Legal Counsel – North America (Consumer Goods / Retail)
Location : Minneapolis, MN (Hybrid 3in / 2out per week)
A rapidly growing global consumer goods company is seeking a Commercial Counsel to lead legal support for its Americas business. This is an exciting opportunity to join a design-driven organization with a strong international presence and a track record of significant growth in the U.S. market.
As the company’s first permanent legal hire in the region, you will play a critical role in shaping the legal function, partnering with senior leadership across Sales, Finance, and Marketing to enable strategic growth while managing legal risk. Reporting to the UK-based legal team, this role offers high visibility, autonomy, and the chance to influence key business decisions in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the legal function in the Americas, ensuring compliance and delivering strategic, risk-based legal advice across a wide range of matters.
- Draft, review, and negotiate a variety of commercial agreements, including :
- Customer and vendor contracts
- Brand partnerships and marketing agreements
- Supply and manufacturing agreements
- Confidentiality and sales agreements
- Terms and conditions for goods and services
- Provide practical legal guidance on commercial, regulatory, and compliance issues, including consumer protection, e-commerce, and data privacy.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support business initiatives and mitigate risk.
- Manage external counsel relationships and oversee legal spend in the region.
- Contribute to the development of legal templates, processes, and best practices.
Candidate Profile
6+ years of post-qualification experience, ideally beginning in private practice and progressing to an in-house legal role.Strong background in commercial contracts and transactional work.Experience supporting consumer brands or companies in retail, media, or entertainment is a plus.Familiarity with U.S. and Canadian legal frameworks; international experience is a bonus.Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex matters in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.Proactive, commercially minded, and solutions-oriented.Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust across teams.Why Join?
This is a rare opportunity to shape the legal function in a thriving, design-led business with a collaborative culture and a strong commitment to work-life balance. You’ll be part of a growing global legal team and have a meaningful voice in the company’s strategic direction in the Americas.