Associate General Counsel

Packaging-Corporation-of-America; Lake Forest (IL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Packaging Corporation is seeking an Associate General Counsel to provide legal counsel to executives and operating management across the corporation. The AGC will handle litigation management, counseling, transactional design, negotiation and documentation, and contribute to legal department administration.

The role emphasizes employment law, workplace investigations, collaboration with labor relations, and strategic risk management to align legal services with business goals.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an ABA-accredited law school.
• Active Bar membership.
• Broad knowledge of PCA's business areas.
• Strong analytical and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal counsel to PCA executives and operating management across the corporation.
• Manage litigation and advise on employment issues.
• Draft and negotiate in-house transactions and policies; review and design agreements.
• Oversee outside counsel, budgeting, and matter management.

Skills

Verbal & written comms

Legal research

Workplace investigations

Team collaboration

Negotiation skills

Education

ABA-accredited law school

Job description

The Associate General Counsel (AGC) will provide legal counsel and other services to clients at all levels in the corporation from the Chairman of the Board to the operating management of specific company locations or management or staff employees of specific segments of a given location. Services may include litigation management, counseling, transactional design, negotiation and documentation, and a variety of other services. The AGC will also participate in the management and administration of the Legal department.

Principle Accountabilities:

• Primary focus will be to advise the HR department and business leaders on employment related issues (full employee lifecycle, hiring, accommodations, leave, performance management, termination, and compliance with applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations (FLSA, FMLA, ADA, etc.).)
• Experience in litigation management or direct participation is a plus.
• Experience managing administrative charges (EEOC).
• Experience in conducting workplace investigations (ethics complaints, harassment, etc.).
• Collaborate with Labor Relations team on applicable matters.
• Serve on major corporate task forces formed to develop and implement corporate policy with respect to new or difficult issues for the company.
• Develop legal strategies which effectively address and resolve problems consistent with the law and the interests of the company.
• Follow through with the execution of a legal strategy and the tenacity to see the strategy through to a full and satisfactory result.
• Engage in the active and processional practice of law by providing legal and law-related services to the company’s officers and managers at all levels of the corporation. Requires the application of sound professional legal skill and judgment in analyzing complex legal problems and transactions, determining appropriate courses of action, and in planning, negotiating, and documenting solutions to the legal and business problems of a specific segment of the corporation or of the entire corporation.
• Provide legal services to an operating division or staff group or within a specialized area of law.
• Has authority to select and hire outside counsel, consultants, and other professionals as necessary for handling legal transactions or litigation. Outlines the task, negotiates fees, reviews work product, and approves the final product for payment. These decisions may involve multiple parties and significant costs.
• Determine the best course of action among available alternatives by applying sound professional skill and judgment, a broad knowledge of company operations, policies, and procedures, and the ability to properly analyze legal, business, and practical issues of increasing complexity.
• Evaluate individual, departmental, and corporate processes and procedures to identify and implement improvements designed to reduce or avoid legal risks, to respond to changes in the legal environment, or to improve the delivery of legal services.
• Know and follow policies and procedures of the company, share information that would benefit other members of the team and find ways to improve the delivery of service to our customers.
• Strive to continually strengthen PCA’s business philosophy of meeting needs and exceeding expectation for customers specifically supporting PCA’s Commitment to Service which involves doing what’s right for our customers, focusing on strategies that add value and support growth, and keeping the promises that we make.

Decision Making:

Problems encountered by the AGC involve a wide range of legal issues of substantial complexity and business sensitivity. The AGC will possess the ability to distinguish between those issues which are critical to the resolution of an issue and those which, although technically involved, will not ultimately be of material importance and by utilizing these distinctions in developing and implementing a strategy to resolve the problem. This will include the ability to anticipate the personal reaction of individuals on both sides or a transaction or litigation to a pending issue.

Interactions:

The AGC will interact frequently with people at all levels, including senior executives inside and outside of the company. The AGC will possess a variety of traits that add up to a polished delivery of legal services. This includes appropriate demeanor, punctuality, respect for others, and a strong desire to ensure that the quality of the service delivered is always first rate. The AGC will demonstrate integrity by accepting responsibility for actions, dealing with opposing parties and their counsel in a forthright and straightforward manner and other always conducting oneself on an honest basis. Adherence to legal ethical standards and business standards is required.

Position Requirements:

• Must be a graduate of an ABA accredited law school and a member of the Bar Association.
• Strong verbal and written communications with the ability to convey thoughts, concepts, positions, and arguments in a clear, concise, professional, and effective manner appropriate to the audience and circumstances.
• Knowledge of a broad range of legal areas which are commonly encountered in PCA’s business or an in-depth knowledge of a specific legal area which is of importance to PCA.
• Ability to conduct in-depth investigation involving all necessary persons and resources. Ability to give proper, focused instructions to support staff or clients regarding gathering of information and to successfully coordinate efforts of the company.
• Ability to gather information efficiently and knowing when enough information has been gathered.
• Demonstrates sufficient personal initiative to recognize the need for, and to undertake, appropriate tasks and projects without the need for specific instructions to do so.
• Previous work experience as a member of a team, or a strong understanding of the importance of open communication and information sharing between team members.