Lead Counsel, Transactions & Market Compliance

Lincoln Motor Company; Topeka (KS); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Ford Motor Company seeks a transaction-focused attorney to join the Office of the General Counsel as Lead Counsel, Transactions and Market Compliance. You will provide practical, business-oriented legal support to Ford Corporate Development, Supply Chain, Finance, and other functions on U.S.

and cross-border matters, including strategic alliances, complex commercial arrangements, as well as mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures across our automotive and adjacent businesses.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school.
• Active U.S. State Bar in good standing (able to register as in-house counsel if relocating).
• 5+ years of experience in U.S. and global M&A, JVs, and complex commercial transactions.

Responsibilities

• Lead or support legal workstreams on domestic and international M&A, divestitures, carve-outs, minority investments, collaborations, and JVs from diligence through signing, closing, and post-closing integration.
• Draft, review, and negotiate transaction documents and related agreements.
• Support Ford's global supply chain, including sourcing, supplier disputes, and process improvements.
• Negotiate with counterparties and JV partners in the U.S. and internationally with sound judgment and commercial sensitivity.
• Balance legal risk with business objectives and provide actionable recommendations to management.
• Advise business clients and senior attorneys on risk, deal options, governance, and execution strategy with clear leadership briefs.
• Identify opportunities to use AI, automation, and legal tech to improve speed, consistency, and quality while preserving confidentiality and compliance.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and outside counsel to deliver efficient, high-quality transaction support.
• Coordinate with global legal teams on transaction, regulatory, and governance matters.
• Help manage outside counsel scope, staffing, budgets, and timelines.
• Contribute to templates, playbooks, and precedents to improve efficiency.
• Support enterprise priorities in electrification, software/connectivity, energy, autonomy, and related programs.

Skills

Mergers & Acquisitions

Joint Ventures

Contract Negotiation

Cross-border Transactions

Supply Chain Transactions

Legal Research

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

Ford Motor Company is seeking a transaction-focused attorney to join the Office of the General Counsel as Lead Counsel, Transactions and Market Compliance. In this role, you will provide practical, business-oriented legal support to Ford Corporate Development, Supply Chain, Finance, and other functions on U.S. and cross-border matters, including strategic alliances, complex commercial arrangements, as well as mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures across our automotive and adjacent businesses.

This is a hands-on role for an attorney who can contribute meaningfully to sophisticated transactions, work effectively with senior legal and business leaders, and help deliver clear, timely, and solutions-oriented advice in support of Ford's strategic priorities.

You will . . .

• Support and, where appropriate, lead legal workstreams on domestic and international mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, carve-outs, minority investments, collaborations, and joint ventures, from diligence and negotiation through signing, closing, and post-closing integration.
• Draft, review, and negotiate relevant agreements and related transaction documents.
• Provide legal support for Ford's global supply chain, including supporting initial sourcing, supplier disputes, driving template and process improvements, and supporting financially distressed supplier matters.
• Negotiate directly with counterparties, suppliers, and joint venture partners in the United States and internationally, with sound judgment, cultural awareness, and commercial sensitivity.
• Help business teams balance legal risk with commercial objectives by identifying practical, compliant, and risk-calibrated paths to execution.
• Advise business clients and support senior attorneys in counseling management on transaction risk, deal alternatives, governance considerations, and execution strategy, including the preparation of clear recommendations and leadership briefing materials.
• Identify responsible opportunities to use artificial intelligence, automation, and legal technology to improve speed, consistency, and quality in transaction execution and legal service delivery, while preserving confidentiality, privilege, compliance, and appropriate human oversight.
• Collaborate with legal colleagues, paralegals, and other professionals to deliver efficient, coordinated, and high-quality legal support.
• Coordinate with cross-functional legal teams around the world on transaction, regulatory, compliance, and governance matters.
• Help manage outside counsel workstreams, including scope, staffing, budgets, timelines, and work product quality.
• Contribute to templates, playbooks, and precedent libraries that improve the efficiency, consistency, and quality of transaction execution.
• Support enterprise priorities in areas such as electrification, software and connectivity, energy, autonomy, and government or defense-related programs.

You’ll have . . .

• Education: Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
• Bar Admission: Active member in good standing of at least one U.S. State Bar (with the ability to register as in-house counsel if relocating).
• Experience: At least 5 years of relevant experience in U.S. and global mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and complex commercial transactions.
• Supply Chain Transactions: Experience advising on complex commercial arrangements involving global supply chains, including production, manufacturing, services, or technology-related transactions.
• Global Reach: Demonstrated experience negotiating and closing transactions with counterparties located outside the United States.
• Business Counseling: Experience providing practical legal advice to business clients and supporting senior attorneys on significant legal and commercial matters.
• Legal Skills: Strong drafting, negotiation, analytical, problem-solving, and business judgment skills.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex legal concepts into clear, actionable, and business-friendly advice.
• Professional Presence: Strong interpersonal skills, sound judgment, and the maturity to build trust with business clients, legal colleagues, and external stakeholders. Collaborative team player.
• Travel: Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally as business necessities require.

Preferred Qualifications

• Industry Experience: Experience supporting transactions or legal matters in the automotive, mobility, technology, manufacturing, energy, or advanced manufacturing sectors.
• Practice Background: A combination of rigorous major law firm training and in-house corporate legal experience.