business contracts, balancing legal risk with commercial objectives.
Partner closely with Sales, Supplier Management, Procurement, Marketing, Technology, Finance, Operations, and other business functions to support commercial initiatives, accelerate business outcomes, and provide practical, solution-oriented legal counsel.
Advise business stakeholders on contractual rights, obligations, negotiation strategies, and risk management considerations, translating complex legal concepts into actionable business recommendations.
Identify, assess, and mitigate legal, contractual, and operational risks while proposing creative solutions that enable the business to move forward efficiently and effectively.
Coordinate cross-functional stakeholders throughout the contracting lifecycle, ensuring alignment among business, legal, finance, and operational teams while maintaining accountability for timelines, deliverables, and outcomes.
Support high-impact commercial transactions and strategic initiatives by providing legal guidance that helps drive revenue generation, supplier relationships, operational excellence, and business growth.
Utilize and continuously improve contract templates, playbooks, approval frameworks, contract lifecycle management processes, and legal technology tools to enhance consistency, efficiency, and service delivery.
Contribute to the ongoing development of the legal function through knowledge sharing, mentoring, training initiatives, process improvements, and participation in enterprise-wide contracting and business transformation projects.
Growth Opportunity
This position provides a clear path for professional growth within the legal department, offering broad exposure to complex commercial transactions and strategic initiatives. As the organization continues to evolve, there will be opportunities to expand responsibilities, lead larger and more sophisticated matters, develop specialized expertise, and progress into senior legal leadership roles.
Requirements
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) required.
- Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction; Illinois licensure preferred.
- 5+ years of post-law school experience with significant responsibility for drafting, reviewing, negotiating, and advising on commercial contracts in a law firm or corporate legal department.
- Strong commercial contracting experience, including customer, supplier, procurement, services, technology, software, SaaS, confidentiality, and strategic business agreements.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional business partners and provide practical legal advice in a fast-paced corporate environment.
- Experience balancing legal risk and business objectives while managing multiple complex matters simultaneously.
- Knowledge of commercial contracting principles, contract negotiation strategies, corporate governance processes, and risk assessment frameworks.
- Experience leveraging contract management systems, templates, playbooks, and legal technology tools to improve contracting efficiency and consistency.
- Excellent communication, relationship-building, and stakeholder management skills with a collaborative, business-oriented mindset.
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