Legal Counsel

Job Summary:

Required Degree:

J.D. from ABA-accredited law school, and Texas or California Bar license

Required Experience:

4+ years of legal practice at a law firm and/or as in-house counsel with at least 1 year in logistics industry (e.g., transportation, and warehouse management-related transactional experience)

Key Responsibilities:

Contract Drafting, Review, and Negotiation:

- Draft, review, and negotiate a broad spectrum of commercial agreements, including but not limited to transportation agreements (covering OTR, rail, ocean, and air), warehousing contracts, service agreements, customer agreements, and vendor contracts.

- Ensure all contracts are compliant with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, and accurately reflect the company s best interests and risk profile.

Risk Management:

- Identify, assess, and communicate potential legal risks associated with logistics, transportation, and warehousing operations.

- Provide proactive legal advice and develop strategies to mitigate legal and regulatory risks, including drafting risk management policies and procedures.

Regulatory Compliance:

- Monitor and interpret federal, state, and local regulations relevant to multimodal transportation and warehouse management, including but not limited to DOT, FMCSA, OSRA, and other industry-specific requirements.

- Advise internal stakeholders and provide training to ensure ongoing compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

Legal Research and Analysis:

- Conduct thorough legal research on emerging legal trends, regulatory changes, and industry-specific legal issues impacting the logistics sector.

- Translate legal findings into clear, actionable recommendations and communicate them effectively to business leaders.

Dispute Resolution and Litigation Management:

- Assist in the resolution of commercial disputes, including contract disputes, claims, and litigation matters, with a focus on minimizing company exposure.

- Collaborate with and manage outside counsel as needed, including overseeing litigation strategy and settlement negotiations.

Reporting and Communication:

- Prepare and deliver concise, business-friendly reports and updates to managers and senior leaders regarding identified legal issues, risks, and compliance matters.

- Translate complex legal concepts into clear, actionable insights to support informed decision-making across the organization.

Cross-Functional Collaboration and Special Projects:

- Work effectively across time zones and cultures with a diverse, cross-functional group of stakeholders, including operations, sales, compliance, and executive teams.

- Provide legal support for ad-hoc projects and strategic initiatives as assigned.

Requirements / Qualifications:

- Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an ABA-accredited law school.

- Active license to practice law in the State of Texas and/or California.

- Minimum of 4 years of legal practice, with at least 1 year of transactional legal experience in the logistics, transportation, or warehouse management sectors.

- Strong working knowledge of industry-specific regulations, including DOT, FMCSA, OSRA, and experience with logistics and warehousing contracts.

- Demonstrated experience supporting multimodal transportation operations (e.g., truckload, flatbed, LTL, rail, ocean, import/export) and warehouse management services.

- Proven ability to work in a fast-paced environment, manage multiple priorities, and meet tight deadlines.

- Excellent client relationship management and communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with stakeholders at all organizational levels and varying degrees of legal knowledge.

- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as a team player.

- Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills.

- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), strong research skills, and ability to learn and utilize internal contract management systems (e.g., Cello KMS).

Physical Demands:

- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing, while performing job duties.

- Ability to stand, walk, use hands to handle or feel objects, and reach with hands and arms as needed.

- Manual dexterity required for writing and for using a computer keyboard and mouse.

- Ability to multitask and resolve complex issues in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

- Occasionally required to lift office products, materials, or supplies weighing up to 20 pounds.