Paralegal

Paralegal Department: Administration Employment Type: Full Time Location: Chatham, NJ Reporting To: VP Legal Affairs/General Cousel Compensation: $65,000 - $75,000 / year Description As a subsidiary of Denmark based Scan-Group, our history in shipping and logistics dates to 1969. From Scan-Group, Shipco Transport was founded in 1988 and has organically grown into one of the world's leading neutral NVOCCs. Headquartered inChatham, New Jersey, Shipco Transport operates more than 75 offices in over 30 countries across 5 continents and employs over 2,200 people. Our company's truly intermodal character, offering LCL & FCL Ocean and Air freight services, uniquely positions Shipco as a 'one stop' provider of worldwide transportation solutions. (Website: Shipco Transport Inc., a leading international cargo transportation company, has an immediate opening at our CORP branch located in Chatham, NJ, for an experienced Paralegal . We are seeking a highly skilled and analytical Paralegal to support the General Counsel of a multinational NVOCC shipping company. This role is focused on substantive legal work, including contract review, legal research, regulatory compliance, and collections. The position is not administrative in nature and requires a candidate capable of independently assessing legal risk, supporting complex commercial matters, and close collaboration with internal stakeholders across our compliance, claims, and HR divisions to manage risk, ensure regulatory adherence, and support global operations. Key Responsibilities Contract Review & Commercial Legal Support Draft, review, and analyze a wide range of commercial agreements, including customer contracts, service agreements, vendor agreements, NDAs, and lease agreements. Identify legal, financial, and operational risks in contracts and propose practical mitigation strategies. Support negotiations by advising on key terms, fallback positions, and risk exposure. Maintain contract lifecycle management systems and ensure proper documentation and execution Regulatory & FMC Compliance Work with compliance department to ensure adherence to Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) regulations and other applicable shipping and trade laws. Support compliance with NVOCC tariff requirements, service contracts, and licensing obligations. Work closely with the compliance team to assess regulatory risk and implement compliant business practices. Legal Research & Advisory Conduct in-depth legal research across maritime, commercial, regulatory, OSHA and employment law topics. Prepare clear, actionable legal memoranda, summaries, and guidance for the general counsel and business stakeholders. Assist in evaluating legal exposure and advising on risk in day-to-day operations. Support internal audits, investigations and regulatory inquiries. Collections, Claims & Dispute Resolution Assist general counsel, finance, and collections team with managing collection processes, including drafting demand letters, filing bond claims, and other recovery strategies. Under supervision of general counsel, liaise with insurance & claims teams on claims reporting and insurance renewals, handling cargo claims, freight disputes, and related investigations. Liaise with external counsel on litigation and arbitration matters as needed. Cross-Functional Legal Support Act as a legal resource to compliance, claims, insurance, finance, HR, operational, and commercial teams. Provide practical, business-oriented legal guidance on operational and contractual matters. Collaborate with internal teams to proactively identify and mitigate legal risks. Skills, Knowledge and Expertise Bachelor's degree required; Paralegal certificate strongly preferred. 5+ years of substantive paralegal experience, preferably in-house or in transportation, logistics, maritime, or commercial law. Demonstrated expertise in: Corporate law and governance Commercial contract drafting, review, and negotiation support Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) regulations Legal research and issue analysis Collections and dispute (advisory support) Employment law (advisory support) Experience in the shipping, logistics, or transportation industry strongly preferred. Excellent contract review and drafting skills. Strong analytical and issue-spotting abilities with a focus on practical risk mitigation. Ability to work independently on substantive legal matters with minimal supervision. Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex legal concepts clearly and effectively liaise with cross-functional teams, including compliance, claims and finance. High level of professionalism and discretion. Detail-oriented with the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, global environment. Proficiency in legal research tools and contract management systems. Experience in a multinational, highly regulated industry. Familiarity with maritime law, bills of lading, tariffs, and freight forwarding operations. Experience working closely with compliance, claims, and insurance functions. Benefits We offer a positive and friendly atmosphere with opportunities for advancement and personal growth. Salary is commensurate with experience. We offer medical, dental, life and vision insurance, STD, and LTD insurance. We also offer a flexible benefits account, an optional wellness program and a matching 401(k) plan. Shipco Transport is an Equal Opportunity Employer, welcoming applications from individuals of all abilities, backgrounds, and experiences.