Counsel, Corporate & Transactions

Location: New York, NY, US

Where Conviviality is at work.

Pernod Ricard is a global premium spirits and wine company. We’re the team behind leading brands such as ABSOLUT Vodka, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Malibu, Kahlúa Liqueur, The Glenlivet Gin, and Skrewball whiskey, as well as many more superior wines and exquisite champagnes!

Working at Pernod Ricard is all about igniting conviviality in all that we do. Derived from the French word, convivial ité…it means human connection, authenticity, friendly, and jovial. Conviviality is energy and spirit with a splash of je ne sais quoi and is a core philosophy around how we live and work at Pernod Ricard.

Guided by our 4 core values: (1) grounded in the real; (2) fiercely authentic; (3) passion for challenge; and (4) connected beyond borders; we are team players, dream makers, trailblazers, movers and (cocktail) shakers. We have a passion for living life to the fullest, making new friends every day, and realizing our potential as people and as a business!

The salary range for this role, based in New York, is $ to $. The range will vary if outside of this location. Base salaries are determined during our interview process, by assessing a candidate’s experience, skills against internal peers and against the scope and responsibilities of the position.

Position Summary

This Counsel role is expected to lead with a pro-active, business-friendly mindset and have the unique opportunity to work and collaborate with different leadership teams from our Commercial Sales, and cross-functional strategic projects. S/he will play a critical role in overseeing the complex and evolving needs of the business, with a focus on commercial activation and promotion, as well as trade practice compliance for the Sales teams.

This role will also be expected to have an ability to negotiate standard customary contract provisions, including indemnification, insurance coverage and IP usage and protection, and take on more complex contract negotiations over time. In addition, an area of growth for this role is expanded responsibilities in managing Company distributor relationships, as well as serving as the legal lead for other business units.

Major Responsibilities / Accountabilities

Handle day-to-day inquiries from the Commercial Sales team nationally which involves: review of local implementation of advertising/marketing programming; asset review; coupon review; sweepstakes review; creating and implementing innovative trade practice compliance programs across the Sales organization; draft, review and negotiation of third party contracts (including sponsor ships, co-promotions/co-packs, sweepstakes, and eCommerce/digital vendors); and liaising with all levels of the commercial sales team regularly to partner on programming initiatives that reflect current trends/innovations – including vetting of new innovative companies.

Lead and oversee the compliance program for the Sales divisions, which involves: implementation of trade practice compliance and training program for the Company; liaising with Commercial leaders regularly to address state/regional/national legal concerns; serving as legal lead of trade practice investigations; and manage update of intra-net legal resources, including state playbooks.

Establish / manage relationships with Company’s distributors’ legal teams to drive commercial activation and compliance, as well as participate in distributor contract negotiations.

Lead or support ad hoc commercial projects (e.g., supporting real estate matters, onboarding and offboarding third party agencies, advise venture capital arm of Pernod Ricard, in US alcohol beverage regulation requirements, etc.).

Support legal compliance for events at the Company’s facilities.

Advise Direct to Consumer (DTC) program, including future expansion into DTC of spirits, and other new sales channels.

Nature & Scope

This employee will be expected to interact regularly and be a collaborative partner with senior leadership in multiple departments (VPs, directors and managers). S/he must have an entrepreneurial mindset and be hyper-focused on finding solutions that enable the Commercial Sales team to drive…