Corporate Counsel – Commercial

Why Ace? At Ace Hardware, our legal team works closely with business partners across the organization to provide practical legal guidance that helps move the business forward while managing risk appropriately. As Corporate Counsel, you'll support a variety of commercial, operational, and strategic matters throughout the company. This role offers the opportunity to work across multiple areas of the business, including commercial transactions, marketing, franchise operations, licensing, and other corporate initiatives. Whether you're already working in-house or coming from a law firm environment, you'll join a collaborative team where you'll continue developing your skills while supporting work that has a direct impact on the business. What You'll Do As Corporate Counsel, you will: Draft, review, negotiate, and advise on a wide variety of commercial agreements, including NDAs, vendor, services, technology, marketing, and procurement contracts. Partner with business leaders to provide practical legal guidance on day-to-day operations and business initiatives. Identify legal and business risks and help develop solutions that support business objectives. Advise internal stakeholders on procurement, marketing, advertising, promotions, licensing, and franchise-related matters. Support franchise operations, including matters related to franchise disclosure documents and franchise compliance. Assist with corporate transactions, strategic projects, and other growth initiatives, including mergers and acquisitions as opportunities arise. Support the resolution of commercial disputes and other business-related legal matters. Collaborate with outside counsel when specialized expertise is needed. Contribute to the development and maintenance of contract templates, processes, and best practices. Perform special assignments or projects as assigned Build strong working relationships across the organization and serve as a legal resource to business teams. What We're Looking For We're looking for an attorney who enjoys solving problems, working collaboratively, and building strong business relationships. We're looking for someone with commercial contracting experience and a strong foundation who is eager to learn, broaden their expertise, and grow their career with Ace. Required Qualifications Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school. Active bar admission in at least one U.S. jurisdiction. Minimum of 3 years of experience in a law firm, corporate legal department, or a combination of both. Experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial agreements. Strong communication, collaboration, and relationship-building skills. Sound judgment and the ability to provide practical, risk-balanced legal advice. Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. Preferred Qualifications Experience supporting commercial transactions, procurement, technology, marketing, or business operations matters. Experience supporting multi-state operations Experience working with franchise and licensing, is a plus but not required. Prior in-house experience is a plus but not required. Growth at Ace This role offers opportunity for growth and development within Ace's legal organization. Seeking candidates looking to grow their legal careers but possess   strong commercial contracting skills, sound judgment, intellectual curiosity, and the potential to take on increasing responsibility over time . For the right candidate, this position can serve as a foundation for future advancement within the legal department, including progression to more senior counsel roles as experience and expertise grow. #LI-MS1 Compensation Details: $137700 - $160000 per year Why should you join our team? We live our values - W.E.L.I.G.H.T (Winning, Excellence, Love, Integrity, Gratitude, Humility, and Teamwork). Gratitude. Humility. Love. You don’t often see values like these in most corporate statements, but Ace is different. These things are important to us. They represent our commitment to the company, our employees, to Ace retailers and to the Ace brand. In addition to providing our employees a great culture, Ace also offers competitive benefits* that address life’s necessities and perks, many of which expand and improve year after year, including: Incentive opportunities, based on role/grade level (company growth over the past 5 years resulted in incentives being paid out at an average of 122% of your target opportunity!) Generous 401(k) retirement savings plan with a fully vested matching contribution the first year in addition to quarterly contributions and annual discretionary contribution (once eligibility requirements have been met).  Over the past 5 years, company contributions (matching, quarterly & discretionary) for fully eligible employees have averaged 10% of total eligible compensation Comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, vision and disability – up to 26 weeks short-term disability and long-term disability) & life insurance benefits for you and your dependents 21 days of vacation immediately available (prorated in the first year) and up to 6 paid holidays depending on the month of hire Company Car, phone and fuel card are provided for field-based positions Your career at Ace is more than just a job. It’s a chance to be part of something meaningful. We help locally-owned businesses thrive and make an impact in their communities – and we support our employees in doing the same by offering an annual Ace Cares Week, 20 hours off work per year to volunteer at an organization of your choice, opportunities to help Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the Ace Helpful Fund through the Ace Foundation Ace invests in every employee we hire, with a key focus on development and coaching. We offer on-site classes, facilitator-led courses, and a generous tuition assistance program, plus a performance management approach that goes beyond