General Counsel

General CounselNew York, New York, United StatesSpot & Tango is a pet health & wellness brand on a mission to make mealtime better for dogs, and life simpler for the people who love them. Our recipes are developed by leading animal nutritionists, and are made with only real, human-grade ingredients... and nothing artificial. Through UnKibble™ and our original fresh-frozen line, we're rethinking what feeding your dog well can look like, one bowl at a time. Since our founding in 2018, we have served over 200 million meals to happy pets across the US and Canada.We're a team of builders, problem solvers and dog people, united by the belief that dogs deserve better. We're looking for people who want to do the best work of their career, dig into challenges with smart people, and help shape a brand that's redefining an entire category. This is a chance to join a high-growth e-commerce company and have an outsized impact in a fast-paced, ambitious environment. Plus, you get to think about dogs all day.Who You AreWe are seeking a commercially-minded lawyer who can support the business across all legal disciplines and serve as a trusted advisor to the founders and executive team.This is a unique opportunity to own a broad and varied legal scope of work, and shape how legal risk and strategy are managed as we scale. You'll be the first point of contact for nearly every legal question that touches the business, from employment matters and commercial contracts to IP protection, litigation, financings, and privacy compliance, while managing outside counsel relationships for complex or specialized initiatives.You're a pragmatic attorney who is energized about being the first and sole in-house legal resource. You can communicate complex legal concepts clearly to internal and external stakeholders. You have a broad understanding across multiple legal fields, and know when to bring in 3rd-party experts to supplement your personal expertise. You are incredibly sharp, scrappy and have a keen attention to detail. You think of creative solutions for difficult problems and are equally comfortable with high-level strategic questions as you are getting into the minutiae of contract negotiations. You're highly organized, self-directed and thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.ResponsibilitiesBusiness Partnership & ContractsServe as the primary legal advisor to the executive team and cross-functional leaders (People, Finance, Marketing, Supply Chain, Product)Build scalable legal processes, templates, and internal guidelines to support our high-growth organizationIdentify legal and regulatory risks proactively and recommend practical solutions aligned with business goalsDraft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements, including vendor, supplier, agency, manufacturing, licensing, marketing, and partnership agreements, including marketplaces such as Amazon and ChewyServe as the primary liaison to the company's outside law firm(s), scoping and managing complex or specialized initiativesManage outside counsel budgets and ensure efficient, cost-effective use of external legal resourcesConsumer Protection & MarketingReview advertising and product claims, influencer and affiliate programs, reviews and testimonials, sweepstakes and promotions, pricing and discount practicesEmployment LawAdvise HR on employment matters, including hiring, termination, policies, leave, accommodations, and workplace investigationsDraft and maintain employee-facing agreements and policies (offer letters, employee handbook, restrictive covenants, etc.)Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment lawsIntellectual Property / TrademarkManage the company's trademark portfolio, including filings, renewals, and enforcement, in coordination with outside IP counselAdvise on brand protection, licensing, and IP considerations in product development and marketing campaignsLitigation & ClaimsManage disputes, claims, demand letters and litigation matters, including intake, strategy, and coordination with outside litigation counselOversee insurance claims and coordinate with risk management/insurance brokersCorporate, Equity & Debt FinancingsSupport corporate governance matters, including board materials and cap table considerationsAssist with equity and debt financing transactions, working closely with outside counsel on deal documents, due diligence, and closing mechanicsLead legal work on strategic partnerships, licensing, and eventually M&A or exit readinessPrivacy & DataOversee terms of service, privacy policy checkout flows, return and refund policies, and website accessibility riskAdvise on data privacy compliance (e.g., CCPA, state privacy laws), SMS and email marketing (TCPA), cookie and pixel practices, and the wave of tracking technology class actions as it relates to ecommerce and marketing operationsOwn compliance for subscription and auto-renewal programs, state auto-renewal laws, and evolving click-to-cancel requirementsBuilding the FunctionManage outside counsel efficiently, set up scalable processes (contract templates, playbooks, self-serve tools, sensible use of legal tech and AI), and eventually hire and develop a teamRequirements5+ years of legal experience at a top-tier law firm; time spent in-house at a consumer, retail, or e-commerce company is a plus (particularly as first or sole lawyer)J.D. from a top-tier law schoolActive bar membership in good standing (New York bar preferred)Demonstrated breadth of experience across multiple legal disciplines, such as employment law, IP/trademark, commercial contracts, litigation/claims, equity/debt financings, and privacy/consumer termsExperience advising e-commerce, DTC, or CPG companies is a plusExposure to M&A or IPO preparation preferredProven ability to manage outside counsel relationships and complex, multi-workstream legal initiativesExcellent judgment and the ability to independently prioritize and manage a high volume of varied legal matters; comfort with ambiguity and speedStrong drafting, negotiation, and communication skillsEntrepreneurial mindset with comfort operating without extensive legal infrastructure already in placeHigh ethical standards and professional integrity with a business-first, commercially-oriented mindsetDog lover a plus!Anticipated Base Salary: Up to $350KThis is a hybrid position based in our Midtown Manhattan office.In-office presence is required on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.Spot & Tango is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.