Legal Counsel

The Legal Counsel for the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago (Metro Y) serves as one of the primary attorneys who will provide legal counseling for the company’s various business units which include fitness centers, child care facilities, housing facilities and various social service programs.

This role is responsible to manage litigation and commercial transactional matters as well as create and implement various policies and procedures required to operate a sophisticated corporate legal department. Manage commercial and legal risk by overseeing legal review of all contracts to which Metro Y is a party, providing legal counsel on government contracting requirements ensuring that the company’s loss prevention strategy is reflected in its contracts and developing tools and training to ensure that business colleagues are equipped to negotiate contracts on behalf of the company.

The Legal Counsel for the Metro Y will interact with many levels and functions of the organization’s business structure, including but not limited to senior and executive level management, program and aquatic directors, child care staff, risk management, finance, human resources, and internal audit departments. The incumbent’s primary role is to add value by finding instances where efficiency can be created, and to ensure that the company’s policies and procedures are being adhered to appropriately and in a way that reduces the Metro Y’s legal exposure.

Responsibilities:

The Legal Counsel will work closely with the Senior Legal Counsel on: employment, real estate and risk management matters as well as various projects and Association initiatives, including, but not limited to:

• Litigation Management
• Handling claims
• Transactional Work
• Risk management
• Provide counseling to business colleagues on commercial and contract compliance issues
• Customer service
• Real Estate divestitures and acquisitions
• Management of outside counsel
• Assist in corporate governance and Board of Directors and Committee activities
• Plan and implement policies and procedures in accordance with the strategic goals of the YMCA
• Develop client training materials and tools to enable local offices to review, negotiate and execute customer contracts
• Lead/support key Legal Department initiatives
• Any additional duties as assigned

Requirements:

• This role requires an experienced corporate attorney with sound business and legal judgment
• The qualified candidate will have at least 3+ years’ experience practicing law (both law firm and in-house experience preferred)
• JD with top credentials from an ABA accredited law school
• Admission (or ability) to practice law in the State of Illinois
• Demonstrated ability to implement legal strategies and meet business goals
• Outstanding communication skills with the ability to interact effectively with executives at all levels within the organization
• The ability to work independently, set priorities, meet deadlines, and resolve complex problems with a thorough understanding of business and legal environments
• A strong background in corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, regulatory compliance and commercial contract negotiation
• Familiarity with corporate governance and disclosure requirements issues is a plus