General Counsel (Chicago)
Logisticus Group®, a certified Minority Business Enterprise, is committed to delivering excellence and innovation to the Renewable Energy Industry. Operating throughout North and South America since 2012, we specialize in Over-Dimensional Transportation Logistics, Warehousing, Civil Engineering, Project Management, and Technology Solutions. Our custom services are designed to de-risk our client’s projects, while providing a ‘white glove’ standard of service, ensuring the highest possible standards in safety, quality, and innovation. Job Description Job Summary: The General Counsel serves as Logisticus' senior legal authority and first in-house legal hire, providing strategic legal counsel across the company's three business lines: over-dimensional transport projects, civil engineering / civil construction, and warehouse lease and operations. This is a high-impact role at a company undergoing deliberate operational maturation — one that is building the internal infrastructure required to scale responsibly, protect its interests, and strengthen its competitive position. The General Counsel will govern the company's use of outside counsel across three specialized law firms, bringing discipline, consistency, and cost-efficiency to the legal function. Working in close partnership with the Contracts & Legal Operations Manager and the Contracts Specialist, the General Counsel will standardize contract language and risk standards enterprise-wide, reduce contract review times, and serve as the definitive internal escalation point for all legal matters. This role is designed for an experienced commercial attorney who thrives in a dynamic, multi-line operating environment and understands that world-class in-house counsel is both a trusted legal advisor and a strategic business partner. Success in this role requires balancing legal risk with practical business solutions that enable the organization to achieve its objectives while protecting its long-term interests. Supervisory Responsibilities: Provide functional leadership to the Contracts Manager and Contracts Specialist. Manage all outside counsel relationships, budgets, and performance. Advise executive leadership and the Board on legal strategy and enterprise risk. Duties/Responsibilities: Legal Governance & Strategy Serve as Logisticus' primary legal authority, providing timely and practical legal guidance to the CEO, COO, CCO, CFO, and senior leadership across all three business lines. Establish and maintain the company's legal risk framework — defining standards for contract language, indemnification structures, liability limitations, and governing law provisions. Build and maintain a library of standard contract templates for each business line, updated regularly to reflect changes in law, regulation, and company risk appetite. Define the scope of what legal work is handled in-house versus directed to outside counsel and manage those boundaries rigorously over time. Report to the Board of Directors on legal risk, outside counsel performance, and legal operations metrics on a quarterly basis. Outside Counsel Management Govern the company's three existing outside law firm relationships — one per business line — directing their scope, managing billing, and reducing unnecessary spending. Serve as the primary point of contact for outside counsel on complex, specialized, or litigated matters, ensuring alignment with internal strategy and risk tolerance. Track outside counsel spend against budget and report variance monthly to the CFO. Evaluate annually whether outside counsel relationships remain optimal and make recommendations for changes where appropriate. Contract Review & Standards Review and provide legal sign-off on non-standard, high-value, or high-risk customer and supplier contracts across all three business lines. Partner with the Contracts & Legal Operations Manager to develop contract playbooks, redline standards, and escalation protocols. Ensure all contract templates are consistent with Logisticus' insurance policies and risk management standards. Reduce contract review lead times for standard agreements from the current 5–15-day cycle to a target of 1–3 business days. Risk & Compliance Partnership Lead the company's legal risk management efforts by providing practical, business-oriented counsel on contracts, insurance requirements, indemnification provisions, regulatory compliance, and the effective allocation of legal and commercial risk. Partner with the CFO and Gallagher insurance broker when new or additional coverage is required to support a new customer or supplier relationship. Advise on regulatory compliance across Logisticus' business lines, including DOT/FMCSA requirements, bonding and surety for construction, and commercial real estate compliance. Business-Specific Legal Support Over-Dimensional Transport: Support carrier agreement negotiation, cargo claims defense, federal/state DOT regulatory compliance, and customer agreements. Civil Engineering & Construction: Advise on subcontractor agreements, surety bonds, mechanic's lien risk, professional liability exposure, warranty and OSHA compliance, and customer agreements. Warehouse Lease & Operations: Negotiate and review commercial lease agreements, advise on warehouse legal liability, bailment risk, and customer agreements. Employment & Corporate Matters Provide general employment law guidance in coordination with HR and outside counsel as necessary on matters including hiring, termination, non-compete enforceability, and workplace policy. Advise, in conjunction with outside counsel, on corporate governance matters, including entity structure, officer authority, and Board governance as appropriate. Support M&A, partnership, or joint venture activity as it arises, coordinating with outside counsel on due diligence and deal documentation. Education and Experience: Required Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school; active bar admission in good standing. 8–12 years of legal experience, with a strong commercial and transactional foundation; in-house experience preferred. Demonstrated experience advising on commercial contracts in at least two of: transportation/logistics, construction, or commercial real estate. Proven track record managing outside counsel relationships, including scope definition and billing oversight. Strong working knowledge of commercial insurance structures relate to contract indemnification and risk allocation. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex legal issues clearly to non-lawyers and to the Board. High degree of commercial judgment — able to provide risk-calibrated guidance that facilitates business outcomes. Preferred Experience in-house at a logistics, transportation, construction, or supply chain company. Familiarity with FMCSA regulations, DOT permitting for over-dimensional loads, or surety and bonding requirements in civil construction. Experience building or formalizing a legal function from scratch or during a period of rapid growth. Exposure to warehouse legal liability, bailment law, or commercial real estate lease negotiation. Multi-state bar admission or willingness to obtain admission in relevant states. Core Competencies: Strategic Business Partnership Commercial Negotiation Executive Communication Cross-Functional Leadership Contract Management Regulatory Compliance Process Improvement Integrity & Professional Ethics Physical Requirements: Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. Must be able to access and navigate each department at the organization's facilities. Communicates with coworkers, third-party providers and vendors. Must be able to adhere to standard operating procedures. Typical office environment. EEO Statement: Logisticus Projects Group provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. J-18808-Ljbffr
