What's Happening?
Latham & Watkins is hiring an OGC Attorney for Global Commercial Transactions, a role integral to the firm's Office of the General Counsel (OGC) team. This position is available in New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, or Downtown Los Angeles. The attorney
will be responsible for assisting with the legal review of the firm’s contracts with outside vendors. This involves ensuring that each contract is thoroughly reviewed for significant legal, risk management, and business issues, and recommending modifications to contract language to protect the firm's interests, minimize risk, address privacy and security concerns, and maintain consistency with firm policies. The role also includes negotiating directly with vendors when strategically appropriate and participating in training and outreach initiatives to introduce the contract review process.
Why It's Important?
This recruitment highlights Latham & Watkins' commitment to robust internal legal oversight and risk management, particularly concerning its commercial transactions with external vendors. In an increasingly complex regulatory environment, ensuring that all contracts adequately protect the firm's interests and comply with privacy and security standards is crucial. This role helps mitigate potential legal and financial risks, which is vital for a global law firm operating across multiple jurisdictions. For the U.S. legal market, this signifies the ongoing demand for specialized legal professionals who can navigate intricate contractual agreements and safeguard corporate assets, reflecting a broader trend of heightened corporate governance and compliance requirements.
What's Next?
The OGC Attorney will be expected to ensure timely review, revision, negotiation, and execution of contracts. They will consult with vendor relationship owners and other stakeholders to inform negotiating strategies and work closely with the firm’s Office of the General Counsel on various risk management projects. The successful candidate will also be responsible for developing strong relationships with staff, managers, and senior leaders to ensure the contract review process yields optimal outcomes for the firm. This role is critical for maintaining the firm's operational integrity and legal compliance in its global commercial dealings.
Beyond the Headlines
The emphasis on contract review, risk management, and privacy/security concerns in this role reflects the evolving landscape of corporate legal departments. With increasing data privacy regulations and cybersecurity threats, firms like Latham & Watkins are bolstering their internal legal teams to proactively address these challenges. This trend suggests a shift towards more comprehensive in-house legal functions that not only manage legal disputes but also play a strategic role in safeguarding the organization's assets and reputation through meticulous contract management and risk assessment. It underscores the growing importance of preventative legal measures in the modern business environment.
