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General Counsel Resume Samples
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Candidate Info
years in workforce
years at this job
Juris Doctor
Magna
Msw
Assistant General Counsel
Advised executive team of public holding company with $300 million annual revenues, its U.S. operating subsidiaries, and diversified international technology businesses on enterprise-driven legal issues, including acquisitions and divestitures, contracts, intellectual property, securities, export compliance, and employment law.
- Structured, drafted and negotiated U.S. and European merger and acquisition transactions, distribution contracts, and software joint ventures implementing key corporate finance strategies.
- Negotiated major loan facilities, resulting in funding for the business.
- Managed intellectual property portfolio and successful intellectual property litigation, and negotiated trademark licenses.
- Negotiated settlement of a $1 million lawsuit with under $7,000 of outside legal fees.
- Chaired Disclosure Committee and ensured compliance with securities laws.
Candidate Info
years in workforce
years at this job
Psychology
Juris Doctor
Chief Restructuring Officer, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Served as managing attorney for NYSE listed contract electronic manufacturer with international operations in three countries. Responsible for management of all legal issues and investor relations.
- Promoted to CRO to lead company through turnaround, including Chapter 11 process, sale of software/internet subsidiary and disposition of three operating businesses
- Served as chief operating officer of $100 million manufacturing organization and led auction sale of subsidiary improving return to creditors by 300%
- Successfully led design, negotiation and closing of $20 million in convertible debt and equity financings
- Drafted all registration statements, proxy statements, 10-Ks, 10-Qs and other securities filings
- Directed operations of Israeli start-up company developing pen based computer input/security device
Candidate Info
years in workforce
years at this job
Economics
Juris Doctor
General Counsel and VP of HR
Chief legal officer for 1200 employee agency with nearly $1B in revenue;
- Managed staff of nearly 150 direct and indirect reports, $12 M budget, and outside counsel;
- Reviewed and implemented all policies;
- Legislative liaison responsible for working with legislators and special interest groups to inform policy and regulations and draft appropriate legislation;
- Advised executives and managers regarding legal issues
- Interpreted legislation and provided training and technical assistance to ensure compliance;
- Investigate alleged violations of law, including ethical violations, conflicts of interest, discrimination, fraud, waste, and misuse of taxpayer resources.
Candidate Info
years in workforce
years at this job
Economics
Top
Deputy General Counsel
Prepared securities filings, including equity and debt registrations, proxies, Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K and employee benefit plan shares, and proactively addressed new SEC requirements. Supported annual shareholders meeting and addressed shareholder proposals, corporate governance, NYSE requirements and other board of director issues. Developed and trained executives on new disclosure controls. Drafted and negotiated non-disclosure agreements, lines of credit, ISDA, receivables, vendor and customer agreements, acquisition, divestiture and other M&A agreements. Directed legal team supporting worldwide sales organization and litigation. Addressed employee benefit issues.
- Created administrative efficiencies by standardizing customer contracting processes.
- Directed a team that created FCPA-based methodology for international distributors and provided FCPA, AdvaMed, false claims and anti-kickback training.
- Initiated and led accounting, investor relations, human resources and legal teams, which improved securities, corporate, and investor communications.
- Implemented and trained process that eliminated history of late Section 16 filings.
- Initiated risk management improvements.
- Member disclosure control committee and enterprise-wide risk management committee.
Candidate Info
years in workforce
years at this job
Science
Law
Associate General Counsel-environment, Safety, Health & Procurement
Identified potential legal problems, then provided legal advice, guidance and leadership to clients and leadership team relative to regulatory policy and business operations at a $1.2 billion Department of Energy national laboratory involved in basic science research, energy research, including climate change. Achieved timely and satisfactory solutions to issues by persuading leadership to act to ensure compliance with laws and regulations related to key laboratory business areas. Prepared, reviewed and approved various transactional documents including subcontracts, memoranda of understanding, licenses, leases, and other technical or administrative agreements in various program areas including construction, insurance, energy research and international programs.
Key Achievements:
- Created a corporate distracted driving program where none previously existed saving tens of thousands in potential liability costs.
- Revitalized summer internship program through own initiative, mentoring summer interns.
- Led the legal portion of major environmental assessments and investigations of environmental compliance breaches including any corrective actions thus limiting corporate liability.
