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RS Americas · 2 days ago

Senior Legal Counsel

Fort Worth, TX

Full-time

Hybrid

Senior Level, Lead/Staff

10+ years exp

RS Group is a digital destination for product and service solutions in the industrial design and maintenance sectors. They are seeking a Senior Legal Counsel to provide strategic legal advice, manage compliance, and mitigate risks across their operations in the Americas.

ElectronicsIndustrial AutomationManufacturingRetail

Responsibilities

Provide legal counsel and strategic guidance on a wide range of matters including corporate, commercial, regulatory, employment, and compliance issues across the United States, Canada, and Latin America, including Mexico, Dominican Republic, Trinidad & Tobago

Draft, review, and negotiate complex commercial agreements, including supplier (both direct and indirect procurement), customer/sales, logistics, warehousing, and distribution contracts

Oversee regional litigation, disputes, and investigations, working closely with external counsel as needed

Collaborate with internal stakeholders to mitigate legal risks and provide proactive solutions aligned with business objectives

Support corporate restructuring and other strategic initiatives in the region

Monitor future legal and regulatory legal developments affecting the industrial distribution industry in the Americas and support the business in adapting to them

Collaborate with Global Legal & Compliance team to implement policies, training, and risk mitigation strategies, including the development, implementation, and maintenance of regional-specific contracting policies and procedures where necessary

Lead the development and ongoing maintenance of Americas contract templates to ensure consistency and legal compliance

Support the Group’s anti-corruption, privacy and compliance agenda

Provide legal support to internal SME teams by advising on regulatory compliance related to import/export controls, trade compliance, product liability, and environmental health and safety (EHS) regulations

Assist in the preparation of regular reports on legal and compliance risks for senior leadership and Global Legal & Compliance team

Assist with the management of legal budgets, including tracking spend, preparing reports, and monitoring cost efficiency

Coordinate and maintain relationships with outside counsel, including engagement letters, billing review, and performance tracking

Help organize and maintain legal department records, including contracts, compliance documentation, and governance materials

Play a critical role in supporting our industrial distribution business in the Americas region, ensuring legal compliance, managing risk, and enabling strategic growth across diverse markets

Build strong relationships with senior regional and functional leaders (ExCo-2) to provide practical, business-focused legal advice that supports operational and strategic objectives

Deliver first-line legal advice for significant parts of the business with minimal oversight, including: Supporting Risoul’s activities in Mexico, Dominican Republic, and Trinidad & Tobago, not only through contract negotiation but by contributing to strategic execution

Advising on sensitive employment and labor issues across the Americas to enable strategy delivery in a risk-aware manner

Lead on medium-value, moderate-complexity deals and litigation, taking ownership of risk mitigation and enabling value creation for the business

Execute initiatives to improve legal processes and enhance delivery of the legal team’s strategy, including developing templates, training materials, and process efficiencies

Maintain strong governance by managing legal budgets, outside counsel relationships, and departmental records, ensuring transparency and cost efficiency

Collaborate with the Senior Director - Legal and Global Legal & Compliance team to implement policies and compliance programs that uphold the Group’s ethical and regulatory standards

Qualification

Legal experienceCommercial law knowledgeJuris Doctor (JD)Fluency in EnglishFluency in SpanishTrade compliance knowledgeRegulatory frameworks knowledgeAnalytical skillsERP systemsDigital commerceSupply chain technologiesProblem-solving skillsNegotiation skillsProject management skillsLeadership skillsInterpersonal skills

Required

Minimum of 10 years of legal experience, including significant in-house counsel experience supporting Latin American operations as well as US domestic

Fluency in English and Spanish required

Demonstrated experience in the industrial distribution, manufacturing, or logistics sectors

Strong knowledge of commercial law, trade compliance, and regulatory frameworks in the US and Latin America

Proven ability to work cross-functionally and across cultures in a fast-paced, matrixed multi-national organization while being able to manage and prioritize workload (balancing short term reactive elements with medium/long term proactive personal and departmental objectives)

Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to communicate complex concepts to non-legal staff of all levels in plain and engaging ways

Excellent negotiation, communication, project management, and leadership skills

Strong relationship-building / interpersonal skills – ability to build trusted adviser relationships to provide pragmatic solutions to legal issues

Willingness to travel within the region as needed

Juris Doctor (JD) or equivalent law degree from a recognized institution; admission to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction (Texas preferred)