Managing Legal Counsel

MANAGING COUNSEL

Corporate Performance & ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) (“CP & ESG”) is one the global operating divisions of Wolters Kluwer, serving customers around the world with expert information, solutions, software, and services. CP & ESG encompasses a range of technology enabled expert solutions to address financial performance, reporting, social responsibility management, environmental impact management, and corporate governance.

Wolters Kluwer’s CP & ESG large enterprise software business is seeking a Managing Counsel with software license and SaaS experience to support our TeamMate business unit globally and our CCH Tagetik and Corporate Tax software businesses in North America.

Candidates, under general direction, would be expected to resolve complex business or technical issues by identifying legal solutions and recommending a course of action and represent the organization to customers, suppliers, competitors, and government agencies. Candidates should be experienced in a broad range of legal areas such as commercial contracts (e.g., SaaS, licensing contracts, customer services contracts and vendor contracts), privacy and data protection and advising on product development. Ideal candidates should also have experience in M&A, anti-trust, and litigation matters. May be a specialist of superior skill in a specific area of the law or a highly qualified senior generalist. Acts as a resource for colleagues with less experience and manages an attorney supporting the TeamMate business.

The position will be part of the Wolters Kluwer Global Law and Compliance Department (“GLCD”) and will be based in the United States. The Managing Counsel position will report to the Assistant General Counsel for Tagetik and TeamMate. This position will also have a dotted line reporting relationship to the GM of the TeamMate business unit and the GM of the Tagetik NA business. The Managing Counsel will manage an attorney who supports the TeamMate and Tagetik NA business lines and will be responsible for overseeing and strategically guiding the legal support for such business lines.

Responsibilities:
• Providing hands-on legal assistance in structuring and drafting, negotiating, interpreting, managing and enforcing complex and high value commercial transactions, including licensing and software arrangements (including SaaS services and related implementation agreements), master services agreements and related statements of work, partnering, reseller and strategic alliance arrangements, and (vi) vendor and consulting agreements.

• Working closely with and providing comprehensive legal counseling to the management team and sales leaders of the businesses regarding a broad spectrum of corporate, commercial, and intellectual property matters impacting the businesses, including legal issues related to SaaS, on premise software license and professional service offerings and strategic relationships as well as on regulatory, compliance and dispute matters.

• Working closely with CP & ESG management on contractual and regulatory exposures and risks relating to development of new customer offerings or services and related customer agreement terms, promotional and marketing activities, data protection and cybersecurity risks across different offerings and in diverse media and premise-based or mobile IT devices, and international market expansion.

• Developing a strong rapport and working relationship with the local sales teams to help drive the delivery of effective and high-quality legal services which are appropriately linked to relevant business needs of the business units, while at the same time helping drive greater consistency of approach and standards across Wolters Kluwer businesses.

• Developing an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the businesses, the underlying technology, their people, organization, markets, products, customers, competitors, and regulatory environment to identify trends and provide important level legal/commercial advice to the businesses.

• Effectively managing outside counsel in a cost-effective manner who may support certain legal needs, whether transactional, litigation or compliance in nature, and appropriately collaborate with other attorneys within the GLCD who may also be involved in supporting certain matters and managing outside counsel.

Requirements:

• Candidates must have a J.D. or equivalent law degree from an internationally recognized educational institution.

• The successful candidate will have a minimum of 8-10 years of progressively responsible corporate/commercial legal experience, preferably including experience with both a multinational law firm and an established corporate law department.

• The successful candidate will have substantial legal experience focused on the drafting and negotiation of sophisticated commercial contracts. A strong working knowledge of, and experience and comfort with, SaaS arrangements and software and e-commerce transactions is a prerequisite. In addition, experience with financial products and data privacy/protection are strongly preferred.

• Stellar academic and work credentials are essential, and outstanding communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills are critical to success, including the demonstrated ability to translate into clear business terms and otherwise “demystify” complex legal concepts for less legally sophisticated client groups.

• The ideal candidate will have a proven history of working well with and influencing members of the senior management teams of entrepreneurial organizations, and will possess the intellect, confidence, and maturity to work with talented, dedicated, demanding client groups.

• Experience conducting negotiations in a global, matrixed environment managing urgent priorities from multiple stakeholders is preferred.

• The ability to lead and manage direct report(s).

• Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines juggle multiple projects with contending priorities, and adapt to change in a dynamic environment.

• Unquestioned integrity and ethics in business and personal conduct, including scrupulous respect for confidentiality in dealing with non-public, sensitive information.

• The experience and confidence to push for change and, when appropriate, to challenge the status quo, in a way that will be heard and respected.

In return, we offer the opportunity to join a successful, growing, market-leading organization with a strong mission and values, as well as a competitive salary and excellent benefits.