- Advised environmental remediation group involved in the clean-up of Department of Energy Manhattan project era facilities on effective legal strategies involving CERCLA removal actions.
Candidate Info
years in workforce
years at this job
Bachelor of Arts
Juris Doctor
General Counsel - Director, Legal Solutions Group
Responsible for all risk management issues as well as litigation management.
- Created and oversaw the implementation of the Company's risk management program.
- Performed quality assurance function by resolving claims internally.
- Handled all real estate & property issues relative to the Company's five (5) office locations.
- Personally completed the licensing process for the Company's offices & its new India location.
- Managed process & procedure of the Legal Solutions Division and its revenue generating attorney network.
- Significant experience in complex corporate, contractual and transactional matters.
Candidate Info
years in workforce
years at this job
Mathematics
Law
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Senior lawyer, non-regulatory compliance officer, chief ethics officer and corporate secretary for
$4.7 billion, NYSE-listed Fortune 500 Medicare health care and insurance company.
- Managed complex forensic/compliance review of massive Medicare fraud; formulated
- Negotiated complex regulatory compliance opinion for proposed acquisition.
- Structured critical disposition so as not to require unobtainable lender consent.
- Concluded complex, transformative acquisition and associated financing transactions,
- Handled coverage disputes with directors' & officers' and errors & omissions carriers.
- Transitioned company from Nasdaq to NYSE without usual expense of outside counsel.
Candidate Info
years in workforce
years at this job
Business Management
Juris Doctor
Global Regulatory & Associate General Counsel
Managed Legal & Regulatory product compliance for food supplements and cosmetics worldwide in over 40 international markets
- Responsible for product claims, ingredient qualifications, approval of marketing literature, promotional materials and sales aids
- Managed and evaluated risk for sales, marketing, importation & exportation activities and provided solutions and resolved concerns with relevant regulatory agencies worldwide.
- Drafted and approved contracts, corporate transactions, research and development projects, and reviewed business operations and technical services processes and procedures
- Key member of product development team
- International expertise on food, drug and medical devices
- Company Representative for foreign and domestic trade associations and government relations
- Pharmanex General Management Committee member
Candidate Info
years in workforce
years at this job
Master of Laws
General Counsel
Director of an in-house legal department. Extensive experience in all aspects of acquisitions, billing and contracting.
- Drafted and negotiated all deal documents related to the acquisition of home health, hospice, assisted living facilities, durable medical equipment, and physician groups of various sizes.
- Reviewed all acquisition-related due diligence for general and health regulatory issues and drafted diligence summaries.
- Reviewed, revised and negotiated all contracts entered into by the parent company and over forty affiliates.
- Created accreditation and survey policies and guidelines to fully comply with the certification requirements of the Joint Commission on merged, acquired, and sold health provider companies.
- Performed research on a daily basis on a wide variety of health regulatory topics, including the corporate practice of medicine, noncompetition agreements, state corporation law, licensing laws, antitrust, False Claims Act, Stark Law, and the Anti-Kickback Statute.
- Oversaw ADR reviews on billing disputes and other billing issues with billings department.
- Oversaw the creation and implementation of the corporate compliance program in lieu of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines as outlined by U.S. Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Candidate Info
years in workforce
year at this job
Criminal Justice And Sociology
Juris Doctor
Assistant General Counsel - Compliance
Advised on operating procedures and business practices in compliance with state and federal regulatory requirements.
- Compliance and oversight of illicit discharge enforcement, construction site and industrial facility enforcement, and preparing compliance reports for state and federal agencies.
- Reviewed environmental permitting matters.
- Carried caseload involving torts, property rights, and collection matters.
- Researched questions of law, public policy and fact situations and prepared memorandum.
- Negotiated and drafted easements, licenses, rights in land, administrative rules and regulations and conducted title searches.
Candidate Info
years in workforce
month at this job
Russian
Russian Language And Soviet Studies
Juris Doctor
General Counsel
- In acquisition of SoftMed by 3M Company, advised SoftMed CEO and CFO, reviewed contract and prepared disclosure schedules, while supporting ongoing business operations, resulting in successful transaction.
- For board of directors meetings, prepared notice and agenda, drafted resolutions, attended meetings, answered questions from directors (including outside directors), and prepared minutes.
