Description ***This position is hybrid - three days at the Corporate Office in Merrillville, Indiana, and two days remote.*** Summary The Senior Counsel will serve as a trusted advisor to the White Lodging business. He or she will be responsible for working closely with the Company's General Counsel in all legal efforts to support White Lodging's operations. The Corporate Counsel will be responsible for anticipating and responding to a variety of legal issues arising in the business, including, but not limited to, those relating to commercial contracts, vendor agreements, hotel and restaurant management agreements, employment law, and litigation management.
Responsibilities The ideal candidate must:
- Have a J.D. from a highly-regarded law school.
- Have a minimum of 5 years of transactional (particularly contracts) law experience in a corporate or law firm setting.
- Have superior verbal and written communication skills and excellent academic credentials.
- Demonstrate the ability to identify problems and implement corrective action.
- Be committed to high standards of behavior and performance.
As part of White Lodging's legal team, the successful candidate will handle a wide variety of matters arising from the Company's operations, including:
- Facilitating business objectives by providing timely, strategic, and practical solutions to business teams regarding legal and business risks.
- Identifying, analyzing, and counseling regarding risks related to business operations, commercial contracts, transactions, and litigation.
- Structuring, drafting, negotiating, reviewing, and managing commercial contracts, hotel and restaurant management agreements, vendor and other agreements.
- Managing compliance under agreements post-execution, including contractual interpretation and dispute resolution.
- Developing corporate policies and procedures for the negotiation, execution, and management of contracts.
- Developing a thorough understanding of White Lodging's business, people, franchisors, owners, markets, vendors, and competitors to provide guidance and counsel.
- Establishing and developing strong relationships with all teams within the organization.
- Identifying training needs and developing educational programs on contract negotiation and management.
- Supervising and directing outside counsel as needed.
- Providing ethical leadership and judgment.
Key Qualifications - Excellent academic credentials and a J.D. from a highly-regarded law school.
- Bar Admission in good standing; admission to a state with Indiana reciprocity preferred but not required.
Required Experience and Personal Traits - 5+ years of relevant experience as a corporate transactional attorney.
- Proven ability to independently review, structure, draft, negotiate, and manage commercial contracts.
- Experience in real estate or the hospitality industry is strongly preferred.
- A proactive, practical, and business-focused mindset.
- Sound judgment, critical thinking, and solid negotiation and problem-solving skills.
- Team-oriented approach focused on continuous improvement.
- Ability to juggle numerous challenging tasks and manage outside counsel effectively.
What You Can Look Forward To - Day 1 Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
- Paid Parental Leave
- Vacation and Paid Time Off (PTO) with rollover
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Complimentary wellness tools
- Unlimited referral bonuses
- 401(k) with company match
- Leadership development opportunities
- Discounts on hotel rooms, dining, and other travel/entertainment experiences
