Associate Director, Commercial Counsel

About the role

We're looking for an experienced commercial attorney who views contracts as the key to building successful relationships and growing a business, and who is excited to lead and optimize all contract-related processes. Our Commercial Counsel will own and drive both customer and vendor contractual matters for the DEPT® Americas region and will serve as a trusted legal advisor to the business on commercial agreements. This role requires an individual with deep legal acumen, executive presence, strong collaboration and communication skills, and the ability to work independently with senior stakeholders. We prefer you have a solid understanding of AI, digital services and technology development, and we're happy to share the specifics of our business if you bring a commercially minded, solutions-oriented approach to the practice of law. In addition, the role demands sound judgment and confident decision-making, often under tight timeframes and with limited information.

Responsibilities

• Drafting, Reviewing, and Negotiating Contracts
• Lead the drafting, review, and redlining of a broad range of commercial agreements - including MSAs, SOWs, NDAs, DPAs, vendor, consulting, production, and talent agreements.
• Independently negotiate agreements with counterparties (both clients and vendors) and effectively represent DEPT®'s interests.
• Contract Management and Compliance
• Support contract compliance with established company processes and policies.
• Support and drive the continuous improvement of DEPT®'s contract templates and playbooks to reflect current business and legal considerations.
• Monitor changes in applicable laws, regulations, and best practices relevant to DEPT®'s operations.
• Risk Management and Dispute Handling
• Be able to lead commercial dispute resolution efforts in collaboration with the DEPT® Legal team, providing risk assessments and recommending practical solutions.
• Serve as a trusted legal advisor to company management at all levels, providing timely, actionable, and business-focused guidance.
• Process Improvement and Relationship Building
• Identify process gaps and drive creative solutions in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with business teams to ensure contracts are well-tailored to DEPT®'s needs.
• Coordinate with and manage external counsel and subject matter experts where required.
• AI Tools and Technology
• Leverage AI-powered legal tools - including contract review and analysis platforms and AI-assisted drafting tools - to increase efficiency and throughput across the contract lifecycle.
• Actively identify opportunities to integrate AI tools into legal workflows, while applying sound professional judgment to review, validate, and take responsibility for all AI-generated outputs.
• Partner with the broader organization on AI-related commercial matters, including advising on AI procurement contracts, data processing terms, and IP and liability considerations arising from the use of AI services.
• Leadership and Knowledge Sharing
• Stay at the forefront of developments in legal AI, emerging technologies, and industry standards, proactively assessing their applicability to DEPT®'s legal function and sharing insights with the wider team.
• Mentor junior members of the Legal team and foster a culture of continuous learning and knowledge sharing.
• WHAT YOU BRING:
• Juris Doctor and bar membership in good standing in at least one U.S. state.
• 5+ years of transactional contract experience, including drafting, redlining, negotiation, and contract management.
• Significant in-house experience strongly preferred; litigation experience is a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage a high-volume contract workload and advise senior business stakeholders.
• Strong organizational, traffic management, and operational skills.
• Ability to move quickly yet efficiently to protect risk while maximizing turnaround time.
• Knowledge of applicable statutes, rules, and regulations pertaining to DEPT®'s business and its states/countries of operation.
• A high level of complex problem-solving, critical thinking, and information analysis skills are essential for this role.
• Experience with creative production contracts (music licensing, talent

Additional Information

WHY DEPT®? We are a Growth Invention company built to help the world's most ambitious brands grow faster. Operating at the intersection of technology and marketing, we create what is next by pioneering ideas, acting fast, and moving further because standing still just is not in our DNA. We are drawn to people who stay curious, move with intent, and never stop inventing. Our culture runs on three values: better together, relentlessly curious, and get sh*t done. It is how we work, how we grow, and how we make things that matter. At DEPT®, you will find the freedom to explore, the space to collaborate, and the trust to make a real impact for our clients, for each other, and for the world we are helping to build.

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