Corporate Counsel - Commercial Law

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS:

Sherwin-Williams is seeking an experienced commercial attorney to join its Legal Department as a Corporate Counsel responsible for providing legal advice and support, including the drafting, review, negotiation, interpretation, and management of a wide range of commercial agreements. The successful candidate will have 5+ years of relevant experience in a law firm or corporate legal department with a strong emphasis on commercial contract drafting and negotiation. This role involves cross-functional collaboration within the Legal Department and with business stakeholders to identify legal and business risks, develop practical solutions, and ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and company policies.

• Provide legal advice and support to the Company on general commercial law and contracts activity.
• Draft, review, negotiate and manage contracts and other documents with legal implications that are encountered in the Company's business such as master service agreements, statements of work, non-disclosure agreements, vendor and supplier agreements, agency and professional services agreements.
• Provide legal guidance and support on marketing and advertising law such as marketing claims and substantiation, comparative advertising, sponsorships, influencers and social media. 
• Provide legal opinions and advice to all levels of management on issues of operational and strategic significance.
• Develop tools and processes to drive efficiency and effectiveness of legal support.
• Manage and direct outside counsel, as needed. 
• Evaluate operations and policies for compliance with local, state and federal laws and regulations.
• Develop and maintain knowledge of company systems and procedures relevant to commercial law and contracting, marketing, advertising and other areas of general legal support. 
• Develop and maintain knowledge relevant to subject matter areas of legal support. 
• Act as a business partner to the business units and teams assigned for legal support.
• Create and maintain positive relationships and proactively work to develop and maintain a thorough understanding of the Company’s business and operations.
• Develop knowledge on risk tolerances for business.

This role will report to Sherwin-Williams Global Headquarters located at 1 Sherwin Way, Cleveland, OH 44113, USA 

 This position is also eligible for bonus based on performance and subject to the terms of the Company’s applicable plans.

“Job duties include contact with other employees and access confidential and proprietary information and/or other items of value, and such access may be supervised or unsupervised. The Company therefore has determined that a review of criminal history is necessary to protect the business and its operations and reputation and is necessary to protect the safety of the Company’s staff, employees, and business relationships.” 

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Required: 

• Juris Doctor Degree from an accredited law school.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in a law firm or corporate legal department with a strong emphasis on commercial contract drafting and negotiation.
• Active law license and in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills with the effective use of active listening and interviewing skills.
• Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Confidence and assertiveness to interact with business management and external resources.
• Excellent project management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities in a rapidly growing, interactive, results-based team environment.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the country of employment without needing sponsorship for employment work visa status now or in the future.

Preferred:

• Familiarity with legal issues relevant to retailers. 
• Familiarity with contract lifecycle management tools, template development, playbooks, and legal process improvement.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS: (TIME SPENT AWAY FROM HOME OR OTHER TYPICAL OFFICE LOCATION)

• 5%