Commercial and Technology Contracts Counsel - Assistant Director at Ernst and Young

At EY, you’ll have the chance to build a career as unique as you are, with the global scale, support, inclusive culture and technology to become the best version of you. And we’re counting on your unique voice and perspective to help EY become even better. Join us and build an exceptional experience for yourself, and a better working world for all.

The exceptional EY experience. It's yours to build.

EY focuses on high-ethical standards and integrity among its employees and expects all candidates to demonstrate these qualities.

Location: Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Chicago, New York, Washington

Commercial and Technology Contracts Counsel – Assistant Director

At EY, you will have the chance to build a career as unique as you are, with the global scale, support, inclusive culture and technology to become the best version of you. And we are counting on your unique voice and perspective to help EY become even better too. Join us and build an exceptional experience for yourself, and a better working world for all.

Our General Counsel’s Office (GCO) supports EY’s business by serving as trusted advisors to the EY community and providing the highest quality legal services to EY’s service lines and business enablement functions.

The opportunity

As a Commercial and Technology Contracts Counsel, you’ll be a member of the Contracts Practice Group (CPG) within GCO and will provide advice, counsel and legal support on key legal issues related to the EY U.S. Firm’s procurement and client contracting activities. You will be responsible for negotiating the legal terms and conditions of various technology and non-technology agreements with third parties and providing related advice to address, manage and mitigate identified risks. The work is complex and requires sound experience in negotiating contracts, including aspects of technology, licenses, privacy issues, and intellectual property (including joint development and complex licensing arrangements).

You’ll work with internal stakeholders across the firm providing business and legal analysis and related guidance, interfacing extensively with teams within EY. You will also have the ability to collaborate with lawyers around the world who are members of the Global GCO network.

Your key responsibilities

1. Serving as a trusted advisor by providing practical legal advice and counseling on key legal risks associated with contracts
2. Reviewing contract requests to determine and advise on appropriate contract structure and forms based on the facts presented by the internal clients and stakeholders and the relationship between other EY member firms, if any, and the EY clients and vendors
3. Drafting, reviewing and negotiating contracts with third parties (including master service agreements, technology services agreements, hosting agreements, external data agreements) and evaluating third party agreement templates against EY standards
4. Working collaboratively as a member of a team of contract lawyers and with other professionals and internal clients and stakeholders
5. Effectively assessing, balancing, and communicating to business stakeholder and GCO leadership the risks and benefits associated with the multiple and sometimes competing objectives related to EY’s procurement of products, services, and technology
6. Interpreting and explaining contract terms and conditions to internal clients and stakeholders, while providing practical advice and guidance to such and collaborating to develop solutions to issues which effectively manage legal and practical business considerations
7. Building rapport with internal clients and stakeholders to deliver exceptional service
8. Understanding legal and client business goals and how such impacts the types of products and services procured and offered to clients
9. Coordinating with cross-functional teams (tax, independence, information security) and other GCO colleagues (data privacy, employment, alliance) in order to provide a comprehensive risk assessment and risk management
10. Understanding the firm’s policies, procedures and guidelines that are relevant to transactions and how contract drafting, negotiation and execution are impacted by such items
11. Effectively managing workflow, including multiple projects, in a proactive and highly responsive manner

Skills and attributes for success

As the work is very complex, often urgent, you’ll need to have sound experience in negotiations, contract law, technology and software agreements, contract drafting, current market knowledge, licensing, intellectual property, transactional analysis, and procurement, and the ability to meet multiple competing priorities, often on tight timelines. Working with professionals and leaders across the firm at all levels, you’ll utilize your interpersonal skills to develop and foster those relationships with internal stakeholders. The ability to manage contract volume and respond to a broad scope of client issues in the face of internal and external pressure is key. Additionally, strong communication skills along with the confidence and ability to influence senior leaders are essential qualities in this role.

To qualify for this role, you must have:

1. Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
2. Excellent subject matter expertise in technology and non-technology transactions and the applicable market, legal and regulatory environment impacting and informing such transactions
3. High degree of cultural and emotional intelligence, and demonstrated aptitude for resilience, flexibility, and ability to adapt to changing circumstances and dynamics
4. Ability to grasp, understand, and accurately articulate and document complex transactions
5. Ability to team effectively with colleagues in other functions and geographic locations
6. Ability to work remotely and on a hybrid basis
7. Expertise in negotiation techniques, contract law, contract drafting, licensing, intellectual property, procurement and project management relevant to complex technology contracts, emerging technologies (including in respect of open source software), and managed services
8. Ability to rapidly acquire comprehensive knowledge of relevant firm policies and related processes, and ability to apply such policies and processes to firm contracts
9. Ability to assess size and scope of contemplated transactions and to tailor contracts accordingly
10. Solution-oriented nature with a focus on exceptional client service
11. Respectful and professional communication style with team members, internal colleagues and vendors
12. 4+ years of experience as a practicing attorney
13. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college/university, top of class preferred
14. Juris Doctor from a top national law school
15. Good standing with a State Bar, including being current on individual state CLE requirements

