Perkins Coie LLP

Counsel, Commercial Contracts

Perkins Coie LLP$138K — $218K *
Legal & Accounting
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Juris doctor with active license in at least one jurisdiction.
  • 5-7 years of experience in contract legal counseling, specifically with commercial contracts.
  • Expertise in drafting and negotiating supplier and technology contracts for global entities.
  • Strong understanding of contract terms, regulatory requirements, IT, and data management.
  • Exceptional communication skills to build relationships across all levels of the organization.
  • Proven project, time, and change management abilities to handle competing deadlines.
  • Ability to manage confidential and sensitive information professionally.

Responsibilities

  • Draft, negotiate, and review a variety of commercial and technical contracts using a risk-based approach.
  • Collaborate with teams to enhance the procurement and contracting process while building stakeholder relationships.
  • Ensure contract intake is complete, accurate, and ready for legal review.
  • Support Procurement with service-level agreements (SLAs), training, and practical legal advice.
  • Act as a trusted advisor on supplier contracts, including risk management and dispute resolution.
  • Escalate complex legal matters to the appropriate counsel as needed.
  • Develop and maintain supplier contracting policies, standards, and compliance practices.

Benefits

  • Eligible for an annual discretionary bonus.
  • 401(k) plan available.
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance provided.
  • Accrued paid time off starting at 20 days annually.
  • Personal medical and parental leave offered.
  • Up to 10 paid holidays per year.
  • Family care benefits included.
Full Job Description
Job Description:

Counsel, Commercial Contracts

Drive Operational Excellence

In this role, the successful candidate will provide strategic legal counsel across the procurement contracting pipeline, balancing business opportunity with legal risk. Working with the Director and Counsel, Commercial Contracts, this role partners across Legal, Procurement, Operations, IT, Marketing, and HR to efficiently review and negotiate a high volume of diverse agreements-from services, confidentiality, and SaaS agreements to licenses, events, HR/benefits, technical, and AI-related contracts.

This position is hybrid.

What You'll Do
  • Draft, negotiate, and review a wide variety of commercial and technical contracts, using a consistent, risk-based approach that is aligned with the firm's established legal standards.
  • Partner across the firm to streamline the procurement and contracting process and build strong stakeholder relationships.
  • Ensure contract intake is complete, accurate, and business-ready for efficient legal review.
  • Support Procurement with SLAs, training, playbooks, and practical legal guidance.
  • Serve as a trusted advisor on supplier contracts, risk management, terms, and disputes.
  • Escalate complex legal and risk matters to appropriate firm counsel.
  • Partner with stakeholders to develop and maintain supplier contracting policies, standards, and compliance practices.
  • Monitor legal and regulatory developments and recommend proactive updates.
  • Help develop and maintain firm-wide supplier contract templates.
  • Support contracting training and knowledge-sharing across the firm.
  • Foster a collaborative, respectful, and high-performing team environment.


What You'll Bring
  • Proven expertise drafting and negotiating supplier and technology contracts for global organizations.
  • Strong command of contract terms, regulatory requirements, IT, and data management.
  • Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills across all organizational levels.
  • Strong project, time, and change management skills, with the ability to prioritize and meet competing deadlines.
  • Collaborative, solutions-oriented mindset with sound judgment, discretion, and decision-making.
  • Trusted to handle confidential and sensitive information with professionalism and care.
  • Juris doctor with active license in at least one jurisdiction.
  • Minimum 5-7 years of relevant experience providing contract legal counseling, including drafting and negotiating commercial contracts.


Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience developing contract negotiation playbooks, processes, and training.
  • Proven experience drafting and negotiating AI-related agreements.


This position is eligible for an annual discretionary bonus, 401(k) plan, medical, dental, and vision insurance, accrued paid time off plan starting at 20 days annually, personal medical and parental leave, up to 10 paid holidays, and family care benefits. More information regarding benefits and programs may be found here.

This position may be filled in the following locations. The listed compensation range reflects the typical pay for this role, though it is rare for new hires to receive an offer at the top of the range. Actual compensation may vary depending on experience, skills, market conditions, and internal equity.

Colorado compensation range: $138,450 to $218,880 annually

Illinois compensation range: $146,110 to $231,010 annually

Washington state compensation range: $146,040 to $230, 890 annually

Washington, D.C. compensation range: $157,720 to $249,360 annually

#LI-Hybrid

About Perkins Coie LLP

Perkins Coie is an international law firm that represents clients across a wide range of industries and stages of growth—from startups to FORTUNE 50 corporations. The firm provides a full array of corporate, commercial litigation and intellectual property legal services. With more than 1,100 lawyers in 19 offices across the United States and Asia, Perkins Coie is consistently recognized as one of the leading law firms in the United States. The firm has been named to the FORTUNE Best Companies to Work For® list for 18 consecutive years.
Learn more about Perkins Coie LLP
Size
1,500 employees
Industry

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