Who You AreWe are seeking a commercially-minded lawyer who can support the business across all legal disciplines and serve as a trusted advisor to the founders and executive team.This is a unique opportunity to own a broad and varied legal scope of work, and shape how legal risk and strategy are managed as we scale. You'll be the first point of contact for nearly every legal question that touches the business, from employment matters and commercial contracts to IP protection, litigation, financings, and privacy compliance, while managing outside counsel relationships for complex or specialized initiatives.
You're a pragmatic attorney who is energized about being the first and sole in-house legal resource. You can communicate complex legal concepts clearly to internal and external stakeholders. You have a broad understanding across multiple legal fields, and know when to bring in 3rd-party experts to supplement your personal expertise. You are incredibly sharp, scrappy and have a keen attention to detail. You think of creative solutions for difficult problems and are equally comfortable with high-level strategic questions as you are getting into the minutiae of contract negotiations. You're highly organized, self-directed and thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
ResponsibilitiesBusiness Partnership & Contracts- Serve as the primary legal advisor to the executive team and cross-functional leaders (People, Finance, Marketing, Supply Chain, Product)
- Build scalable legal processes, templates, and internal guidelines to support our high-growth organization
- Identify legal and regulatory risks proactively and recommend practical solutions aligned with business goals
- Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements, including vendor, supplier, agency, manufacturing, licensing, marketing, and partnership agreements, including marketplaces such as Amazon and Chewy
- Serve as the primary liaison to the company's outside law firm(s), scoping and managing complex or specialized initiatives
- Manage outside counsel budgets and ensure efficient, cost-effective use of external legal resources
Consumer Protection & Marketing- Review advertising and product claims, influencer and affiliate programs, reviews and testimonials, sweepstakes and promotions, pricing and discount practices
Employment Law- Advise HR on employment matters, including hiring, termination, policies, leave, accommodations, and workplace investigations
- Draft and maintain employee-facing agreements and policies (offer letters, employee handbook, restrictive covenants, etc.)
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws
Intellectual Property / Trademark- Manage the company's trademark portfolio, including filings, renewals, and enforcement, in coordination with outside IP counsel
- Advise on brand protection, licensing, and IP considerations in product development and marketing campaigns
Litigation & Claims- Manage disputes, claims, demand letters and litigation matters, including intake, strategy, and coordination with outside litigation counsel
- Oversee insurance claims and coordinate with risk management/insurance brokers
Corporate, Equity & Debt Financings- Support corporate governance matters, including board materials and cap table considerations
- Assist with equity and debt financing transactions, working closely with outside counsel on deal documents, due diligence, and closing mechanics
- Lead legal work on strategic partnerships, licensing, and eventually M&A or exit readiness
Privacy & Data- Oversee terms of service, privacy policy checkout flows, return and refund policies, and website accessibility risk
- Advise on data privacy compliance (e.g., CCPA, state privacy laws), SMS and email marketing (TCPA), cookie and pixel practices, and the wave of tracking technology class actions as it relates to ecommerce and marketing operations
- Own compliance for subscription and auto-renewal programs, state auto-renewal laws, and evolving click-to-cancel requirements
Building the function- Manage outside counsel efficiently, set up scalable processes (contract templates, playbooks, self-serve tools, sensible use of legal tech and AI), and eventually hire and develop a team
Requirements - 5+ years of legal experience at a top-tier law firm; time spent in-house at a consumer, retail, or e-commerce company is a plus (particularly as first or sole lawyer)
- J.D. from a top-tier law school
- Active bar membership in good standing (New York bar preferred)
- Demonstrated breadth of experience across multiple legal disciplines, such as employment law, IP/trademark, commercial contracts, litigation/claims, equity/debt financings, and privacy/consumer terms
- Experience advising e-commerce, DTC, or CPG companies is a plus
- Exposure to M&A or IPO preparation preferred
- Proven ability to manage outside counsel relationships and complex, multi-workstream legal initiatives
- Excellent judgment and the ability to independently prioritize and manage a high volume of varied legal matters; comfort with ambiguity and speed
- Strong drafting, negotiation, and communication skills
- Entrepreneurial mindset with comfort operating without extensive legal infrastructure already in place
- High ethical standards and professional integrity with a business-first, commercially-oriented mindset
- Dog lover a plus!
Anticipated Base Salary: Up to $350K
This is a hybrid position based in our Midtown Manhattan office.
In-office presence is required on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
