Senior Counsel

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JOB DESCRIPTION

ABOUT US

At Sherwin-Williams, our purpose is to inspire and improve the world by coloring and protecting what matters. Our paints, coatings and innovative solutions make the places and spaces in our world brighter and stronger. Your skills, talent and passion make it possible to live this purpose, and for customers and our business to achieve great results. Sherwin-Williams is a place that takes its stability, growth and momentum and translates it to possibility for our people. Our people are behind the strength of our success, and we invest and support you in:

Life … with rewards, benefits and the flexibility to enhance your health and well-being
Career … with opportunities to learn, develop new skills and grow your contribution
Connection … with an inclusive team and commitment to our own and broader communities
It's all here for you... let's Create Your Possible

At Sherwin-Williams, part of our mission is to help our employees and their families live healthier, save smarter and feel better. This starts with a wide range of world-class benefits designed for you. From retirement to health care, from total well-being to your daily commute—it matters to us. A general description of benefits offered can be found at http://www.myswbenefits.com/. Click on “Candidates” to view benefit offerings that you may be eligible for if you are hired as a Sherwin-Williams employee.

Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case and will impact where actual compensation may fall within the stated wage range. The wage range listed for this role takes into account the wide range of factors considered in making compensation decisions including skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs. The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled. The wage range, other compensation, and benefits information listed is accurate as of the date of this posting. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, with or without notice, subject to applicable law.

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws including with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act where applicable.

Sherwin-Williams is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.  All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, age, pregnancy, genetic information, creed, marital status or any other consideration prohibited by law or by contract.

As a VEVRAA Federal Contractor, Sherwin-Williams requests state and local employment services delivery systems to provide priority referral of Protected Veterans.

Please be aware, Sherwin-Williams recruiting team members will never request a candidate to provide a payment, ask for financial information, or sensitive personal information like national identification numbers, date of birth, or bank account numbers during the application process.

RESPONSIBILITIES

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS:

1. Commercial Legal Advisor for Certain Industrial Business Units:

• Serve as initial US legal commercial counsel for assigned industrial business units.
• Develop a deep understanding of business strategy, commercial objectives, products, customers, and operating risks.
• Provide proactive, practical, and business-focused legal advice to business leaders.
• Participate in business planning initiatives and strategic projects, as applicable.
• Identify legal risks and develop solutions that enable business growth while protecting company interests.

2. Commercial Contracting and Strategic Business Support:

• Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements.
• Develop contracting strategies that balance business objectives and legal risk.
• Advise management regarding contractual disputes and pre-litigation claims.
• Drive continuous improvement of contracting processes, playbooks, templates, legal technologies, and other legal operations initiatives to enhance efficiency and business responsiveness.

3. Risk Management, Compliance, and Governance:

• Identify emerging legal, regulatory, and operational risks affecting supported businesses.
• Provide guidance regarding antitrust laws affecting commercial operations and acquisition activities.
• Assist with development and implementation of antitrust compliance programs and training initiatives.
• Conduct legal research and develop practical solutions to manage legal and business issues.

4. Corporate Transactions, and Mergers & Acquisitions:

• As assigned, support Corporate Strategy and Development on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, minority investments, and other strategic transactions.
• Draft, negotiate, and review confidentiality agreements, letters of intent, purchase agreements, disclosure schedules, transition services agreements, and related transaction documents.
• Manage and coordinate legal due diligence activities.
• Support business leaders, finance, tax, environmental, employment, compliance, intellectual property, treasury, and other subject matter experts throughout transactions.
• Assist with transaction structuring, signing, closing, integration planning, and post-closing matters.
• Assist support on merger control and antitrust regulatory review processes, including Hart-Scott-Rodino filings, foreign competition law filings, agency inquiries, second requests and responses to regulatory authorities.
• Manage external legal transaction counsel, as applicable.

5. Strategic Business Partnership:

• Serve as a trusted advisor to leadership teams of assigned business units.
• Provide timely legal guidance regarding corporate planning, strategic initiatives and operational decisions.
• Communicate complex legal concepts in a practical and understandable manner.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support business objectives and promote efficient decision making.
• Develop an in-depth understanding of supported businesses’ markets, competitive dynamics, products, sales channels, customers and strategic objectives.

6. Leadership and Professional Excellence:

• Manage outside counsel in an effective and cost-conscious manner.
• Lead or support legal department operational excellence projects.
• Mentor junior attorneys, law clerks, paralegals, and legal staff as appropriate.
• Promote a culture of integrity, compliance, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Stay abreast of relevant legal developments.
• Drive continuous improvement in contract lifecycle management, legal technology utilization, automation, knowledge management and legal service delivery processes.

This role will report to Sherwin-Williams Global Headquarters located at 1 Sherwin Way, Cleveland, OH 44113, USA

This position is also eligible for bonus based on performance and subject to the terms of the Company’s applicable plans.

Job duties include contact with other employees and access confidential and proprietary information and/or other items of value, and such access may be supervised or unsupervised. The Company therefore has determined that a review of criminal history is necessary to protect the business and its operations and reputation and is necessary to protect the safety of the Company’s staff, employees, and business relationships.

QUALIFICATIONS

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Required:

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school.
• Active license to practice law in at least one US jurisdiction.
• 7+ years of legal experience.
• Significant experience drafting and negotiating complex commercial contracts.
• Strong work ethic, the ability to act independently and adapt to changing priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to provide practical business focused legal advice.
• Strong communication and writing skills, in particular related to formal document drafting.
• PC skills; Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); and other applications as required.
• General working knowledge of legal software.
• Excellent analytical, organizational and project management skills.
• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Must have the legal right to work in the country of employment without needing sponsorship now or in the future for employment visa status.

Preferred:

• Experience supporting industrial or manufacturing businesses.
• Experience with domestic and international M&A transactions.
• Experience advising on antitrust and competition law matters including merger review, distribution practices, pricing issues, joint ventures, and compliance programs.
• Prior in-house experience.
• 10+ years of legal experience.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS: (TIME SPENT AWAY FROM HOME OR OTHER TYPICAL OFFICE LOCATION)

• 5-10%