Corporate Counsel, Contracts

Summary: 

Under general supervision, advise on legal risks, draft, negotiate and manage various commercial agreements, including vendor and accommodation agreements. Develop and execute negotiation strategies, draft and review commercial contracts, and advise internal stakeholders to ensure that contracting strategy aligns with strategic goals. Operate in accordance with the highest standards of judgment, integrity and ethical leadership to find creative solutions that contribute to the success of Drury Hotels Company, LLC.  

Job Duties: 

• Has a +1 Service Attitude and provides courteous, friendly service to internal stakeholders and customers, by promptly and efficiently responding to inquiries, requests and concerns. 

• Provide expert legal counsel across diverse areas of law. Negotiate, draft, and revise commercial contracts, including complex, company-wide contracts, master service agreements impacting multiple stakeholders. Negotiate, draft and revise a high volume of sales and vendor contracts impacting single hotels or departments. Provide legal advice and training to team members responsible for contract negotiation. Draft and manage contract templates for various departments, including Drury’s sales and procurement teams. 

• Lead cross-functional teams in contract negotiations involving risk management, property maintenance, information technology, and food and beverage and advise those teams on the law impacting each department/stakeholder’s function. Develop, deliver and support initiatives that ensure compliance with the law.  

• Oversee Drury’s vendor management and contract lifecycle processes; improve the efficiency of contracting systems. Oversee the provision of certain legal services by outside legal counsel, including the oversight of contract negotiations. The oversight of legal counsel will include enhancing the quality and value of outside counsel’s work product, and providing outside counsel with Drury’s business, mission and cultural perspective. 

• Provide expert legal counsel and guidance in the areas of data privacy and security along with other topics as needed.   

• Report to the Sr. Vice President & Chief Legal Officer. 

• Work closely with all internal stakeholders to draft and negotiate various contracts. 

• Maintain and promote a positive and cooperative working relationship with all team members. 

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY: 

• Expertise in legal and commercial implications when researching and interpreting the law, applying facts to the law, anticipating legal issues, and advising on legal risks, obligations, rights and solutions to various challenges and new initiatives.  

• Ability to effectively draft and negotiate complex and standard contract terms. 

• Exercise good judgment and decision making/problem solving skills. 

• Maintain a high level of communication with internal stakeholders. Strong presentation skills to advise internal stakeholders at many levels of the organization. Must respond to email and voicemail communications promptly. 

• Ability to work effectively with a wide range of internal stakeholders, vendors and customers, as well as the ability to manage conflict.  

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and Microsoft Excel. 

Qualifications: 

Current member of a State Bar, Missouri preferred. 

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE: 

• JD from an accredited university. 

• Three to seven years representing corporations and/or organizations, required, preferably in a law firm or corporate legal department.