Corporate Counsel

PURPOSE:To provide first class, efficient and comprehensive legal service to MessageLabs in the Americas and to assist in providing legal services to all MessageLabs entities globally, ensuring compliance from all parties whether internal or external, and in doing so, controlling and mitigating any potential exposure and legal liability whilst maintaining a commercially pragmatic approach. DIMENSIONS:Total number of direct reports: 1 1 Assistant Corporate Counsel US PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:  Taking overall responsibility for the management of the legal contractual relationships with customers, partners, suppliers and agents in the Region including leading the negotiation of major or complex contractual terms and conditions and supporting the US Legal Department in negotiation and dealing with escalated issues Business Transactions and Contracts:  Prepare, evaluate, and negotiate a wide variety of sales, and vendor contracts, with heavy emphasis on sales contracts and managed services contracts.  Ensuring prompt query resolution and overall company satisfaction with the contracting process and to drive efficiency through process optimisation generally. Developing and implementing improvements to processes and procedures as necessary working and liaising with the appropriate departments.  Providing expert legal advice to the MessageLabs Board/Exec, on all Regional matters including, joint ventures, acquisitions, supplier contracts or any regulatory or legal issues affecting the business in the Region.   Managing the US Legal Department with direct responsibility for managing and developing 1 permanent, full-time member of staff to include performance reviews, objective setting, training and development, grievances, disciplinary action, and salary reviews.   In conjunction with the Global General Counsel, building and maintaining appropriate relationships with external counsel in the region and managing those relationships so as to be able to utilise such external Legal resources where necessary, to include negotiation of fees and instruction, keeping such costs to a minimum.  Managing the creation and development of contractual terms for existing and new services and finalising new and reviewing existing customer, supplier, reseller and other contractual documentation in line with the developing needs of the business.  Ensuring appropriate measures are taken to enforce Customer, Partner, and Supplier compliance with all contractual terms and conditions and taking any appropriate legal or other enforcement action where necessary. Dealing with legal disputes and any other unresolved legal issues arising from any other department.  Interpreting and communicating internally and externally the meaning and effect of all legislation and regulations concerning the implementation and use of MessageLabs’ products and services in the Americas and globally and dealing with any enquiries relating thereto from all areas of the business.  Dealing with all Intellectual Property Issues in the region including Trademarks, copyright and Patents and advising on these issues when required.   Corporate and Securities:  Assist in the preparation of corporate records of the company.  Research corporate and securities law issues  Ensuring the processes and measures are in place to effectively keep all contract related information on the databases, and that the intranet and extranet is kept up to date and comprehensive through liaison with IT and other departments as required.  Providing employment law advice to the business when required but primarily to the HR department.   PROFILE OF JOB HOLDER: Essential  Juris Doctor degree 4-6 years of post qualification experience in the practice of law preferably in- house, involving the negotiation of contract terms and conditions with customers and/or resellers and/ or agents Experience of managing a legal team Excellent contract negotiation skills. Practical experience of commercial contract drafting and extensive contract law knowledge broad background in other corporate and commercial agreements (confidentiality, technology development, alliance/distribution agreements experience of negotiating, drafting, and advising on mergers and acquisitions, including the ability to manage outside counsel on transactions familiarity with implications of multinational IT and data processing agreements and other transactions that have cross-border implications (data privacy, technology import/export) good working knowledge of copyright, patent and trade mark law Self-starter with ability to thrive in dynamic, fast-paced environment with constantly changing priorities Appreciation for a fast paced work environment and variety of work, commitment to excellence in service in a high growth, aggressive business environment Presence and ability to successfully interact with executive and senior managers, staff, operations and sales personnel Good commercial awareness Excellent verbal and written communication skills Strong project management and computer skills (Microsoft Office:  Word, Excel, Outlook, Power Point) Must display a professional demeanor and presentation, have a positive attitude, and be a team player Desirable  Previous experience of working within a IT environment Previous experience of working within a service delivery environment, ideally an ISP/ managed services provider good understanding of regulatory and market issues in the managed services security sector Good presentation skills TO APPLY: If you possess the demonstrated talent needed to be a member of the MessageLabs team, please email us your resume and cover letter in Microsoft Word Document format with salary requirements to: usjobs@messagelabs.com Job Title:   Corporate Counsel Location:   New York, NY 10001 Status:   Full Time, Employee Job Category:   Legal Relevant Work Experience:   10+ to 15 Years Career Level:   Manager (Manager/Supervisor of Staff) Education Level:   Master's Degree