Corporate Counsel – Corporate, Real Estate & Transactional
3 days ago
Edison
About Wakefern Wakefern Food Corp. is the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the United States and supports its co-operative members' retail operations, trading under the ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, Dearborn Market, Gourmet Garage, Fairway Market, and Di Bruno Bros. Employing an innovative approach to wholesale business services, Wakefern focuses on helping the independent retailer compete in a big business world. Providing the tools entrepreneurs need to stay a step ahead of the competition, Wakefern’s co-operative members benefit from the company’s extensive portfolio of services, including innovative technology, private label development, and best-in-class procurement practices. Summary The Corp Counsel provides legal advice, recommendations, oversight and guidance with respect to all legal issues and areas of law that impact the Company, with an emphasis in transactional, corporate finance, real estate, and M&A. The Corp Counsel regularly handles the negotiation of a wide array of agreements from all divisions within the Company, as well as the review and drafting of other legal documents, such as policies, guidelines, and presentations. This individual, under the direction of the Assistant General Counsel, will provide counsel to business partners and management within the Company, as well as to the Company’s cooperative membership, and will liaise and consult with outside legal counsel, as necessary. The Corp Counsel also advises and provides legal advice to the management of the Company’s subsidiaries on legal issues and risks impacting the subsidiary, to support the achievement of long-term business goals and ensure alignment with the Company. Using business acumen and legal skills, this individual will assist Assistant General Counsel in the efficient administration and management of all legal matters. The Corp Counsel’s perspective should always be the advancement of the Company’s interests through the understanding and knowledge of the business strategies and operations, while reducing legal risk to acceptable levels. Essential Functions Provide legal advice, recommendations, oversight and guidance with respect to all legal issues and all areas of law which impact the Company, including, but not limited to, the following: • Commercial Law, • Prepare, draft, and negotiate various contracts for the Company to ensure alignment with the business requirements and organizational policy, • Advise on advertising, intellectual property, trade and anti-trust matters, • Acquisitions / Divestitures / Transfers of wholesale and supermarket assets, • Finance, • Company and subsidiary secured and unsecured financing, • Company loans to member organizations, • Company intercreditor agreements with third party lenders, • Real Estate, • Site Development Committee liaison, • Lease Negotiation, • Lease Interpretation and Administration, • Advise and counsel senior management on material legal issues, • Collaborate with and manage outside counsel to ensure receipt of high-quality, on-budget, cost-effective, timely, practical and business-oriented legal advice, including hiring, budgeting, performance management, and strategic oversight, • Develop thorough understanding of Company's business, products, markets, facilities, customers, and competitors to identify trends and formulate strategies and processes accordingly, • Additional responsibilities as necessary and assigned Qualifications • Minimum 5 years of experience with a top tier law firm and/or in-house legal department, • Law Firm experience a plus, • JD Degree from an ABA accredited law school, • Licensed to practice in New Jersey, • Thrive in a fast-paced, changing environment; prioritize competing demands and consistently meet deadlines, • Apply strong business acumen, legal judgment, and sound problem-solving, • Build and maintain effective partnerships with internal clients and cross-functional stakeholders, • Communicate clearly and persuasively, including strong writing and presentation skills, • Demonstrate strong computer proficiency (Microsoft Office and related tools) Working Conditions & Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an Associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. • Associate will be required to work on-site during Company’s regular business hours for a minimum of four (4) days per week and must adhere to Company’s Hybrid Work Policy., • Associate will be occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 10 pounds., • Associate may occasionally be required to travel to other Company locations., • While performing the duties of this job, Associate will be frequently required to sit, walk and talk and hear. Core Competencies • Communicate Effectively: Communicates thoughts and ideas in a well-organized manner, encouraging two-way communication., • Build Relationships: Creates cross-functional partnerships through the development and maintenance of constructive and cooperative relationships., • Stay Competitive: Demonstrates a mindset of continuous improvement while exhibiting passion and enthusiasm for their work., • Embrace Change: Looks for new ways of working by supporting advancements in processes and technology., • Develop You: Identifies and capitalizes on opportunities for personal and professional career growth., • Drive for Results: Supports divisional and strategic objectives through achievement of work goals.