General Counsel

  • Full-time

Company Description

We are changing lives through building and operating best-in-class cultivation facilities and healthcare-focused dispensaries. Currently in Illinois and New York, we are growing and expanding into new markets across the nation. We cultivate and deliver medical cannabis to help alleviate symptoms of debilitating health conditions that warrant the administration of medical marijuana.

Job Description

The General Counsel is responsible for leading corporate strategic and tactical legal initiatives for the firm, and provides senior management with quick and thoughtful advice on a variety of matters. This role is responsible for driving strategic initiatives and their implementation, managing the company’s legal affairs, and overseeing the work of outside counsel. The General Counsel is directly involved in complex business transactions, including drafting and negotiating various types of business critical contracts and providing a broad range of legal counsel and expertise to senior management and various departments. 

Responsibilities include:

  • Counsels leadership on a broad array of issues in order to assess legal implications for the firm. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, provides advice and counsel to teammates.

  • Provides practical legal advice that furthers business objectives. Provides direct transactional legal support to document, diligence and close transactions

  • Identifies risks inherent in contract terms and business and develops solutions to complex problems that mitigate risk.

  • Provides legal oversight and guidance in order to ensure the Company’s compliance with laws, rules and regulations.

  • Lead & negotiate all corporate, finance, M&A, and complex commercial and IP matters.

  • Provides accurate, cost-effective and timely legal support to the firm.

  • Manages legal risks and assist in managing business risks and resolving pre-litigation disputes.

  • Apprise business and legal partners of pertinent legislative and regulatory developments.

  • Participates in the development of corporate policies, procedures and programs and provides counsel and guidance upon key legal matters

  • Builds, structures and manages the company’s internal legal function and staff.

  • Oversees the selection, retention, management and evaluation of all outside counsel. Manages the company’s litigation through coordination with outside counsel

  • Collaborates with the company’s accounting and finance departments to manage regulatory affairs, corporate governance and risk management initiatives.

  • Responsible for ensuring that the company conducts its multi-State business operations in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

  • Responsible for reviewing, drafting and negotiating key contracts, including major subcontracts, purchase agreements, and financing documents. Reviews, drafts, and negotiates a broad range of contracts and agreements for the business

  • Researches and advises on a broad range of legal-related issues, including employment law, tax law, contractor disputes, real property law and landlord-tenant matters.

  • Develops strategic policies/processes/materials and educational materials to minimize company legal exposure as well as educating/training company management on legal risks and ramifications.

  • Assists real estate and development teams with in-depth due diligence in real estate transactions, including title and entitlement review and evaluation of zoning and land use issues.

  • Moves the organization forward by working collaboratively with senior management colleagues to arrive at and implement short and long-term organizational decisions that utilize organizational, industry, and competitive knowledge.




Qualifications

  • B.A. or B.S. and Juris Doctorate.  Licensed to practice law in at least one state in good standing, and able to gain admission to the Illinois Bar

  • 6+ years of experience with corporate law firm experience or strong corporate background with six or more years of significant transactional experience required, including general corporate matters. Experience with a highly regulated industry strongly preferred.

  • Broad based knowledge on various legal issues. Established ability to build internal client relationships across various functions and play an integral part of the senior leadership team.

  • Demonstrated ability to think and contribute to key decisions quickly, and to communicate legal issues and solutions clearly and concisely

  • Excellent written and oral communication skills, including a clear and concise drafting style

  • Strong organizational and interpersonal skills, including ability to work independently and effectively within a team and a fast-paced business environment

  • Experience drafting complex commercial contracts or other experience demonstrating ability to manage commercial and legal negotiations, including strong negotiating skills and ability to influence and persuade.

  • Demonstrated ability to perform at high level in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with shifting priorities

  • Must be a team player with intangible soft skills to be successful in a team environment where agility and accountability are valued at a premium and a “roll up your sleeves” attitude is critical to success.  A team player who is willing to pitch in wherever needed.

  • An ability and willingness to work under time-sensitive deadlines and be productive in fast-paced environment with multiple competing priorities

  • Experience working with and managing outside counsel from both a cost effectiveness and work product standpoint, particularly with respect to M&A

  • Comfortable and confident in thinking independently and making his/her own decisions

  • Demonstrated ability to take ownership of and solve problems, to expeditiously assess issues, and accurately recognize areas of risk/opportunity to provide sound legal advice.

  • Ability to summarize key legal and business issues, including alternatives, for executive decisions.



Additional Information

It is the policy of PharmaCannis to afford equal opportunity in all phases of employment without regard to an individual's age, race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic tests and information, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status or any other legally protected status.