DescriptionVice President, Legal Charlotte, NC (in office 3x week)Summary:The Vice President, Legal serves as the company's legal advisor and strategic business partner, providing practical legal guidance that supports business objectives while managing legal and commercial risk. This role leads all legal matters, including commercial contracting, intellectual property, corporate governance, compliance, litigation, employment law, and mergers and acquisitions, while partnering closely with executive leadership across the business.
Essential Responsibilities:Commercial Contracting & Business Partnership - Lead the negotiation, drafting, review, and administration of a broad range of commercial agreements, including:
- Customer Master Supply Agreements
- Non-Disclosure Agreements
- Distributor, Partner, and Reseller Agreements
- Vendor and Supplier Agreements
- Statements of Work,
- Software License and Purchase Agreements
- Service Agreements
- Lease Agreements
- Compliance-related customer agreements
- Provide practical legal guidance to support the organization.
- Advise on commercial terms and conditions, purchasing language, risk allocation, warranty provisions, indemnification, and liability issues.
- Develop and maintain standard contract templates, playbooks, and contracting processes.
- Manage contract lifecycle systems and electronic signature platforms.
- Resolve commercial disputes and manage outside counsel when litigation or formal legal action is required.
Intellectual Property Management - Support the company's intellectual property strategy in partnership with business leaders and external legal counsel.
- Coordinate the administration of the global patent and trademark portfolio, including tracking filings, prosecution, maintenance, renewals, and deadlines.
- Partner with Engineering and Product teams to identify potential patentable innovations and facilitate the invention disclosure process.
- Coordinate freedom-to-operate reviews and competitive intellectual property assessments with outside counsel and internal stakeholders.
- Manage relationships with outside patent counsel, monitor work progress, and assist with intellectual property budget tracking.
- Support intellectual property disputes and litigation by coordinating documentation, gathering information, and serving as the internal point of contact.
- Oversee patent marking processes and coordinate trademark and copyright administration to ensure compliance with company requirements.
- Serve as the primary liaison with ASSA ABLOY on intellectual property matters, coordinating communication, aligning priorities, and facilitating timely decision-making.
Corporate Governance, Compliance & Risk - Oversee corporate governance activities, including annual corporate filings, subsidiary management, board records, and corporate documentation.
- Support privacy, regulatory compliance, ethics, sustainability, and customer compliance initiatives.
- Provide legal support on employment matters, including employment agreements, restrictive covenants, workplace investigations, and policy interpretation.
- Assist with insurance, enterprise risk management, and corporate compliance reporting.
- Coordinate outside counsel and regulatory agencies as necessary.
Mergers & Acquisitions - Support mergers, acquisitions, and strategic investments through legal due diligence and transaction support.
- Draft and negotiate confidentiality agreements related to acquisition opportunities.
- Review transaction documents and advise leadership throughout the transaction process.
- Support post-acquisition legal integration activities.
Qualifications:- Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
- Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
- 10+ years of progressive legal experience, including significant commercial contracting responsibilities.
- Experience supporting technology, manufacturing, software, hardware, or industrial organizations.
- Demonstrated expertise negotiating complex commercial agreements with customers, suppliers, and strategic partners.
- Strong knowledge of commercial law, intellectual property, corporate governance, compliance, and risk management.
- Experience managing outside counsel and legal budgets.
- Excellent business judgment with the ability to balance legal risk against business objectives.
- Exceptional communication, negotiation, and executive influencing skills.
