Associate General Counsel

 Nutramax desires to provide a drug-free, healthful, and safe workplace. We hold a zero-tolerance policy for drug use. Employment is contingent upon successfully passing a preemployment background check and drug screen (subject to applicable law).  

This position is 100% on site in our Lancaster, SC Headquarters (roughly 45 min - 1 hour south of Charlotte, NC).   

Summary of the Position:  The Associate General Counsel will serve as a key legal partner to the business, supporting a broad range of corporate legal matters with an emphasis on legal research and analysis, contract drafting and negotiation, brand protection and intellectual property, and helping to manage litigation. The Associate General Counsel will report to the General Counsel/Chief Strategy Officer and will frequently interact with the senior management team. 

This role is best suited for a hands-on, business-minded attorney who thrives in a high-paced environment where priorities move quickly, expectations are high, and legal work must be business focused and timely. The Associate General Counsel role is not purely an advisory role. There will be management of significant hands-on workload and a need to drive matters to completion. We need someone that can develop creative solutions and not simply identify problems. The ideal candidate has an entrepreneurial mindset and can balance legal risk with business opportunity. 

Roles and Responsibilities:

Legal Research 

• Provide effective identification and mitigation of key business legal risks.
• Conduct legal research on a wide range of issues and deliver clear, actionable guidance in a fast-paced environment. 
• Draft concise and well-reasoned legal memoranda. 
• Apply legal analysis with a strong business judgement and a focus on solutions.

Contracts and Transactions

• Support business units with contract advice under tight timelines.
• Draft and review contracts for all aspects of the business.
• Implement best practices to further improve contract review efficiency. 
• Participate and provide guidance and negotiation expertise in complex business transactions.

Brand Protection and Intellectual Property

• Support the protection and enforcement of the company’s trademarks, copyrights, patents, and other intellectual property.
• Investigate potential infringement matters and pursue enforcement efforts, as appropriate (e.g., drafting cease and desist letters). 
• Assist with trademark and patent prosecution, renewals, and portfolio management with outside counsel. 
• Advise on IP issues related to marketing and product development. 
• Review advertising and packaging for legal issues. 

Litigation

• Interact and assist with managing outside counsel.
• Assist outside litigation counsel with discovery and other needs in any litigation matters for the company.

General/Cross-Functional

• Provide legal support for Human Resources and other departments. Work closely with internal departments (e.g., Supply Chain, Production, Quality, and Marketing/Sales) to help ensure legal compliance in a variety of areas, such as intellectual property, social media, consumer protection/advertising, and various business transactions.
• Conduct regulatory analysis for various products. 
• Perform other assigned duties as may be required in meeting company objectives.
• Communicate effectively with other departments within the organization and function within a team environment.
• Regular attendance required. 

Qualifications: 

• Juris Doctorate from an ABA accredited law school.
• An active license to practice law with the ability to acquire at least an in-house license under South Carolina Rule 405
• 6+ years of experience as a practicing attorney (law firm, in-house, or a combination) and possess the ability to work      independently and as part of a team. Prior in-house experience a plus.
• Must have intellectual property experience.
• Must have litigation experience.
• Experience in IP and other complex litigation preferred.
• Must have experience negotiating and drafting a wide variety of business contracts.
• Experience or familiarity with advertising law and promotion of consumer products a plus.
• Self-starter with a sense of urgency and ability to multi-task. Must work well under pressure with tight deadlines. Proven      track record in project management and on-time completion. 
• Must possess the ability to spot key legal issues and identify potential risk mitigation across a range of subject matters.
• Some travel may be required.

Supervisory Responsibilities:  none