Senior Legal Counsel

Unical Aviation Inc.; Glendale (AZ); On-site; USD 170,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Unical Aviation Inc. seeks a senior attorney to provide legal and compliance guidance to operations and business functions to enable achievement of objectives and to ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.

The role emphasizes transactional support, compliance initiatives, and corporate governance, with 10% travel for domestic and international matters.

Qualifications

• JD degree from an accredited law school.
• 7+ years’ experience in corporate legal or law firm.
• Admission to a US state bar in good standing.
• Travel up to 10% domestically and internationally.

Responsibilities

• Provide transactional support across commercial contracts; manage deal closings, CP documentation, and template maintenance.
• Draft, review and negotiate contracts for sales, acquisitions, leasing, procurement and other aviation transactions.
• Support trade compliance, governance and regulatory topics; conduct training and prepare board materials.

Skills

Business acumen

Stakeholder influence

Contract drafting

Regulatory analysis

Compliance knowledge

Negotiation

English proficiency

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Tools

Google Workspace

Microsoft Office

CLM tools

Job description

Job Summary: Provide legal and compliance guidance to operations and business functions to enable achievement of business objectives and to ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Transactional Support: 40%
• Partner with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to execute commercial transactions and manage associated risk.
• Draft, review, and negotiate contract documents for sales, asset acquisitions, general procurement, leasing, consignment and other commercial transactions for aviation products and services.
• Manage deal closings and CP documentation for aircraft, airframe and engine purchase and leasing transactions.
• Draft, maintain and periodically update contract templates and forms.
• Compliance: 30%
• Partner with business functions to implement and promote adherence to company policies and processes relating to trade compliance and business ethics.
• Support the trade compliance function to ensure adherence to company policies and procedures relating to KYS/KYC, export control and customs compliance.
• Research and support ad hoc requests relating to specific compliance topics (e.g., antitrust, privacy) in coordination with internal subject-matter experts.
• Conduct compliance training and education sessions for company personnel.
• Corporate Governance: 20%
• Organize and prepare board materials and meeting minutes for board and shareholder meetings and actions.
• Coordinate documentation and record-keeping for internal review and approval of commercial transactions.
• Draft and implement company policies and processes relating to corporate governance and other legal and compliance topics.
• Review and provide strategic advice on pre-litigation commercial disputes and claims and risk management.
• Coordinate with the litigation and investigations team to manage and respond to formal disputes and proceedings.
• Efficiently manage and interface with external disputes counsel.

Other duties as assigned:

• Support other functions as needed for projects and emergent matters relating to legal and compliance-adjacent topics (EH&S, security, insurance, quality, logistics, registrations, and filings, etc.).
• Maintain state business registrations and service of process appointments.
• Support internal IP counsel to manage global trademark portfolio.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualified Experience and Training:

Education:

Required

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredit law school.

Preferred

• N/A

Experience:

Required

• Relevant experience managing complex legal projects and transactions.

Preferred

• 7+ years’ experience in a corporate legal department or law firm.

Licensure/Certifications:

Required

• Admission to a US state bar and in good standing

Preferred

• N/A

Travel Required:

• 10% Domestic and International.
• Able to work in the US without current or future need for visa sponsorship.

Clearance:N/A

Qualified Skills:

Knowledge, Skills, Demonstrated Capabilities:

Required

• Strong business acumen with a demonstrated ability to persuade stakeholders and influence outcomes.
• Ability to assess and translate complex legal and regulatory analysis into practical and compliant business solutions.
• Ability to draft, review and negotiate complex contracts and other legal documents.
• Knowledge of corporate compliance, contract law and legal best practices.

Preferred

• Experience drafting and negotiating sales, leasing and procurement contracts for aviation products and services.
• Experience managing closings for aircraft purchase transactions.
• Experience managing aircraft or engine leasing transactions.
• Experience designing and managing internal corporate governance and compliance policies and processes.

Communication Skills:

Required:

• Proficient written and spoken English.

Preferred:

• N/A

Technical Systems Proficiency:

Required:

• Google software (Gmail, Gmeet, Google Drive); Microsoft Office software (Outlook, Word, Excel).

Preferred:

• Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) tools.

Complexity of the Role:

Level of Decision Making:

• Involves strategic decision-making in contract negotiations.
• Involves strategic decision-making in risk mitigation activities and projects.

Organizational information:

Direct Reports:

• None.

Job Dimensions:

• Responsible for maintaining effective relationships with internal customers and stakeholders, and with counterparts at affiliate companies.

Nature of Contacts:

• Frequent contact with internal customers and stakeholders and with counterparts at affiliate companies.
• Frequent contact with legal counterparts at customers, suppliers, and other contract counterparties.
• Frequent contact with external advisors and services providers (outside counsel, insurance brokers).