Legal Counsel (Contracts)

About the Role

Solutions by Text is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Lead Counsel, Contracts to join our dynamic team. In this role, the Lead Counsel leverages expertise in managing and negotiating customer and vendor contracts, mitigating risks, and supporting the Company's strategic goals by providing sound legal advice and fostering strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Reporting to the CFO, this role plays a crucial role in helping grow our business while ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations and minimizing legal risks.

Key Responsibilities:

Legal Oversight:

• Develop and implement the Company's legal strategy to support its business objectives with respect to customer contracts, vendor contracts, and legal policies.
• Monitor changes in relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards that may affect the Company's operations and advise on necessary actions.
• Provide legal advice and support to the CFO and other senior management on contract-related matters.
• Identify and mitigate legal risks associated with contracts and business operations.
• Conduct legal research as required and collaborate with external counsel on corporate matters.
• Review and update key legal documents annually in collaboration with Compliance Operations including annual white paper publication, Privacy Policy and Acceptable Use Policy.
• Participate in support of the annual SOC2 audit in collaboration with Compliance Operations by maintaining internal controls, compiling evidence, coordinating with auditors and tracking process improvements.
• Manage the Company’s corporate insurance relationships including review of insurance coverage at least annually and ensuring compliance with contractual obligations.
• Serve as a member of the Company’s Risk Management Committee.

Contract Negotiation and Review:

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial contracts, including vendor agreements, client contracts, and partnership agreements to ensure terms are favorable and compliant with company policies.
• Identify and mitigate potential legal risks and ensure contracts align with the Company's best interests.
• Ensure contract compliance with relevant laws and regulations, including industry-specific requirements.
• Develop and maintain contract templates and standard operating procedures for contract management including process improvement identification and implementation.
• Work closely with internal teams, including sales, procurement, and finance, to ensure contract terms align with business goals and keep status updates current in the Company’s Salesforce system.
• Train, mentor and supervise junior legal staff on contract law, negotiation techniques, and contract drafting.
• Maintain accurate records of all contracts and related documentation in the Company's document management system.
• Manage contract disputes and resolution processes, working with external legal counsel when necessary.

Intellectual Property and Data Protection:

• Oversee intellectual property matters, including trademark registrations, copyrights, and patents.
• Advise on data protection and privacy matters, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Develop and implement data privacy policies and procedures.

Litigation Management:

• Collaborate with external legal counsel to develop defense strategies and represent the company's interests as needed for litigation matters involving the company.
• Provide guidance and support to internal stakeholders during legal disputes.

Risk Assessment and Mitigation:

• Identify legal risks across the organization and develop strategies for risk mitigation.
• Conduct internal investigations related to legal matters, as necessary.
• Develop and deliver legal training programs to ensure employees are aware of legal risks and obligations.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
• Admission to the state bar association in the relevant jurisdiction.
• Minimum 10 years of experience, preferably in a corporate or technology-related environment.
• Extensive knowledge of corporate law, contract law, intellectual property law, and data protection regulations.
• Strong negotiation and drafting skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to provide strategic legal advice aligned with business objectives.
• Proven track record of managing legal risks and ensuring compliance.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
•  

Preferred Skills and Qualifications:

• Previous experience with SMS/Text Servicing
• Previous experience with Payment Services

General Duties and Expectations:

• Adhere to the Company's Code of Conduct/Ethics.
• Prioritize tasks and manage time
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with other
• Foster and enhance a positive and professional culture throughout the Company.
• Ensure security of information in all matters related to the company, client, and consumer information.
• Represent the Company with professionalism and integrity in all interactions with clients, vendors, business partners, and visitors.

About Solutions by Text

Solutions by Text (SBT) was founded with the mission to deliver impactful conversational messaging and convenient payment solutions. Built on wireless carrier industry best practices, SBT is the only compliance-first provider of enterprise texting solutions in the market. More than 1,400 consumer finance organizations, including leading brands in auto finance, banking and lending, trust SBT to ensure convenient, effective, and compliant relationships with their millions of consumers. SBT is headquartered in Dallas, TX  with remote teams and offices throughout the United States.

Game-changing Technology Built for Growth

Solutions By Text (SBT) is changing the way highly regulated businesses engage, interact and transact with customers via their mobile devices. Since adding its first customer, SBT has quickly become the leading text provider to consumer finance companies and various other regulated industries. Recognized as part of the Inc. 5000 fastest growing companies as well as Best Places to Work, SBT continues to evolve and expand through the addition of great employees who desire an exciting, collaborative culture.

Solutions By Text is committed to promoting the values of diversity and inclusion throughout the business.  Whether it is through recruitment, retention, career progression or training and development, we are committed to improving opportunities for people regardless of their background or circumstances.