Staff Counsel

Overview

The Staff Counsel (“SC”) is a staff lawyer in the firm’s Office of the General Counsel (“OCG”) dedicated to supporting the firm’s contracting activities as a business.  This position is in-house and does not involve the delivery of services to the firm’s clients; rather, the SC is a member of the administrative management team and is a practicing lawyer whose sole client is the firm. The SC will manage, review, and negotiate a wide variety of contracts for the firm.

Responsibilities

The SC will work directly with the Procurement and Facilities Department and other members of the firm to assist with various aspects of vendor agreements as follows:

• Review, negotiate, and when appropriate, draft vendor agreements, primarily for the Technology, Talent and Marketing & Business Development Departments, but also with other departments as needed
• Engage and coordinate with internal resources (e.g., information security, privacy, subject matter experts, senior members of the OCG, and stakeholders) on contracting terms as needed
• Work closely with firm management to receive approvals for any deviations from the firm's contracting guidelines and standard practices
• Improve and implement guidelines for vendor agreements, with regard to such terms as limitations of liability, indemnification, and minimum insurance coverages
• Provide advice and counsel to the firm's administrative staff and business leaders regarding key commercial and legal considerations throughout the contracting process
• Manage the firm’s Contract Lifecycle Management (“CLM”) system, as well as the development of related processes and policies regarding the CLM
• Work with department leadership to develop, improve and maintain template or form documents (e.g., master service agreements, terms and conditions, etc.)
• Develop and maintain relationships with business professionals in various departments to understand their contracting needs

The SC will consult with members of the OCG and Professional Responsibility and Compliance Department with respect to contract issues in client-facing agreements as follows:

• Supporting other OCG members in their review of agreements between the firm and its clients including, but not limited to, engagement letters, outside counsel guidelines, requests for proposal, and non-disclosure agreements
• Assist with the review and negotiation of HIPAA Business Associate Agreements between the firm, its clients and their vendors
• Review contracts with vendors or consultants retained on behalf of clients in connection with the firm’s provision of legal services to its clients
• Other duties and special projects as assigned

The SC will supervise the Contracts Management Specialist:

• Oversee the Specialists’ management of the firm’s Contract Lifecycle Management (“CLM”) system, as well as the development of related processes and policies regarding the CLM
• Train and supervise the Specialist with regard to use of templated agreements for routine contracts

Qualifications

• J.D. and current license to practice law in the state in which the employee is located required
• Minimum of three (3) years of relevant legal experience required, experience working with a large law firm or in-house practice preferred
• Experience interacting with partner level attorneys and senior management preferred
• Strong legal research and writing skills with ability to translate legal requirements into operational processes required
• Demonstrated, working knowledge of CLM software and systems, and with various types of agreements preferred including:
  • Software License Agreements (SaaS and on-prem)
  • Professional Service Agreements
  • Marketing and Events Agreements
  • Data Protection Agreements
  • Business Associate Agreements
  • Non-Disclosure Agreements

Foley offers a comprehensive benefit program which currently includes Paid Time Off; Paid Holidays; Medical, Dental and Vision insurance; 401(k) Retirement; Disability and Life insurance; Adoption Assistance; Backup Care for Dependents.