Associate Counsel

SmartRecruiters, Inc.; Fort Wayne (IN); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Paid time off

On-site training

Executive exposure

Career development

Job summary

Circle Logistics is seeking an Associate Counsel to manage day-to-day commercial agreements and provide support on employment matters, restrictive covenants, and freight claims. The role collaborates with sales, operations, HR, and outside counsel to move deals forward while protecting the company's risk posture.

Requirements include a JD from an accredited law school and active Indiana bar admission (or eligibility).

Qualifications

• JD from an accredited law school.
• Active Indiana bar admission or eligibility for Indiana.
• 0–3 years of practice; commercial contracts, transportation, or labor and employment preferred.
• Familiarity with Carmack Amendment and FMCSA framework or ability to learn quickly.
• Experience drafting and negotiating commercial agreements.

Responsibilities

• Review, redline, and negotiate carrier, broker, MSAs, NDAs, vendor contracts, and leases.
• Assist with defense of employment claims, EEOC responses, and HR investigations.
• Initiate and manage enforcement of restrictive covenants and related records.
• Review cargo claims, freight disputes, and insurance coverage; draft demand/settlement letters.
• Collaborate with terminal leaders, sales and operations; provide practical legal guidance.

Skills

Contract review

Risk assessment

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Contract lifecycle

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Indiana bar admission

Tools

Carmack Amendment

Job description

Circle Logistics is a 3rd party logistics firm focused on delivering our three core promises to our customers: No Fail Service, Personalized Communication, and Innovative Solutions. We leverage our technology, industry experience, and employee ingenuity to develop industry-leading transportation solutions. We have been in business for 10 plus years and have grown into a half-billion-dollar company, from starting as just a handful of people with Entrepreneurial Spirit as their foundation. Our story is one of resiliency and innovation that has led us to grow to over 500 employees in a booming transportation industry, that never takes a night off.

Job Description

The Associate Counsel supports the Legal & Compliance function as a hands-on contract and litigation resource for the business. This role owns the day-to-day flow of commercial agreements, from first review through redline and execution, and provides direct support on employment matters, restrictive covenant enforcement, and freight claims. The attorney will work closely with sales, operations, HR, and outside counsel to move deals forward quickly while protecting the company's risk position.

Primary Responsibilities

Contract Review and Redlining
Review, redline, and negotiate carrier agreements, broker-shipper agreements, master service agreements, NDAs, vendor contracts, and real property leases. Apply standardized fallback positions on indemnity, insurance, cargo liability limits, payment terms, limitation of liability, and termination. Escalate off-market terms with a clear recommendation rather than a referral.

Labor and Employment Support
Assist with the defense of employment claims, charges, and lawsuits, including EEOC and state agency responses, document collection, witness preparation support, discovery response drafting, and coordination with outside employment counsel. Advise HR on separations, accommodation requests, wage and hour questions, and internal investigations.

Restrictive Covenant Enforcement
Initiate and manage enforcement of non-compete, non-solicitation, and confidentiality obligations. Draft cease and desist letters, assemble evidentiary records of customer and carrier solicitation, evaluate enforceability by jurisdiction, and coordinate with outside counsel on injunctive relief where warranted.

Claims and Demand Management
Review and respond to cargo claims, freight charge disputes, and third-party demands. Analyze Carmack Amendment exposure, contractual liability caps, and insurance coverage. Draft demand letters, denial letters, and settlement agreements. Support recovery efforts against carriers and their insurers.

Cross-Functional Collaboration
Serve as an accessible legal partner to terminal leaders, sales representatives, and operations staff. Deliver clear, practical answers on realistic timelines and train business teams on the contract and claims issues that surface most often.

Qualifications

Experience and Education Requirements

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school
• Active bar admission in Indiana, or admission in another U.S. jurisdiction with eligibility for Indiana admission
• 0 to 3 years of practice experience. Commercial contracts, transportation, insurance defense, or labor and employment backgrounds preferred
• Familiarity with transportation law concepts, including the Carmack Amendment, broker versus carrier liability, and FMCSA regulatory framework, or demonstrated ability to learn them quickly
• Experience drafting and negotiating commercial agreements in a business environment

Core Competencies

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to translate legal risk into business terms
• Sound commercial judgment with a bias toward closing deals rather than cataloging risk
• Proven ability to manage a high volume of concurrent matters in a dynamic, fast-paced environment
• Meticulous attention to detail in drafting, with strong organizational and analytical capabilities
• Proficiency with contract lifecycle tools, document management systems, and Microsoft Word tracked changes and comparison functions
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills with the ability to influence stakeholders and drive consensus without direct authority
• Demonstrated initiative, accountability, and commitment to continuous improvement and professional excellence

Additional Information

Additional Information

• Competitive base salary commensurate with experience
• Direct exposure to executive leadership and substantive matter ownership from day one
• On-site training and career development with a fast track to promotion
• Insurance benefits including: Health, vision, dental, life, and disability
• Paid holidays and paid time off after 90 days

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