Senior Commercial Attorney

We are looking for a Senior Commercial Attorney with 12+ years of legal experience to join our team. In this role, you will lead a group of legal professionals in reviewing and negotiating procurement-related contracts, while also addressing complex financial services industry and/or trading related agreements. The ideal candidate will bring a strong background in commercial law and possess expertise in tax, corporate, or industry-specific matters. Additionally, the candidate should have the ability to draft and refine standard contract templates for industry-related agreements and actively work on cross-functional projects.

Your Core Responsibilities: 

• Team Leadership & Management:

• Mentor and lead a team of legal professionals in the procurement contract lifecycle, providing strategic guidance and ensuring the team adheres to best practices in contract review and negotiation.

• Contract Review & Negotiation:

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of procurement-related contracts such as hardware purchase agreements, master service agreements (MSAs), software licensing agreements and non-disclosure agreements.
• Analyze and negotiate complex commercial and financial services industry agreements, such as market data agreement, co-location agreements, client agreements, and broker agreements, ensuring alignment with the firm’s business objectives.
• Develop, update, and maintain standardized contract templates for industry-specific agreements to streamline processes and mitigate risk.
• Develop, implement, and maintain policies and procedures to optimize contract management and legal processes.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Project Leadership:

• Work closely with departments such as Finance, Procurement, Technology, and other members of the U.S. and global Legal teams to identify and mitigate legal and regulatory risks.
• Lead and contribute to cross-functional projects that drive process improvements, optimize operations, and enhance legal and business outcomes.

• Risk Management & Dispute Resolution:

• Identify potential legal risks and proactively provide solutions.
• Manage disputes and liaise with external counsel as necessary to safeguard the firm’s interests.
• Act as escalation point for contract negotiations and disputes with vendors

Your Skills and Experience: 

• Educational Background:

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
• Admission to practice law in Illinois (or ability to obtain admission promptly).

• Professional Experience:

• Minimum of 12 years of relevant legal experience, with a focus on commercial and procurement-related contracts.
• Demonstrated experience in drafting, negotiating, and managing complex agreements in a corporate or financial services setting.

• Technical & Interpersonal Skills:

• Strong leadership and team management abilities.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and analytical skills.
• Proficiency in using contract lifecycle management systems or similar tools.

• Specialized Expertise:

• Experience reviewing and negotiating complex industry-related agreements.
• Background or familiarity with tax, corporate law, or industry-specific regulatory frameworks is highly desirable.
• Proven ability to draft and refine standardized contract templates tailored to industry-specific needs.
• Experience working on cross-functional projects.
• Experience mentoring or managing other legal professionals in an in-house environment is preferred.

Please note that immigration sponsorship is not offered for this specific opening.