Union Square Hospitality Group is seeking an Associate General Counsel  to join the team!

The Associate General Counsel will be joining a small but dynamic legal department and assists the Chief Legal Officer on a broad range of general corporate and commercial matters, including commercial contracting, subsidiary management, corporate governance, corporate compliance, financing arrangements and other general corporate matters.  This candidate will also be expected to assist the Chief Legal Officer in the management of claims and litigation, data privacy and information security issues, real estate matters, liquor licensing and a trademark portfolio.  Much of the work will require close collaboration with our subsidiaries’ businesses and leaders throughout USHG.  

We are a Values-Driven Company that is committed to creating great work experiences for our people with lots of growth opportunities for advancement.

As an important member of our team, you’ll receive:

• Full Health, Dental, and Vision insurance
• Paid Time Off to support you in having an active life outside of work
• Paid Parental Leave (yes! even as an hourly employee!)
• Money to spend in our restaurants and a 20% discount (and we’ve won 28 James Beard awards)
• Discounts toward gym memberships, spas, transit passes and hotels – just to name a few…
• Matched 401(k) to help you invest in your future- and you can take it with you when you leave
• Access to more than 50 Learning and Development programs to support your growth & development
• Access to Mentor Programs and Career Development advice to help you navigate your career options with us

Key Responsibilities:

•  Advise on risks and liabilities of proposed commercial transactions and devise creative and practical legal solutions to meet business objectives
• Structure, draft and negotiate a wide variety of commercial and other agreements supporting USHG’s marketing, information technology, accounting and business development departments
• Provide advice and counsel to business team leaders on a wide variety of legal matters (marketing, commercial, technology and e-commerce, data privacy and information security, real estate, liquor licensing and trademark) in consultation with other members of the legal team and/or outside counsel, as necessary
• Assist the Chief Legal Officer in corporate governance matters
• Oversee relationships with outside counsel, including managing matter and subsidiary budgets
• Lead initiatives to strengthen the legal department through systems improvements and the preparation, implementation and refinement of forms, processes and procedures
• Provide substantive support for the legal team on an as-needed basis and keep abreast of applicable laws and industry guidance that impact the company’s commercial agreements and business practices
• Obtain and maintain a strong knowledge of the company, its mission, strategy and values, service offerings and objectives of supported business units

Experience:

• J.D. with top academic credentials
• Admitted and in good and active standing to practice law in New York
• 5+ years’ experience as a corporate law generalist in a major law firm
• Highly intelligent as well as a high EQ with exceptional interpersonal skills and ability to develop relationships
• Detail-oriented, organized, efficient and resourceful with strong follow-through skills
• Excellent written, verbal and analytical skills, with an ability to communicate complex issues in a simple way and to orchestrate plans to resolve issues and mitigate risks
• Strong negotiation skills and ability to interact with legal and business leaders internally and externally
• Hands on, team-oriented approach with flexibility and positive attitude
• Superior contract drafting and verbal communication skills
• Acumen to effectively balance compliance with the law against business goals and initiatives
• Creative problem solver with the ability to quickly and accurately assess legal risks
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects with a customer service attitude
• Hard-working and a self-starter with the ability to operate independently with minimal supervision in a fast-paced environment and meet tight deadlines
• Process-oriented with desire for constant improvement and development of best practices
• Strong integrity and commitment to ethics