General Counsel

Tax Maverick; San Benito (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

DAP Brands is seeking an experienced General Counsel to lead the legal strategy across its growing portfolio. You will work directly with the CEO and executives to manage risk, oversee regulatory compliance, and shape corporate governance while supporting strategic growth initiatives across financial services, software, and professional services units.

The role requires broad experience in corporate, commercial, and regulatory matters with a proactive, business-oriented approach to legal

Qualifications

• JD degree from an accredited law school.
• Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• Substantial experience in corporate, commercial, or business law.
• Demonstrated experience drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements.
• Strong understanding of corporate governance and risk management.
• Experience advising senior executives on significant legal matters.
• Excellent judgment, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple legal priorities across functions.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, negotiate, and manage a broad range of commercial and corporate agreements.
• Oversee vendor, customer, employment, contractor, partnership, JV, licensing, and SaaS agreements.
• Establish standardized templates, contract management procedures, and approval processes.
• Identify contractual risks and propose commercially practical solutions.
• Support executive leadership in negotiations involving significant commercial arrangements.
• Provide legal guidance on entity formation, governance, and intercompany agreements.
• Advise on regulatory compliance for federal/state requirements and financial services.
• Serve as a strategic adviser to the CEO and leadership team on opportunities and risk.

Skills

Juris Doctor

Bar admission

Corporate law

Contract drafting

Governance

Executive advisory

Communication

Multitasking

Education

Juris Doctor (JD) degree

Job description

DAP Brands is a growing organization with a portfolio of businesses spanning financial services, tax advisory, professional services, and software technology.

As we expand our operations, launch new business initiatives, and develop our financial services infrastructure, we are seeking an experienced General Counsel to lead our legal strategy, manage enterprise risk, and support our executive leadership team.

This is an opportunity for a commercially minded legal executive who thrives in an entrepreneurial environment and wants to play a meaningful role in building and scaling an organization.

Position Overview

The General Counsel will serve as a trusted strategic advisor to the CEO and executive leadership team, providing legal guidance across multiple operating companies and business units.

The successful candidate will take a proactive, business-oriented approach to identifying legal risks, developing practical solutions, negotiating agreements, ensuring regulatory compliance, and supporting strategic growth initiatives.

We are looking for more than a traditional legal advisor. We need someone who understands the relationship between sound legal judgment and business performance, and who can build the legal infrastructure necessary to support a rapidly growing enterprise.

Key Responsibilities

1. Commercial Contracts & Legal Agreements

• Draft, review, negotiate, and manage a broad range of commercial and corporate agreements.
• Oversee vendor, customer, employment, independent contractor, partnership, joint venture, licensing, and SaaS agreements.
• Establish standardized legal templates, contract management procedures, and approval processes.
• Identify contractual risks and recommend commercially practical solutions.
• Support executive leadership in negotiations involving significant commercial arrangements.

2. Corporate Governance & Organizational Structure

• Provide legal guidance on entity formation, corporate structuring, subsidiaries, and holding companies.
• Draft and review operating agreements, shareholder agreements, and intercompany agreements.
• Advise on ownership structures, corporate governance, and asset protection strategies.
• Support organizational changes, restructurings, and new business formations.
• Maintain appropriate corporate documentation and legal governance practices.

3. Regulatory Compliance & Financial Services

• Provide legal guidance on applicable federal and state regulatory requirements.
• Support regulatory matters involving financial services, registered investment advisers (RIAs), broker-dealers, and related business operations.
• Coordinate with external regulatory counsel, compliance professionals, and other specialized advisors.
• Assist with regulatory filings, examinations, licensing, and ongoing compliance obligations.
• Help develop scalable policies, procedures, and internal compliance controls.

4. Strategic Legal & Business Advisory

• Serve as a key legal advisor to the CEO and executive leadership team.
• Evaluate legal implications of business opportunities, strategic partnerships, and expansion initiatives.
• Identify emerging legal risks and recommend preventive measures.
• Translate complex legal matters into clear, actionable business recommendations.
• Support executive decision-making while balancing regulatory responsibilities, commercial objectives, and organizational risk.

5. Mergers, Acquisitions & Corporate Transactions

• Support potential acquisitions, investments, joint ventures, and other strategic transactions.
• Manage legal due diligence and coordinate transaction documentation.
• Review and negotiate letters of intent, purchase agreements, and related transaction documents.
• Advise on corporate reorganizations and capital transactions.
• Assist with legal readiness for potential investment, financing, or future exit opportunities.

6. Enterprise Risk, Employment & Intellectual Property

• Provide guidance on employment law, workplace policies, independent contractor classification, and employment-related disputes.
• Oversee intellectual property protection, software licensing, confidentiality, and technology-related legal issues.
• Advise on data privacy, cybersecurity, and emerging legal considerations involving artificial intelligence.
• Coordinate with external specialists on insurance, litigation, estate and ownership planning, and other matters requiring specialized legal expertise.
• Develop scalable legal processes and risk management frameworks.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
• Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction and in good standing with the applicable bar.
• Substantial experience in corporate, commercial, or business law.
• Demonstrated experience drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements.
• Strong understanding of corporate governance, legal risk management, and business structuring.
• Experience advising senior executives or business owners on significant legal and commercial matters.
• Excellent judgment, communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple legal priorities across different business functions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience as General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel, Associate General Counsel, or senior in-house legal counsel.
• Experience within software, SaaS, financial services, or professional services organizations.
• Familiarity with SEC, FINRA, registered investment adviser, or broker-dealer regulatory environments.
• Experience supporting mergers, acquisitions, investments, or corporate restructuring.
• Background working with rapidly growing, entrepreneurial, or multi-entity organizations.
• Experience developing internal legal functions, corporate governance processes, and compliance frameworks.
• Familiarity with intellectual property, data privacy, and technology-related legal matters.

What We're Looking For

The ideal candidate is:

• Business-minded: Understands business objectives and provides practical legal guidance.
• Strategic: Anticipates issues and sees beyond immediate legal concerns.
• Solutions-oriented: Identifies workable paths forward rather than simply highlighting obstacles.
• Adaptable: Comfortable operating in a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment.
• Collaborative: Builds strong relationships with executives and cross-functional leaders.
• Independent: Takes ownership of complex issues and exercises sound professional judgment.
• Organized: Creates systems, processes, and legal infrastructure that support long‑term growth.
• Calm under pressure: Maintains clarity and professionalism when navigating competing priorities.

Why Join DAP Brands?

This role offers an opportunity to work directly with executive leadership and influence the future of an expanding portfolio of businesses.

You will help shape corporate strategy, establish legal and risk management infrastructure, support financial services initiatives, and contribute to significant organizational decisions.

We value individuals who take ownership, think strategically, communicate clearly, and approach challenges with sound judgment and practical solutions.

DAP Brands is committed to providing equal employment opportunities in accordance with applicable law.