Senior Corporate Counsel - Alliance Defending Freedom

Everyone says they want to change the world. We’re looking for people who actually will.

Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building legal organization that advocates for the right of people to freely live out their faith. Please visit www.adflegal.org/about-us/careers to view our Statement of Faith and Doctrinal Distinctives. 

Senior Corporate Counsel

Alliance Defending Freedom is looking for a highly professional Senior Corporate Counsel to work out of our Lansdowne, VA or Scottsdale, AZ office. As the Senior Corporate Counsel, you are a vital part of the ADF team. In this role, you will report to Deputy General Counsel and are responsible for working with the Deputy General Counsel to plan and execute a strategy to manage the day-to-day legal services functions for ADF and its subsidiaries.

The Senior Corporate Counsel’s client is ADF, and the fiduciary duties and obligations of this position run strictly to ADF. All information obtained by the Senior Corporate Counsel, in that role, will be held in strict confidence except as required to be provided to the President, CEO and General Counsel, appropriate Executive Team members, and other Team members or Board Directors as required for the fulfillment of the position’s official duties.

The Senior Corporate Counsel will:

• Assist with the strategic planning process and implementation of the duties and responsibilities of the Office of Corporate Counsel.
• Manage day-to-day legal services functions for the Office of Corporate Counsel.
• Proactively protect ADF corporate entities from legal and non-legal threats.
• Take lead counsel role in certain subject matter areas as determined by past experience and core competencies and provide supervision over other attorneys related to other subject matter areas. Possible subject matter concentrations include compliance, corporate governance, contracts administration, intellectual property, data protection, human resources, professional ethics, real estate, risk management, and tax.

Your Essential Responsibilities:

In this position, you will:

• Assist Assistant General Counsel in leading efforts to provide core legal services to ADF and its subsidiary entities
• Assist the Deputy General Counsel in leading efforts to provide core legal services to ADF and its subsidiary entities.
• Assist the Deputy General Counsel in advising the CEO and other executive leadership on legal/non-legal matters, existing and potential threats, and concerns to the ministry.
• Ensure proper support for all litigation or quasi-litigation matters directly or indirectly involving ADF corporate entities or officers as parties.
• Handle legal matters in a professional and efficient manner to put ADF in the best position to meet its mission objectives.
• Interact with outside counsel, as necessary.
• Oversee research of unique legal issues impacting ADF by identifying applicable statutes, judicial decisions, and codes.
• Perform pre-litigation work for the ministry to minimize risks and maximize legal rights.
• Keep abreast of legislative changes that may affect ADF and its related entities.
• Advise ADF team leaders on legal matters in their areas of emphasis.
• Provide legal assistance to ensure all aspects of domestic and international ADF operations are compliant with relevant regulations and statutes.
• Draft and provide legal opinions at the request of ADF team leaders.
• Handle special projects assigned by Deputy General Counsel.
• Assist Church and Ministry Alliance efforts as directed by Deputy General Counsel.
• Manage junior corporate counsel and paralegals as necessary.

Other Responsibilities (Non-Essential):

• You will be asked to perform related duties or special projects as assigned

Skills you need to succeed:

Knowledge of:

• Corporate legal practice
• Nonprofit
• Subject matter expertise in one or more of the following related transactional areas- employment, data protection, intellectual property, taxation, real estate, risk management, legal ethics, contracts

Demonstrated proficiency in:

• Leading a team
• Capacity to work autonomously and independently or under minimal supervision
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office, WordPerfect, and Westlaw software
• Excellent organizational skills
• Excellent analytical skills
• Strong attention to detail and proven project management skills
• Proven customer service
• Excellent leadership skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
• Excellent problem-solving skills

Ability to:

• Work, motivate, and initiate within a team and cross team
• Prioritize and achieve deadline goals
• Professionally handle confidential information
• Travel overnight and international travel

Education and/or experience:

• Bachelor's degree; Juris Doctor, licensed to practice law in relevant jurisdiction
• 10+ years of legal experience
  
  • Experience and knowledge of corporate legal practice
  • Employment law experience desirable is preferred
  • Experience in international regulatory law is preferred

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR AN ORGANIZATION WITH A COMPETITIVE

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS PACKAGE, TOO? 

We have it! Alliance Defending Freedom offers team members a competitive compensation and benefits package that includes major medical insurance, dental care, medical and dependent care reimbursement, paid disability, long-term care insurance, and life insurance. We also offer a 401(k) plan with a generous company match. Work and life balance is important to the well-being of our team members. You will receive paid time off (PTO) that starts accruing from your hire date and 11 paid holidays per year.