Sr. Legal Counsel & Corporate Risk Manager New Chicago,...

Sr. Legal Counsel & Corporate Risk ManagerChicago, ILMerge Storytelling and TechnologyWe bring together the minds and passions of creative pioneers, tech innovators, and data explorers to help ambitious clients solve business challenges and rise to the top. MERGE has enduring client partnerships with American Express, T-Mobile, LG, Subway, Kate Spade NY, Coach, The North Face, Meta, Adobe, BlueCross BlueShield, Abbott, Astellas, Supernus, CSL, GE Healthcare, Broward Health, Indiana University Health, Nationwide, and Morgan Stanley. With offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Kansas City, Montreal, New York City and Los Angeles, MERGE uses a talent-to-task process that enables clients to think higher and feel deeper about their customers.Promote Health, Wellness & HappinessWe are committed to promoting health, wellness and happiness in the world by partnering with purpose-driven clients in healthcare, life science, and consumer products. Our deep vertical expertise and category insights stem from decade-long partnerships with our top clients.Emerge to the Top of Your CareerAt MERGE, we strive to create a superior work experience where talented and ambitious people grow. An experience that encourages people to think higher and feel deeper. An experience where people engage their minds and hearts to do the best work of their careers.As our Sr. Legal Counsel & Corporate Risk Manager you will...You’ll be both the guardian of our legal interests and the architect of our enterprise-wide risk framework. From negotiating contracts to embedding compliance and shaping risk strategies, you’ll partner across the business to protect MERGE’s momentum while enabling bold growth.This is a high-impact role for a sharp, strategic thinker who thrives in dynamic environments—and knows how to balance legal rigor, risk control, and business agility.Be Accountable and ResponsibleContracts & Legal AdvisoryContract Leadership: Serve as the primary legal advisor for all commercial agreements, from client MSAs and SOWs to vendor, licensing, technology, and partnership contracts. Lead negotiations to ensure favorable terms while enabling business growthTemplates & Playbooks: Create, update, and maintain contract templates, negotiation playbooks, and approval workflows to drive efficiency, consistency, and scalabilityRisk & Liability Management: Identify, assess, and mitigate contractual risks—including indemnities, limitations of liability, confidentiality, IP ownership, data protection, and regulatory compliance (e.g., HIPAA, GDPR, CCPA)Business Partnering: Provide pragmatic, business-minded legal counsel to Sales, Procurement, HR, Finance, IT, and Product teams—enabling deals to close quickly without compromising legal or compliance safeguardsCorporate Governance: Support entity management, corporate filings, and board governance. Partner with Finance and HR on equity administration, corporate structure, and internal controlsPolicy Development: Draft and maintain company policies (e.g., privacy, compliance, ethics, code of conduct) that align with legal requirements and industry standardsOutside Counsel Management: Select, manage, and coordinate external counsel for specialized legal needs, ensuring cost-effective and high-quality supportRegulatory Watch: Monitor changes in law and regulation affecting contracts, corporate governance, advertising/marketing practices, and data protection; advise leadership on impact and implementationTraining & Enablement: Deliver contract training and legal awareness sessions to business teams to empower first-line review and escalate only material issuesEnterprise Risk Strategy & FrameworkLead the development and implementation of MERGE’s enterprise risk management (ERM) framework, ensuring alignment with business strategy and operationsEstablish and evolve risk appetite and tolerance levels with input from executive leadershipEmbed risk intelligence into decision-making processes and planning cyclesProactively identify legal, regulatory, strategic, operational, financial, technological, cybersecurity, reputational, and compliance-related risksConduct in-depth, data-driven risk assessments using both qualitative and quantitative methodologiesMonitor internal and external trends—especially those relevant to a marketing and technology-driven organizationAnalyze privacy and data security risks related to PII, HIPAA, GDPR, and other frameworksDesign and recommend scalable, practical mitigation strategies that balance rigor with usabilityPartner with business leaders to operationalize risk and compliance controlsEnsure mitigation plans are embedded into processes rather than bolted onDevelop and manage key risk indicators (KRIs), early warning systems, and risk heat mapsDeliver high-impact reporting and insights to senior management and the BoardSupport quarterly risk updates, Board presentations, and ad hoc deep-divesCrisis Management & Business ContinuityShape and test enterprise-wide crisis response and continuity plansConduct scenario planning and tabletop exercises to ensure organizational preparednessHelp maintain operational continuity and recovery protocolsRegulatory Compliance & GovernanceEnsure MERGE’s practices meet or exceed applicable laws, regulations, and industry standardsPartner with HR, Finance, and IT on compliance, data privacy, and equity/governance issuesConduct contractual risk assessments for clients, partners, and vendorsStakeholder Collaboration & EngagementBuild strong relationships with senior leaders, Legal, Compliance, Audit, and InsuranceServe as a trusted advisor, translating complex legal and risk issues into clear, actionable guidanceChampion legal and risk awareness through training and engagement across teamsThese are the qualifications we’re looking forJ.D. from an accredited law school; member in good standing of at least one U.S. state barBachelor’s in Finance, Risk Management, or Business a plus. Advanced degree or certifications (CRM, FRM, CIA, CISA) desirable7–10 years post-qualification legal experience, with at least 3–5 years in-house. Background in contracts, compliance, corporate governance, and enterprise risk managementIndustry experience in marketing, technology, healthcare, or professional services highly valuableStrong in contract law, regulatory compliance, data privacy, and enterprise risk frameworks (ISO 31000, COSO ERM, FAIR)Analytical powerhouse, clear communicator, adept at distilling complexity into clarity. Pragmatic mindset—able to protect the business while enabling growthWhat Success Looks LikeRisk is a catalyst for smart growth, not a roadblockContracts and compliance processes are streamlined and business-friendlyLeaders make informed decisions, backed by legal rigor, data, and foresightMERGE is resilient, compliant, and ready to scale with confidenceMERGE is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity and inclusion. #J-18808-Ljbffr

Created: 2025-09-18