- Handled shareholder matters (stock register, conversion of debentures into preferred shares, etc.).
- Resolved commercial disputes (dissatisfied customers) and employee issues (non-competition, harassment).
- Reviewed/edited marketing collateral and press releases, avoiding unsubstantiated claims and potential liability.
General Counsel Resume Success Stories
General Counsel Duties and Responsibilities
Daily job tasks for general counsel fluctuate depending on the legal issues and contracts currently before the company. However, these core duties are the same in all businesses:
Provide Legal Advice and Guidance General counsel give legal advice to company executives on contracts, legal risks, and business terms. They also provide continuing legal guidance on all matters before the company, such as providing legal advice regarding risk management and responding to legal questions from the HR department.
Stay Up to Date General counsel stay up to date on current federal, state, city, and county laws and regulations that may affect the company's business interests.
Manage Litigation Actions General counsel manage any litigation actions involving the company, from going to the courthouse to litigate cases to negotiating settlement agreements to avoid litigation when possible.
Manage Staff General counsel manage and direct legal aids, paralegals, legal assistants, and other staff members.
Write Legal Documents General counsel write legal briefs, in-house memos, and other legal paperwork.
General Counsel Skills and Qualifications
General counsel are lawyers who are trained in matters of corporate and business law and use their knowledge to prevent legal risks and maintain their company's business interests. Companies hire candidates who have the following skills:- Legal knowledge - general counsel need extensive legal knowledge to ensure the company stays compliant with all federal, state, city, and county laws and regulations; to provide advice on contractual language; and to manage all legal actions currently before the company
- Public speaking - general counsel use public speaking abilities when arguing cases before judges and juries
- Leadership skills - because general counsel may direct and manage legal aides and assistants, leadership abilities are an essential component of this career
- Negotiation- general counsel negotiate business contracts, settlement agreements, and other legal matters
- Critical thinking - general counsel use critical thinking skills to examine contractual language and provide risk management advice
- Communication skills - general counsel need excellent written and verbal communication skills to create reports and provide legal advice in language that's easy for non-lawyers to understand
General Counsel Education and Training
General counsel must have a law degree from an accredited law school in order to pursue this job. To legally practice law, general counsel must also maintain a license to practice law in their state of employment as well as a valid driver's license. Additionally, many hiring companies require general counsel to have previous work experience practicing law. However, a master of law degree can suffice for actual work experience. Because of the extensive amount of education required for this job, no training is provided to general counsel. Many companies do give new employers a brief orientation period to help them become familiar with the company's inner workings, major clients, and permanent staff members. This orientation is brief, typically lasting just one week.
General Counsel Salary and Outlook
Employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that lawyers earn $119,250 in annual median pay. Data projections show that these jobs will increase 8 percent through 2026, a rate that is as fast as the national average. Companies provide general counsel with full medical benefits that include dental and vision coverage. A majority of employers also provide retirement benefits and life insurance. After a specified period of continued employment, paid vacation and sick days are included in standard benefits packages. Many businesses provide additional jobs perks, such as profit-sharing bonuses, free parking, and wellness program enrollment.
Helpful Resources
Find legal resources, job opportunities, career strategies, and information about corporate law in these books and websites:
Association of Corporate Counsel - the ACC website is designed for all lawyers working in corporate environments to provide job opportunities, education resources, articles, and membership benefits
Legal Risk Management for In-House Counsel and Managers: A Manager's Guide to Legal and Corporate Risk Management - this book was written by the former general counsel of Samsung Electronics America to provide real-world tips and strategies for all general counsel in corporate and business environments
National Lawyers Association - use the NLA website to find research and resource tools, explore the career center, and access a national network of general counsel and other lawyers across the U.S.
General Counsel in the 21st Century: Challenges and Opportunities - this guidebook is full of tips and information for legal experts and covers a range of topics for general counsel
Corporate Counsel Associations - this website contains legal resources of all kinds, including upcoming event dates, legal associations, articles, and law information for general counsel and other corporate lawyers
Of Counsel: A Guide for Law Firms and Practitioners - learn the language general counsel need to know to work in a business environment in this practical, comprehensive guidebook, which contains information about recent case law
