Assistant General Counsel

Assistant General CounselThe Assistant General Counsel provides legal and regulatory support across all areas of the company's premium cigar business. The role serves as a trusted advisor to business leaders on commercial, regulatory, compliance, employment, litigation, and operational matters while helping ensure compliance with the complex legal framework governing tobacco products.In this role the Assistant General Counsel works collaboratively with Sales, Marketing, Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, Human Resources, and Executive Leadership to identify risks, develop practical solutions, and support business growth. The position also assists the General Counsel in managing the company's legal and compliance programs and serves as a key liaison with outside counsel, regulators, and industry associations.Responsibilities include achieving overall sales, KPI and profit goals of his/her assigned location, managing day to day operations of the store as an on-the-floor leader, modeling and ensuring all Casa de Montecristo policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs) are communicated effectively to employees, analyzing store reporting to identify opportunities and implementing plans to increase topline retail sales and profitability through product education, events, and outside partnerships, partnering with store leadership team to ensure all expenses and costs within the store to achieve positive store contribution and be in line with the set budget objectives, assisting Store Manager to recruit, train and lead a team of top performing associates, monitoring and managing store staffing levels, providing coaching in the moment and performance feedback to employees, acting as an ambassador for the brand within his/her market, actively participating in local networking, marketing, events and activities, maintaining visual standards to support the brand image, demonstrating an energetic, persistent and professional demeanor, and other duties as assigned by store manager.Qualifications include providing legal advice regarding federal, state, and local laws affecting premium cigars and other tobacco products, supporting compliance with FDA tobacco regulations, product registration requirements, labeling obligations, and marketing restrictions, reviewing advertising, promotional campaigns, sponsorships, retail programs, sweepstakes, contests, events, and social media initiatives, advising on tobacco licensing requirements applicable to manufacturers, importers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, and online sales activities, monitoring legislative and regulatory developments affecting the premium cigar industry and communicating implications to business leaders, assisting with regulatory inspections, inquiries, audits, warning letters, and enforcement matters, supporting implementation of compliance policies, procedures, controls, and training programs, conducting compliance reviews and investigations involving potential regulatory or ethical issues, drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a broad range of commercial agreements, advising business stakeholders regarding contractual rights, obligations, and risk mitigation strategies, reviewing consumer-facing and trade-facing advertising and promotional materials including product packaging, advising Sales and Marketing teams regarding age-gating, consumer communications, product claims, and promotional restrictions, partnering with Human Resources on employee relations matters, workplace investigations, performance management, disciplinary actions, reductions in force, accommodations and leave issues, drafting and reviewing employment agreements, restrictive covenant agreements, policies, and handbook provisions, assisting in managing litigation, disputes, and pre-litigation claims, coordinating with outside counsel and monitoring legal spend, collecting and managing evidence, legal holds, and internal investigations, supporting insurance claims and risk-management initiatives, assisting with corporate governance activities and corporate record maintenance, supporting board and committee meetings, resolutions, and corporate filings, assisting with subsidiary management and organizational compliance matters, advising on import/export matters affecting tobacco products and accessories, supporting customs and sanctions compliance, assisting with OFAC compliance initiatives, developing and delivering training on cigar regulatory compliance, code of conduct requirements, sanctions compliance, marketing compliance, contracting best practices, employment law fundamentals, strong legal analysis and research skills, excellent contract drafting and negotiation abilities, sound judgment and practical problem-solving skills, ability to identify and mitigate regulatory risks, strong knowledge of corporate compliance frameworks, ability to design and implement compliance processes, commercially minded and solutions-oriented, strong executive communication skills, ability to influence stakeholders and drive compliance without impeding business objectives, ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously, strong project management and organizational skills, ability to work independently with limited supervision, Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school, active membership in good standing with at least one state bar, 5–10 years of legal experience, experience in-house, law firm, or combination preferred, experience supporting highly regulated industries strongly preferred, including tobacco, alcohol beverage, cannabis, pharmaceutical, healthcare, or consumer products, experience drafting and negotiating commercial contracts, experience advising on regulatory and compliance matters, premium cigar, tobacco, nicotine, alcohol beverage, or other consumer product industry experience, FDA regulatory experience, state tobacco licensing and taxation experience, employment law counseling experience, litigation management experience.Work Environment Conditions include typical office working conditions; position may also involve exposure to a smoking environment. Physical Requirements include light physical activity. Occasionally required to lift or move objects weighing less than 10 lbs.