VP and General Counsel

Led by Rodolphe Saadé, the CMA CGM Group, a global leader in shipping and logistics, serves more than 420 ports around the world on five continents. With its subsidiary CEVA Logistics, a world leader in logistics, and its air freight division CMA CGM AIR CARGO, the CMA CGM Group is continually innovating to offer its customers a complete and increasingly efficient range of new shipping, land, air and logistics solutions.

Committed to the energy transition in shipping, and a pioneer in the use of alternative fuels, the CMA CGM Group has set a target to become Net Zero Carbon by 2050.

Through the CMA CGM Foundation, the Group acts in humanitarian crises that require an emergency response by mobilizing the Group’s shipping and logistics expertise to bring humanitarian supplies around the world.

Present in 160 countries through its network of more than 400 offices and 750 warehouses, the Group employs more than 155,000 people worldwide, including 4,000 in Marseilles where its head office is located.

Position Summary:
The Vice President and General Counsel is responsible for leading CMA CGM (America) LLC’s corporate strategic and tactical legal initiatives. This position works closely with the executive staff, management and operational personnel and has responsibility for all of the legal affairs for the shipping agencies of the CMA CGM Group in the U.S. and Canada, and the management of the company’s United States legal staff. The General Counsel will provide senior management with effective advice on company strategies and their implementation, manage the legal function, and obtain and oversee the work of outside counsel. The General Counsel will be directly involved in complex business transactions, negotiating critical contracts and general litigation. The position will also provide accurate and timely legal assessments of risk exposure, strategic value, and impact on business operations to enable the business to make the best decisions under rapidly changing circumstances.

Essential Duties / Responsibilities:
Provide legal advice and direction to CMA CGM shipping agencies in the United States and Canada.
Provide U.S. legal advice to foreign entities of the CMA CGM Group.
Serve as chief liaison on U.S legal matters with HO legal department, in particular on maritime claims.
Serve as lead lawyer/legal advisor on all major business transactions, including acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures.
Participate in the definition and development of corporate policies, procedures and programs and provide continuing counsel and guidance on legal matters and legal implications of all matters.
Evaluate the merits of court cases filed against or on behalf of the company, work with the appropriate executive(s) to define a strategic defense and recommend/approve settlements of disputes where warranted.
Assume ultimate responsibility for ensuring that the company conducts business in compliance with applicable U.S. laws and regulations.
Lead and manage the company’s U.S. legal function and staff, including contract review, corporate governance, litigation and claims functions.
Selection, retention, management and evaluation of all outside counsel.
Advise on legal aspects of the company’s financing, including assessing and advising on current and future business structures and legal entities:
General legal matters such as human resources legal support, corporate contracts, negotiation, documentation, bankruptcy, maritime law and general litigation matters.
Support for any and all North American legal projects or matters.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:
Knowledge of policies, procedures, and strategies used by departments within the Federal Maritime Commission, U.S. Homeland Security including U.S. Coast Guard and Customs & Border Control, and U.S. Justice Department and other Federal and State agencies.
Knowledge and understanding of pending legislation at State and Federal level affecting the transportation industry.
Familiarity with legal concepts, statutes, and regulations related to ocean carriage and admiralty;
Excellent advocacy and negotiating skills;
Strong interpersonal and management skills and ability to work with subordinates, contemporaries, and executive personnel.

Critical Competencies for Success

Making Complex Decisions : Defines issues clearly; Gleans data from available sources; Open to changes; Learns quickly; Incorporates personal experience to arrive at the best conclusion.
Creating the New and Different: Creative and innovative; Can comfortably handle risk and uncertainty; Able to establish long-range objectives and the strategies to achieve them; Sees the big picture.
Keeping on Point : Able to establish priorities; Makes decisions in a timely manner; Can Quickly separate the mission-critical from the nice-to-do and the trivial.
Getting Work Done Through Others : Establishes clear direction; Delegates and distributes the workload appropriately; Coaches and develops people.
Communicating Effectively: Able to speak and write clearly and succinctly; Adjusts message to fit audience; Commands attention and conveys messages with desired effect.
Managing Diverse Relationships : Relates well to variety and diverse styles: Interacts well with all levels within the organization; Builds and maintains effective relationships.
Inspiring Others : Communicates a compelling vision; Creates strong morale; Builds motivated high-performing teams; Negotiates skillfully to achieve a fair outcome or promote a common cause.
Acting with Honor and Character : Consistently acts in line with a clear and visible set of values and beliefs; Exemplifies corporate core values; Direct and truthful, able to keep confidences

Education and Experience Requirements:
Juris Doctor (J.D.) or equivalent required; Licensed to practice law in at least one jurisdiction; licensed or eligible to become licensed to practice law as in-house counsel in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Minimum of 10 years combined experience in a law firm environment and/or in-house legal department. Demonstrable legal analytical skills, general business acumen and expertise in several of the core areas of work listed below:

contract review and management
employment law
corporate governance or
civil or commercial litigation.

Minimum of 5 year's experience in transportation industry with a preference in marine operations .

Come along on CMA CGM’s adventure! CMA CGM (America) LLC is committed to equal employment opportunity for all qualified persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, pregnancy, age, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity, veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected classification.