Assistant General Counsel

Raphael & Associates; Rutherford (NJ); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Raphael & Associates in Rutherford, NJ is seeking an Assistant General Counsel to serve as a key legal advisor, delivering practical, business-focused guidance across corporate, commercial, contractual, and claims matters.

The role negotiates corporate and vendor agreements, RFPs, leases, and other contracts, supports governance, manages outside counsel on litigation, and collaborates with executives, operations, claims, finance, and IT to balance risk with growth.

Qualifications

• JD from an accredited law school with active license in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• 5+ years of corporate/commercial and claims or litigation experience.
• Experience drafting and negotiating commercial and vendor agreements.
• Experience with RFPs, RFIs, due diligence, and client contracts preferred.
• Experience handling claims, litigation, disputes, or insurance-related matters.
• Managing outside counsel and litigation matters.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, negotiate, and manage corporate, commercial, vendor, service, and other business agreements.
• Advise leadership on contractual obligations, indemnification, insurance, liability, and risk.
• Review and negotiate leases and real estate-related agreements.
• Develop and maintain contract templates, processes, and legal best practices.
• Support corporate governance and other general legal matters as needed.
• Provide legal guidance on claims, disputes, and litigation; manage outside counsel.

Skills

Contract negotiation

Drafting agreements

RFPs/RFIs

Claims litigation

Vendor management

Cross-functional collaboration

Outside counsel management

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Job description

Position Summary

The Assistant General Counsel will serve as a key legal advisor to the organization, providing practical, business-focused counsel across corporate, commercial, contractual, and claims-related matters. This role will work alongside of our General Counsel’s leadership and will have primary responsibility for reviewing and negotiating corporate and vendor agreements, RFPs, leases, and other business contracts, while also leveraging experience in claims and litigation to advise on disputes, liability matters, and litigation strategy. The ideal candidate is a strong legal generalist with demonstrated experience in commercial contracts and claims litigation, who can work collaboratively with executive leadership, business development, operations, claims, finance, and other internal stakeholders.

Position Summary

The Assistant General Counsel will serve as a key legal advisor to the organization, providing practical, business-focused counsel across corporate, commercial, contractual, and claims-related matters. This role will work alongside of our General Counsel’s leadership and will have primary responsibility for reviewing and negotiating corporate and vendor agreements, RFPs, leases, and other business contracts, while also leveraging experience in claims and litigation to advise on disputes, liability matters, and litigation strategy. The ideal candidate is a strong legal generalist with demonstrated experience in commercial contracts and claims litigation, who can work collaboratively with executive leadership, business development, operations, claims, finance, and other internal stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Draft, review, negotiate, and manage corporate, commercial, vendor, service, consulting, confidentiality, and other business agreements.
• Advise leadership on contractual obligations, indemnification, insurance requirements, liability, and other legal and risk considerations.
• Review and negotiate leases and other real estate-related agreements.
• Develop and maintain contract templates, processes, and legal best practices.
• Support corporate governance and other general legal matters as needed.

RFP, RFI & Business Development

• Partner with Business Development and leadership on RFPs, RFIs, due diligence requests, and prospective client engagements.
• Review legal and contractual requirements and identify potential risks or obligations associated with new business opportunities.
• Provide legal guidance throughout the proposal, negotiation, and contracting process.
• Collaborate with internal teams to develop appropriate responses to client legal and contractual requirements.

Claims & Litigation

• Provide legal guidance on claims, disputes, and litigation, particularly matters involving liability, contractual obligations, and insurance-related issues.
• Partner with the Claims team to evaluate complex or potentially litigated matters and develop appropriate strategies.
• Manage outside counsel and oversee litigation matters, including discovery, pleadings, settlement discussions, and related proceedings.
• Review and advise on releases, settlement agreements, indemnification provisions, and other claims-related documents.
• Identify trends and recurring issues that may create legal or financial exposure and recommend appropriate mitigation strategies.

Business & Risk Advisory

• Serve as a trusted legal resource to executives and business leaders across the organization.
• Provide practical, solutions-oriented advice that balances legal considerations with business objectives.
• Partner with Operations, Claims, Finance, HR, IT, and Business Development on legal and risk-related initiatives.
• Monitor applicable legal and regulatory developments and advise leadership on potential business impacts.
• Support compliance initiatives and other strategic legal projects.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school, active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• 5+ years of relevant legal experience, preferably combining corporate/commercial and claims or litigation experience.
• Demonstrated experience drafting and negotiating commercial and vendor agreements.
• Experience with RFPs, RFIs, due diligence, and client contracts preferred.
• Meaningful experience handling claims, litigation, disputes, or insurance-related matters.
• Experience managing outside counsel and litigation matters.
• Strong understanding of contractual risk, indemnification, insurance, and liability provisions.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to translate complex legal issues into clear, practical business guidance.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Experience

• Insurance industry experience, particularly claims, liability, or third-party claims administration.
• Experience with professional services, insurance, adjusting, or claims organizations.
• Experience supporting a growing organization in a hands-on legal capacity.
• Familiarity with corporate governance, vendor management, and commercial real estate agreements.