TITLE: Senior Counsel, Yogurt Divisions

REPORTS TO: VP of Legal & Regulatory - General Counsel

LOCATION: Chicago, IL 

Lactalis USA is currently seeking a talented individual to join our US Legal team. This role is onsite in Chicago, IL.

Lactalis, the world leader in dairy, is a family-owned business with more than 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals worldwide, committed to nurturing the future by providing healthy and delicious dairy products that bring people together every day. We offer an enviable range of dairy brands including Galbani®, Président®, Kraft® Natural Cheese, Cracker Barrel®, Black Diamond®, Parmalat®, Siggi’s®, and Stonyfield Organic® in addition to several brands imported from our affiliates in Europe.

At Lactalis, our core values of AMBITION, ENGAGEMENT, and SIMPLICITY are at the heart of everything we do. We are dedicated to building a safe, diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace and we know that our candidates come from many different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we still encourage you to apply and share with us your STORY, your PASSION, and your EXPERTISE! You may be just the perfect candidate for this or other roles within our company.

From your PASSION to ours

The Senior Counsel, US Yogurt Division (“Senior Counsel”), assists the US Yogurt Division with complex matters, transactions, and special projects requiring sound legal advice and counsel as well as negotiation and the drafting of a myriad of commercial contracts. The Senior Counsel assists and works closely with the General Counsel, US Yogurt Division, and Regulatory. The position collaborates with other members of the legal department and works with outside counsel.  In addition, the Senior Counsel assists with the management of the US Yogurt Division’s intellectual property portfolio and provides guidance in connection with trademark usage, product packaging, and advertising.

The successful candidate demonstrates initiative and independent judgment to manage a diverse range of responsibilities in a fast-paced environment. Reports to the General Counsel, US Yogurt Division. 

From your EXPERTISE to ours

Key responsibilities for this position include:

Commercial Contract Drafting and Negotiation for US Yogurt Division

• Review, draft, and negotiate US Yogurt Division commercial agreements (including equipment purchase and leases; sales, purchase, supply, distribution, and broker agreements; services agreements; marketing, influencer, and co-branding agreements; capex and construction agreements; co-manufacturing agreements; transportation agreements; and intercompany agreements).
• Work with procurement and other stakeholders to resolve contract-based disputes with business partners.
• Summarize all deviations to standard, company-approved contract terms.
• Update and maintain contracts management database – Galexy.
• Coordinate and distribute relevant contract information to appropriate internal stakeholders, as needed.
• Provide internal contracts report for interim and end-of-year audit and as needed.
• Lead legal training sessions for internal stakeholders (e.g., on basic contract formation, negotiation, key terms).

Food Law and Advertising Law for US Yogurt Division

• Review advertising/marketing/packaging copy to advise brand teams on regulatory and litigation risk.
• Advise on promotions (e.g., sweepstakes, contests, coupon giveaways, and commercial co-ventures), including drafting of official rules, reviewing advertising and label copy, and managing any required state registrations.  
• Attend innovation meetings and brand strategy meetings to understand future initiatives and advise on legal and regulatory risks.

CSR

• Advise on relevant CSR laws and regulations, and reporting of CSR initiatives and performance.
• Identify and advise on potential CSR risks.

Litigation Strategy and Management for US Yogurt Division

• Support litigation matters, as directed, including working with outside litigation counsel and senior management to create and implement strategies to achieve cost-effective results.
• Negotiate resolutions of disputes when appropriate and/or recommend settlements to appropriate business leadership.
• Advise management regarding strategy, applicable laws, and developments in key litigation risks.

Intellectual Property Matters for US Yogurt Division

• Advise the US Yogurt Division on trademark use and protection strategy and coordinate with outside counsel on trademark issues, filings, and portfolios.
• Conduct preliminary trademark clearance for product/packaging innovation and renovation projects. 
• Lead intellectual property training sessions for internal stakeholders.

Other Responsibilities

• Assist with compliance and regulatory matters.
• Conduct legal research and analysis, as needed.
• Perform other duties, including administrative duties, as assigned and needed.
• Work on other projects as may be assigned from time to time.

From your STORY to ours

Qualified applicants will contribute the following:

Education:

• Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school. Currently admitted to the bar as an active member in good standing in at least one jurisdiction within the United States.  

Experience:

• 8 to 10 years with a national law firm and/or in-house legal department. 
• Knowledge of food and/or consumer products industries.
• Knowledge of FDA labeling requirements surrounding food products.
• Knowledge of FTC advertising, promotion, and claims laws, regulations, and guides.
• Knowledge of sustainability principles, CSR frameworks, and industry best practices.

Skills/Abilities:

• Shows initiative and the ability to work independently and exercise good judgment in a complex business environment.
• Takes active ownership of areas of responsibility. A self-motivated, strong teammate with the ability to identify and get ahead of problems.
• Demonstrates strategic ability.
• Anticipates legal issues and estimates legal risks. 
• Develops creative, proactive, and practical solutions to mitigate legal risks in support of the business.
• Models high ethics and integrity.
• Possesses an eagerness and ability to understand the business.
• Possesses excellent interpersonal, organizational, and communication (verbal and written), relationship management, and internal client service skills. 
• Acute attention to detail and ability to manage multiple projects at a given time.
• Demonstrates excellent negotiation skills.
• Operates well in multi-functional teams and a fast-paced environment.
• Is committed to continuous improvement, company mission and values, training, and continued education on changing laws and regulations.
• Creates processes and procedures that effectively mitigate legal and regulatory risk.
• Is a quick and flexible learner, intellectually curious, open-minded, adaptable, comfortable with ambiguity and risk, and excited by dynamic change.
• Makes sound, complex cost/benefit assessments. 
• Inspires trust, effectively forges relationships, builds consensus, and earns the confidence and cooperation of divisional business partners. 

Lactalis Heritage Dairy is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally-recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities.