Senior Vice President, Senior Counsel

Edelman; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental insurance

401K

Paid Time Off

Wellness programming

Job summary

A leading communications firm in Chicago is seeking a skilled attorney to join their Legal team. The role focuses on commercial contract negotiation and drafting, requiring a J.D. degree and at least 10 years of experience in contract management and negotiation. Responsibilities include leading negotiations, advising business leaders, and managing compliance issues. The position offers a salary range of $130,000 to $220,000, along with a hybrid work environment and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of experience with a strong emphasis on contract drafting and negotiation.
• Admitted to a U.S. state bar (preferably IL, NY, CA, TX).

Responsibilities

• Lead contract negotiations for various agreements.
• Serve as a trusted advisor on legal risks to business leaders.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to align contractual terms.
• Support governance and Board-related matters.

Skills

Commercial contract negotiation

Contract drafting

Legal risk assessment

Collaboration

Detail-oriented

Problem-solving

Communication

Education

J.D. degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Contract management tools

Job description

We are in relentless pursuit of an equitable and inspiring workplace that is respectful of all, reflects and represents the world in which we live, and fosters trust, collaboration and belonging. Consistent with this approach, we hire the best qualified candidates for all positions.

Daniel J. Edelman Holdings’/Edelman’s Legal team is a nimble, team-oriented group supporting the legal needs of a creative, privately held communications marketing firm with a base of clientele ranging from some of the largest companies in the world to those just starting out to not-for-profit organizations and to foundations as well as a host of others.

As the legal department, our team works hand-in-hand globally with colleagues across all practice groups within the Daniel J. Edelman Holdings’ family of companies to support the legal needs of the businesses by collaborating to formulate practical solutions as these needs arise. If you like working in a highly collaborative environment within a fast-paced, exciting setting that brings new challenges every day, and along with it, an opportunity to hone your skills, then our Legal team may be the place for you.

We are seeking a skilled attorney with deep expertise in commercial contract negotiation and drafting to join our team. This role will be central to structuring, reviewing, and negotiating a wide variety of contracts that underpin Edelman’s business, while also providing support on broader corporate matters.

Responsibilities

• Lead contract negotiations for a broad range of agreements, including professional services agreements, vendor contracts, government contracts for services, licensing arrangements, confidentiality agreements, and settlement agreements.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to business leaders, providing pragmatic and timely guidance on legal risks and commercial terms.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders globally to ensure alignment between contractual terms and business objectives.
• Partner with the General Counsel on expansion initiatives and, when needed, support governance and Board-related matters.
• Identify, analyze, and present practical solutions for contract and compliance issues, ensuring matters are resolved efficiently.
• Maintain and organize corporate records and contract management systems.
• Manage special projects and other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications

• J.D. degree; admission to a U.S. state bar (preferably IL, NY, CA, TX).
• Minimum of 10 years of experience with a strong emphasis on contract drafting and negotiation, ideally within an in-house corporate or agency environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Working knowledge of commercial law, M&A, intellectual property, and labor/employment contracts.
• Proven ability to manage negotiations independently, balancing business priorities with legal protections.
• Strong communicator who can distill complex issues into actionable guidance.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple deals simultaneously under tight deadlines.
• Collaborative team player with a problem-solving mindset, sense of humor, and comfort with change.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and contract management tools.
• Hybrid work environment (3 days mandatory in office).

$130,000-$220,000 per year

An employee’s pay position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, travel requirements, revenue-based metrics, any contractual agreements, and business or organizational needs. The range listed is just one component of DJEH’s total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include annual bonuses, a Paid Time Off policy, and region-specific benefits.

DJEH offers a wide range of benefits: medical and dental insurance, vision, 401K, life insurance, disability insurance, paid time off, travel assistance and wellness programing.

DJEH is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and believes in diversity, equity, and inclusion. We seek applications from all qualified candidates without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, physical or mental disability, military and veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law. If you require a reasonable accommodation in any part of the employment process, please let us know.

Seniority Level

Executive

Employment Type

Full-time

Job Function

Other

Industries

Public Relations and Communications Services