Corporate Counsel – Transactions – Business Enablement

Company Description

We take care of our employees, and they take care of our customers!

Become a member of a global community! The international logistics industry is an integral piece of the global trade puzzle; we make the world go round. Global supply chain management is what we do, and at the heart of Expeditors you will find professionalism, leadership, and a friendly environment, all of which foster an innovative, customer service-based approach to logistics. Expeditors is a global logistics company headquartered in Seattle, Washington. As a Fortune 500 company, we employ over 19,000 trained professionals in a worldwide network of over 350+ locations across six continents. Expeditors satisfies the increasingly sophisticated needs of international trade through customized solutions and seamless, integrated information systems.

Our Mission

We recruit, train, and retain the very best logistics and technical experts the world over. We love to promote from within - more than 50 percent of our employees have been at Expeditors for five years or more. Our high retention rate is influenced by a unique compensation program for positions that are more than just jobs - they're chances to grow, do what you love and build a career with us!

Job Description

The Corporate Counsel – Transactions – Business Enablement will join Expeditors' Corporate Legal Department and provide practical, business-focused legal support for the Company's global operations. Reporting to the Director, Global Legal Services, this position advises on a broad range of commercial and corporate governance matters, with a primary focus on entity management, treasury operations, and litigation/dispute management. The role offers exposure to diverse legal issues affecting a publicly traded Fortune 500 company operating in more than 100 countries. Working closely with business leaders, operational teams, and colleagues throughout the Legal Department, the successful candidate will help the Company achieve its objectives while appropriately managing legal risk. While the primary focus will be supporting the Transactions Team, the role also provides opportunities to contribute to cross-functional initiatives and other legal practice areas as business needs require.

Unique Aspects: The position offers a unique opportunity to provide critical in-house legal support on the legal underpinnings of a global logistics powerhouse, working alongside operations and finance teams to manage the licenses, registrations, approvals, and legal governance matters of over 100 legal entities that comprise the Company’s global network. This position is focused on but not limited to entity management. It requires a lawyer who can also handle banking/credit agreements and routine commercial disputes/litigation management matters. The successful candidate will serve as a trusted business partner to key stakeholders across the Company’s global business teams as well as within key corporate teams in Product, Finance, Treasury and Tax, build relationships across the organization, communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders, and provide practical advice in areas ranging from entity management to dispute settlement. Subject matter expertise and technical legal skills are important; the ability to collaborate, exercise sound judgment, and influence positive outcomes is essential.

Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as the global lead in Legal for all entity management matters (including, e.g., constituent documents, periodic corporate filings, board meetings, dividend declarations and directorship changes).
• Partner with Finance, Product and Global Business Operations to drive continuous improvement, integrity and assurance with respect to the management of the Company’s entities, operating licenses, and approvals.
• Partner with product, global business operations, finance, tax, treasury, risk management, compliance, cybersecurity, and other operational teams to provide practical legal guidance.
• Identify legal and commercial risks and develop practical, business-oriented solutions.
• Draft, review, revise, and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements supporting Expeditors' global business.
• Conduct legal research and develop practical guidance, templates, playbooks, and other resources that help business teams navigate legal requirements and manage risk effectively.
• Manage relationships with outside counsel and other legal service providers as appropriate.
• Contribute to Legal Department initiatives and continuous improvement efforts.
• Provide effective cross-functional support inside and outside the Legal Department.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor, Bachelor of Laws, or equivalent degree.
• Licensed or authorized to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction and in good standing.
• 7+ years of combined legal experience in a law firm, in-house legal department, government agency, judicial clerkship, and/or comparable legal environment.
• Experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial agreements.
• Experience working directly with business clients and stakeholders.
• Strong analytical, research, drafting, and negotiation skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Sound business judgment and the ability to balance legal risk with commercial objectives.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to quickly learn unfamiliar legal, regulatory, and business subject matters and translate complex issues into practical, risk-based business advice.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple competing priorities and adapt to changing business needs.
• Prior experience in at least one of the following areas required: 1) entity management, 2) banking/credit agreements, and 3) dispute/litigation management.
• Proven track record of success orchestrating process improvement and change management in a complex global organization in the area of corporate governance and entity management preferred.
• Exposure to corporate governance, M&A, tax structuring, dispute resolution, commercial litigation and/or other complex in-house corporate governance matters preferred.
• Experience supporting international business operations or addressing cross-border legal issues required.
• Experience supporting a multinational organization in an in-house or at a law firm is required.
• Fluency in one or more foreign languages is an asset but not required.

Critical Competencies

The successful candidate will be:

• A trusted advisor who builds strong relationships with business stakeholders.
• A clear and practical communicator capable of translating complex legal concepts into business-focused advice.
• A collaborative team player with strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• A professional who exercises sound judgment, discretion, and integrity.
• An intellectually curious learner who thrives when navigating unfamiliar legal and business issues and views novel challenges as opportunities to learn, solve problems, and create practical paths forward.
• An individual with strong emotional intelligence, adaptability, and the ability to navigate difficult conversations constructively.
• A self-starter who takes ownership of work and drives matters to completion.
• A professional who exercises sound judgment in independently developing recommendations, seeking guidance and alignment from colleagues and leadership, and recognizing when escalation is appropriate.
• A collaborative problem-solver who approaches complex and novel issues thoughtfully, seeking appropriate input and alignment from leadership and other relevant stakeholders before advancing significant recommendations.
• A trusted partner who builds credibility through responsiveness, practicality, and consistently high-quality work product.
• A thoughtful advisor who understands when to be flexible, when to push back, and when escalation is warranted.

Additional Information

This position is based on-site (non-remote) at our Bellevue, WA global headquarters office.

Compensation

We offer a highly competitive total compensation package that is intentionally designed to reward our employees for contributing to the Company's long-term success.

This position has a base salary of $100,000, complemented by a quarterly bonus based on a percentage of the Company's operating income. Unlike traditional bonus programs, our incentive compensation is directly tied to the Company's financial performance, allowing employees to share in our continued growth and success. For a successful candidate meeting performance expectations, the total cash compensation during the first year is targeted at $250,000, comprised of a target bonus of $150,000 (tied to the Company's operating income) and the base salary of $100,000. As the Company's operating income grows over time, the bonus opportunity has the potential to grow as well.

In addition, long-term equity awards may also be available for this position, providing the opportunity to participate in the Company’s long-term value creation.

If you are seeking a role where exceptional performance is rewarded through a meaningful, performance-driven compensation structure with significant upside, we encourage you to apply.

Benefits

Expeditors offers excellent benefits:

• Paid Vacation (first year prorated based off month of hire then eligible for 15 days)
• Holidays (10); Flexible Days (2)
• Paid Sick Time (accrual rate of 1 hour of sick time per 30 hours paid)
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with employer match
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
• Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental & Vision Coverage;
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Life and Disability Insurance
• Paid Parental Leave (additional eligibility criteria)
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DC FSA)
• Commuter Benefit
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Learning & Development Program; Educational Assistance and Reimbursement

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO Guidelines.