American Bureau of Shipping

Vice President and General Counsel

American Bureau of Shipping • $210K — $250K *
Legal & Accounting
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • J.D. or LL.B. degree from an accredited institution
  • 15+ years of legal experience in corporate law focusing on contracts and mergers and acquisitions
  • Extensive experience in M&A, commercial contracts, and corporate governance
  • Expertise in negotiating complex legal issues with various stakeholders
  • Strong leadership skills to manage and organize the activities of legal teams

Responsibilities

  • Collaborate with senior executives to develop strategic and business plans ensuring legal compliance in growth initiatives
  • Write, review, negotiate, and manage legal contracts and documents
  • Counsel management on legal implications of company activities
  • Advise on existing and new laws impacting business functionality
  • Implement policies to protect company assets and ensure legal compliance
  • Supervise outside counsel and manage legal strategy in litigation
  • Prepare the Legal Department's operating budget and ensure its effective functioning

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
  • Life insurance and disability leave programs
  • Parental leave and paid holidays
  • 401K plan with company matching
  • Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) for personal wellness support
Full Job Description
Job Description

Operating within broad guidelines established by the CEO of ABS Group and Executive Vice President - General Counsel and Secretary, the Vice President and General Counsel of ABS Group serves as the chief legal adviser of the Company and leads corporate transactions (including M&A), corporate governance, and other corporate legal and commercial contract matters. The position manages a small legal department, counsels management on the legal implications of all company activities and liabilities to the Company, provides for legal services as required in judicial proceedings, and obtains the services of outside counsel as required to complement available internal legal resources. The ideal candidate will be able to work independently, solve problems creatively, prioritize relentlessly, exercise business judgment soundly, and operate with a sense of urgency to get things done.

What You Will Do:
  • Collaborates with other senior executives to develop short- and long-range strategic and business plans for ABSG worldwide including ensuring legal compliance with organic and inorganic growth initiatives including mergers and acquisitions.
  • Writes, reviews, negotiates, interprets, and manages all legal contracts and documents to ensure they meet all legal requirements and are written in the best interest of ABS and affiliated companies.
  • Counsels management on the legal implications of all Company activities and potential liabilities.
  • Advises the executive management team on new laws, existing laws and legal rights that would impact functionality of the business.
  • Develops and implements policies and procedures designed to protect the assets of ABS and to ensure the Company and its subsidiaries comply with all international, local, state, and federal laws and regulations.
  • Maintains familiarity with the company's operations and keeps records of registrations, business licenses and other legal documents.
  • Supervises outside counsel and crafts/reviews legal strategy in response to litigation and otherwise provides legal services as required in judicial proceedings.
  • Prepares an operating budget for the Legal Department and ensures the Legal Department is organized, staffed and operated to protect the interests of ABS and affiliated companies.
  • Makes changes to the organization, staffing or budgets as conditions warrant and with the approval of the CEO of ABS Group.
  • Obtains the services of outside counsel as required to complement available internal legal resources. Reviews their activities to ensure they meet standards as established by ABS and affiliated companies.
  • Coordinates with the ABS Group Vice President of Finance to ensure that the risk management and loss prevention programs protect the corporation assets to the maximum extent possible.
  • Provides corporate governance support, including taking and drafting Board meeting minutes, preparing written consents and resolutions, and otherwise assisting in managing the corporate books and records.
  • Accountable and responsible for the ABS Health, Safety, Quality and Environment (HSQE) Management System by working with other senior executives to oversee the implementation, operation, and maintenance of the program.
  • Accountable and responsible for the Delegation of Authority (DOA) process and governance for the company.
  • Serves as secretary of the Board of Directors during board meetings. Records and publishes minutes of meetings. Manages board resolution creation and approval.
  • Integrates with and supports the broader legal team across the ABS enterprise as needed.
  • Supports M&A transactions, from strategic fit through diligence and integration, by providing strategic advice and legal counsel relative to the transaction.

What You Will Need:

Education and Experience
  • J.D. or LL.B. degree from an accredited institution.
  • 15 or more years of legal experience in corporate law with an emphasis on contracts and mergers and acquisitions.
  • Significant experience in M&A, commercial contracts, and governance.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
  • The ability to negotiate detailed, sensitive legal issues with clients and other interested parties.
  • Broad knowledge of all aspects of the legal field, including litigations, corporate law and labor law, to advise employees on a variety of subjects.
  • Strong focus on M&A; must be able to take on the role of lead M&A counsel, providing leadership and/or support for all elements of transactions, including structuring, overall due diligence, documentation, and coordinating signing and closing.
  • The human relations skills necessary to organize and manage the activities of other attorneys and managers.
  • Experience in a Quality Management System.
  • Working knowledge of the ABS Health, Safety, Quality and Environmental Management System.

Reporting Relationships:

The Vice President & General Counsel reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer of ABS Group and serves as a strategic adviser to executive leadership and the Board of Directors.

About Our Benefits

ABS Group proudly offers a variety of industry-leading benefits designed to enhance the life and well-being of our employees and their families. These benefits include, but are not limited to, medical insurance (PPO and HD), dental and vision insurance, Health Savings account (HSA), Flexible Savings Account (FSA), life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, disability leave programs, parental leave program, paid holidays, and paid vacation time. The Company provides an Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) that offers additional support in personal wellness, including work-life services. ABS Group also offers a 401K plan with a generous company match, subject to plan requirements.

Other

This job description is not intended, and should not be construed, to be an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, skills, efforts or working conditions associated with the job of the incumbent. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the principal job elements essential for making a fair decision regarding the pay structure of the job. #ogjs

About American Bureau of Shipping

The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) is a classification society, with a mission to promote the security of life, property and the natural environment, primarily through the development and verification of standards for the design, construction and operational maintenance of marine-related facilities. ABS is the largest classification society globally, with more than 200 offices in 70 countries. The organization was founded in 1862 and is headquartered in Spring, Texas.
Learn more about American Bureau of Shipping
Size
5,000 employees
Industry
Founded
1862

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