General Counsel

The Senior Vice President or Legal & Deputy General Counsel (SVP & DGC) will be responsible for leading the company's legal strategy and management in alignment with business objectives. Partner with the CEO, CFO and Board of Directors on governance matters, risk oversight, and strategic initiatives. Develop and execute a comprehensive legal strategy aligned with long-term business goals and investor expectations. Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on corporate structure, M&A, commercial transactions, and enterprise risk. Build and lead a high-performing legal function that operates as a true business partner across the organization. Design and maintain a robust corporate governance framework, including Board and committee charters, policies, and reporting cadences. Oversee compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulatory requirements. Partner with Finance and the Board on governance disclosures, reporting obligations, and fiduciary responsibilities. Implement and manage internal controls related to legal and compliance processes in alignment with best-in-class governance standards. Advise on equity plan administration, capitalization table matters, and investor-related agreements. Lead all M&A activity, including due diligence, structuring, negotiation, and integration. Oversee commercial contracting across procurement, sales, licensing, co-manufacturing, and distribution. Manage and optimize the company's use of outside counsel to ensure cost-effective, high-quality legal support. Provide legal support for financing transactions, including debt, equity, and strategic partnerships. Oversee the company's intellectual property portfolio, including trademarks, trade secrets, and licensing agreements. Manage all litigation, regulatory proceedings, and dispute resolution strategy. Ensure compliance with food safety, labeling, and pet product regulatory requirements (FDA, AAFCO, FTC, etc.). Monitor legislative and regulatory developments affecting the business and proactively advise leadership. Develop and lead an enterprise-wide risk management framework. Own the company's Code of Conduct, ethics hotline, and compliance training programs. Partner with HR and Finance on employment matters, executive compensation, and benefits-related legal issues. Lead data privacy and cybersecurity legal strategy, including compliance with CCPA and applicable data protection laws. Requirements 15+ years of legal experience, with 5+ in-house at a corporate legal function in a public company Proven public company track record in corporate governance, M&A, SEC, and commercial legal areas, including advertising, regulatory (FDA/FTC), ERISA/benefits, and intellectual property Corporate legal experience with organizations having complex corporate/ownership structures Deep expertise in SEC law, corporate governance, commercial transactions, and Board/C-suite engagement is particularly critical for this role Demonstrated success in building, managing, and scaling legal operations in a high-growth company Exceptional executive presence, communication, and stakeholder management skills Prior experience as General Counsel or Deputy General Counsel in a public company Required Education: U.S. law degree (JD) Preferred Education: Top U.S. law school Preferred Experience: Deep in SEC law and associated public company governance including managing and planning public Board meetings and associated governance with management. Preferred Licensure/Certification: California Bar Required Licensure/Certification: Admitted to the California Bar. #J-18808-Ljbffr Jobtailor