Corporate Counsel

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Overview

Paychex is looking for an experienced Corporate Counsel (Commercial Transactions) to join its Legal Team. The attorney will be responsible for leading and negotiating a broad range of commercial agreements, will assist in managing the legal affairs of Paychex across multiple business units and departments as well as the day-to-day operations of the legal department. This position will work cross-functionally with clients, prospects, outside legal counsel, and internal business partners.

He/she will represent and advise Paychex in substantial legal and business transactions or strategic initiatives requiring legal expertise and generally involving a high degree of complexity, evaluation of novel issues, or vigorous adverse parties. The role will report to the Associate General Counsel - Commercial.

Responsibilities

• Draft and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements, including vendor/supplier agreements, client service agreements, corporate strategic partnership agreements, marketing and advertising terms and conditions, SaaS agreements, AI tool and technology licensing agreements and NDAs.
• Advise cross-functional teams across the Paychex organization regarding legal risk as it relates to commercial contracting, marketing best practices, and adherence to federal and state laws, rules and regulations as they relate to the human capital management (HCM) industry.
• Possesses sharp business acumen and employs knowledge of the business in performing work.
• Work cross-functionally with business partners and subject matter experts across the organization to understand business objectives of contracts to ensure objectives and appropriate risk tolerance are achieved.
• Counsels internal business partners regarding contract terms.
• Provide business counsel and resolve legal issues that arise in existing commercial relationships.
• Proactively identify issues related to the areas of the business supported and provide counsel on issues regularly seen within the business.
• Analyze and work with business colleagues to assess and address ways to mitigate potential risks. Participate as part of a team to facilitate strategic initiatives.
• Builds expertise in one or more legal specialties relevant to area(s) supported.

• Juris Doctor degree from an ABA accredited law school.
• Admitted to bar in a U.S. state and in good standing with the relevant bar association(s) in the US state(s) where licensed to practice law.
• 5+ years of commercial and technology contracting experience – law firm and in-house experience.
• Ideal candidate will have experience:
• Experience in fast-paced sales-driven environment
• Acting as primary attorney drafting and negotiating SaaS contracts
• Counseling internal business partners in key legal areas
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically, identify and anticipate potential issues and develop sound approach for navigating complex issues and developing workable solutions.
• Strong business acumen and a responsive, service-oriented attitude with a passion for business partnering.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, negotiation and organizational skills and is comfortable and confident in dealing directly with customers, sales teams, and all levels of management.
• Experience in a fast-paced sales-driven environment.
• Experience directly negotiating complex sales, marketing, or partner agreements and successfully resolving complex legal discussions with external parties.
• Experience working with multiple client-side stakeholders such as: sales, privacy, product, regional counsel, risk, and regulatory.
• Facility with U.S. data privacy laws in the context of commercial transactions, with the ability to integrate these principles directly into deal negotiation and decisions.
• Practical yet creative problem-solving approach that balances risk mitigation with business-oriented counsel.
• Able to work independently in a fast-paced environment while effectively managing competing priorities, but also to work collaboratively as a team player with legal colleagues and internal business partners.
• SaaS and/or public company experience preferred; financial and HCM industry experience a plus.