Associate General Counsel, Vice President (Commercial Contracts)

Position Summary

Focus Financial Partners is seeking a highly skilled and strategic legal professional to join our team as Associate General Counsel, Vice President. This pivotal role offers a unique opportunity to support our rapidly growing organization by providing expert legal counsel on a wide range of commercial contracts, with a particular focus on advancing our technology, data, and procurement strategy.

As a key member of our legal team, you will play a leadership role in shaping and enhancing the Company’s procurement processes, policies, and workflows. The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience in contract negotiation and review, with specialized expertise in procurement, software services, cloud technologies, professional services, and data privacy. This role is ideal for a proactive, business-minded attorney who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is eager to drive meaningful impact across the organization.

This role can be based in New York, NY / Boston, MA / St. Louis, MO.

• Lead the drafting, negotiation, and review of a broad range of commercial agreements, including procurement contracts, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) agreements, cloud services agreements, consulting agreements, IT and software-related contracts, professional services agreements, data privacy and security addenda, real estate leases, confidentiality agreements, hotel and event-related contracts, collaboration agreements, revenue-sharing agreements, referral agreements, and other key business arrangements.
• Provide strategic legal counsel and day-to-day guidance to senior management and business leaders, advising on contract terms, risk management, and regulatory compliance.
• Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders and cross-functional teams, including finance, tax, technology, procurement, and fellow legal professionals; ensuing contractual terms align with organizational objectives and legal and regulatory requirements.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate legal risks associated with business operations, contractual obligations, and compliance considerations.
• Develop, implement, and refine policies, procedures, and best practices for contracting and procurement to enhance efficiency, mitigate risk, and support the organization’s strategic initiatives.
• Stay informed of evolving laws and regulations affecting commercial contracts, procurement, and data privacy, ensuring compliance and advising the business on emerging legal trends and industry best practices.

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school and a Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university.
• Active attorney’s license in good standing in all jurisdictions of admission.
• 7+ years of legal experience with a strong foundation in commercial contract law. Prior experience in a law firm or in-house legal department is required, with a preference for candidates who have focused on contracts within the financial services sector, particularly in the registered investment advisor (RIA) space.
• Proven expertise in contract negotiation, drafting, and review, with the ability to manage complex agreements efficiently.
• Deep understanding of data privacy regulations, information security matters, and IT-related contracts, including software licensing, cloud services, and procurement agreements.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and prioritize a high volume of contracts across multiple projects in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Highly detail-oriented with a proactive, strategic approach to problem-solving and risk management.
• Strong ability to collaborate cross-functionally with business leaders and stakeholders, providing clear, actionable legal guidance.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex legal concepts to both legal and non-legal audiences.

About Focus Financial Partners

Focus is a leading partnership of fiduciary wealth management and related financial services firms. Focus provides access to best practices, greater resources, and continuity planning for its affiliated advisory firms, which serve individuals, families, employers, and institutions with comprehensive financial services. Focus firms and their clients benefit from the solutions, synergies, scale, economics, and best practices offered by Focus to achieve their business objectives. For more information about Focus, please visit www.focusfinancialpartners.com.

The annual base pay range for this role is expected to be between $215,000 - $235,000.  Actual base pay could vary based on factors including but not limited to experience, subject matter expertise, geographic location where work will be performed, and the applicant's skill set.  The base pay is just one component of the total compensation package for employees.  Other rewards may include an annual cash bonus and a comprehensive benefits package. 

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