Director, Corporate Legal Affairs

General Summary

Primarily responsible for providing strategic direction, overseeing, managing, and providing in-house legal advice and services relating to: (i) all aspects of the performance and operation of Kia’s US dealer activities, including franchise, contract, and distribution; (ii) the Company’s commercial transactions, and (ii) advertising, marketing, trademarks, brand protection, and IP-related contract reviews. This role is also responsible for coordinating with legal department management, regulatory compliance group, outside legal counsel, and Kia America’s parent company to manage the foregoing matters.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Priority One – 30%

• • • Manage, oversee and provide strategic legal advice and legal services relating to improving all aspects of the performance and operation of Kia’s dealer network in the United States, including advice on dealer franchise law, and developing policies and advice related to dealer establishment and transfer, dealer termination and wind-down, and dealership operations, including sales operations, distribution, service operations, dealership facility improvement and branding, and marketing.

Priority Two – 30%

• • • Manage, oversee and provide strategic legal advice and legal services relating to the Company’s commercial contracts, including drafting, review, revisions, and negotiations of same.

Priority Three – 30%

• • • Manage, oversee and provide strategic legal advice and legal services relating to the Company’s advertising, marketing, trademarks, brand protection, and IP-related contract reviews.

Priority Four –10%

• • • Provide reporting to the legal department and executives.

Personally Performed Duties

• Lead and manage a team of corporate attorneys, paralegals, and other staff members in managing their respective matters.
• Monitor and assess legal risks and provide proactive solutions within areas of responsibility.
• Proactively offer strategic legal advice to senior management on matters within areas of responsibility.
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• Oversight and manage commercial contracts, including structure, draft, review, and negotiate a variety of contracts of all types, including vendor, sponsorship, consulting, marketing, licensing, technology, privacy, cybersecurity, facility/building leases, and other agreements.
• Oversight and manage the drafting of and updates to model standard templates and clauses and contract review processes to enhance efficiencies.
• Oversight and manage relationships with finance, procurement, and business clients to manage/supervise contract approval process.
• Oversight and manage legal review of advertising/marketing materials, including retailer, consumer facing, traditional advertising, digital social media, promotions, and public relations material, etc.
• Manage direct reports as it relates to management of related litigation activities, claims and defenses related to dealer add points, protests, terminations, bankruptcies, audits, etc., including but not limited to strategy, budgeting, pleadings, discovery, dispositive motions, trials, appeals, negotiations and settlements, case management, local counsel and vendor selection, local counsel and vendor monitoring and evaluation.
• Provide advice on Legal Department Approval Requests.
• Provide regular reports to senior management on legal issues, developments and case and related matter status.
• Represent the Company in negotiations and legal proceedings.

Qualifications/Education

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) Degree from an ABA-accredited law school
• California State Bar Admission

Job Requirement

• 10-15 years top tier law firm and/or in-house experience
• Technical or engineering background and training helpful
• Automotive experience helpful

Specialized Skills and Knowledge Required

• Requires prior demonstrated managerial, organizational, and interpersonal communications (verbal and written) skills.
• In depth knowledge of relevant laws and regulations.
• Strong interpersonal skills to build relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively with senior management.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to clearly explain complex legal concepts to non-legal stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple projects/priorities simultaneously and with composure.
• Ability to create timely and insightful executive reports and analysis.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing legal and regulatory environments and willingness to stay updated on legal trends and developments.
• Mastery of standard office software suites (Microsoft Office) and ability to learn other company software systems.
• Ability to act independently to make decisions that maximize the Company’s legal benefits and minimize legal exposures.
• Ability to provide reasoned and consistent legal advice and implement innovative strategies to protect the Company’s legal interests.
• Ability to provide strategic legal advice aligned with business objectives.
• Proactive approach to identifying and mitigating legal risks.
• Capacity to participate in high-level decision-making processes.

Leadership

• Proven ability to inspire, motivate, and develop high-performing teams.
• Ability to mentor and develop junior legal staff.

Planning & Organizing

• Adequately applies and effectively distributes ideas and material resources by clarifying the priorities, activity sequences, and planning of projects/tasks.

Customer Focus

• Clearly recognizes both internal and external customers and the impact that task performance could have on them.

Communication

• Clearly understands fellow team members and efficiently conveys one’s thoughts using adequate communication channels and methods.

Networking

• Develop internal and external relationships, effectively promote teamwork and interactions within the organization.

Service Organization

• Adequately applies and effectively distributes ideas and material resources by clarifying the priorities, activity sequences, and planning of projects/tasks.