Ideally, you’ll also have some of the following experience

1. Experience working as a Products Counsel, supporting the contracting lifecycle of product development, including having familiarity with Artificial Intelligence, large language models and machine learning
2. Experience working with a tech-based startup or within emerging technology industries
3. Experience working within a large law firm or corporate legal department within a regulated industry
4. Experience working in the accounting industry
5. Experience with government contracts

What we look for

We’re interested in agile individuals who have critical thinking skills along with a strong business acumen and deep knowledge of the law.

What we offer

We offer a competitive compensation package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to our business. In addition, our Total Rewards package includes medical and dental coverage, pension and 401(k) plans, and a wide range of paid time off options. Under our flexible vacation policy, you’ll decide how much vacation time you need based on your own personal circumstances. You’ll also be granted time off for designated EY Paid Holidays, Winter/Summer breaks, Personal/Family Care, and other leaves of absence when needed to support your physical, financial, and emotional well-being.

Plus, we offer:

1. Continuous learning: You’ll develop the mindset and skills to navigate whatever comes next.
2. Success as defined by you: We’ll provide the tools and flexibility, so you can make a meaningful impact, your way.
3. Transformative leadership: We’ll give you the insights, coaching and confidence to be the leader the world needs.
4. Diverse and inclusive culture: You’ll be embraced for who you are and empowered to use your voice to help others find theirs.

If you can demonstrate that you meet the criteria above, please contact us as soon as possible.

The exceptional EY experience. It’s yours to build.

EY | Building a better working world

EY exists to build a better working world, helping to create long-term value for clients, people and society and build trust in the capital markets.

Enabled by data and technology, diverse EY teams in over 150 countries provide trust through assurance and help clients grow, transform and operate.

Working across assurance, consulting, law, strategy, tax and transactions, EY teams ask better questions to find new answers for the complex issues facing our world today.

What we offer

We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to the business. The base salary range for this job in all geographic locations in the US is $118,500 to $221,600. The salary range for New York City Metro Area, Washington State and California (excluding Sacramento) is $142,200 to $251,900. Individual salaries within those ranges are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge, skills and geography. In addition, our Total Rewards package includes medical and dental coverage, pension and 401(k) plans, and a wide range of paid time off options. Join us in our team-led and leader-enabled hybrid model. Our expectation is for most people in external, client serving roles to work together in person 40-60% of the time over the course of an engagement, project or year. Under our flexible vacation policy, you’ll decide how much vacation time you need based on your own personal circumstances. You’ll also be granted time off for designated EY Paid Holidays, Winter/Summer breaks, Personal/Family Care, and other leaves of absence when needed to support your physical, financial, and emotional well-being.

+ Continuous learning: You’ll develop the mindset and skills to navigate whatever comes next.

+ Success as defined by you: We’ll provide the tools and flexibility, so you can make a meaningful impact, your way.

+ Transformative leadership: We’ll give you the insights, coaching and confidence to be the leader the world needs.

+ Diverse and inclusive culture: You’ll be embraced for who you are and empowered to use your voice to help others find theirs.

EY accepts applications for this position on an on-going basis. If you can demonstrate that you meet the criteria above, please contact us as soon as possible.

EY exists to build a better working world, helping to create long-term value for clients, people and society and build trust in the capital markets.

Enabled by data and technology, diverse EY teams in over 150 countries provide trust through assurance and help clients grow, transform and operate.

Working across assurance, consulting, law, strategy, tax and transactions, EY teams ask better questions to find new answers for the complex issues facing our world today.

For those living in California, please click here for additional information.

EY is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer providing equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, pregnancy, genetic information, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other legally protected basis, including arrest and conviction records, in accordance with applicable law.

EY is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities including veterans with disabilities. If you have a disability and either need assistance applying online or need to request an accommodation during any part of the application process, please call 1-800-EY-HELP3, select Option 2 for candidate related inquiries, then select Option 1 for candidate queries and finally select Option 2 for candidates with an inquiry which will route you to EY’s Talent Shared Services Team (TSS) or email the TSS at ssc.customersupport@ey.com