General Counsel

Position Summary

The General Counsel serves as the chief legal officer for a publicly traded manufacturing company specializing in less-lethal weapons and related safety products. This executive role is responsible for all legal, regulatory, and compliance matters, including public company and SEC reporting, Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance, employee relations, export control, product liability, privacy & security compliance and risk management. The General Counsel provides strategic, business-oriented legal guidance to the CEO and executive leadership team, ensuring the company operates ethically, lawfully, and efficiently while protecting shareholder value and supporting long-term business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Legal & Strategic Leadership

• Serve as the company’s chief legal advisor, providing practical, solution-oriented guidance to the CEO and executive leadership team.
• Work with CEO & CFO to develop proactive legal and compliance strategies aligned with operational and financial goals.
• Lead the legal function, manage external counsel, and maintain cross-departmental legal alignment.

Public Company & SEC Compliance

• Oversee insider trading compliance.
• Ensure accurate and timely preparation of 8-K, proxy statements, and Section 16 filings, in partnership with Finance and Investor Relations.
• Advise leadership on corporate reporting, SOX compliance, and disclosure controls.
• Partner with Finance to maintain internal control documentation, audit readiness, and risk disclosures.
• Support investor relations and consistent, compliant communication with shareholders and regulators.

Regulatory & Product Compliance

• Ensure compliance with all laws and regulations governing the manufacture and sale of less-lethal weapons, including export controls (EAR/ITAR), product safety, environmental, and OSHA standards.
• Lead investigations and coordinate responses to regulatory inquiries, audits, and enforcement actions.
• Maintain relationships with relevant regulatory agencies and ensure company operations align with evolving standards.

Contracts & Commercial Transactions

• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreements including supplier, distribution, OEM, licensing, and government procurement contracts.
• Ensure that contracts balance risk, protect intellectual property, and advance strategic business objectives.
• Support mergers, acquisitions, and other strategic transactions through due diligence and documentation management.

Employee Relations & Employment Law

• Advise Human Resources and management on all aspects of employment law and employee relations, including performance management, disciplinary actions, separations, and internal investigations.
• Work with Human Resources to develop and enforce consistent legal standards for workplace conduct, compliance, and documentation.
• Ensure compliance with federal and state labor laws (EEO, FMLA, ADA, FLSA, etc.) and provide counsel on employment policies and handbooks.
• Support leadership in addressing workforce matters, promoting fair and compliant employee treatment while protecting the company’s legal interests.

Risk Management & Litigation

• Develop and oversee the company’s enterprise risk management framework.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate key legal and operational risks across all business functions.
• Oversee litigation strategy, dispute resolution, and coordination with outside counsel.
• Partner with Finance and Operations to evaluate risk exposure and mitigation strategies, including insurance coverage, contractual risk transfer, and compliance monitoring.

Cross-Functional & Operational Partnership

• Collaborate closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, HR, Finance, and Sales to embed compliance and legal risk management in everyday operations.
• Participate in site visits, operational audits, and supplier assessments to ensure adherence to internal and external requirements.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
• Active membership in good standing with a U.S. state bar.
• 10–20 years of progressive legal experience, including in-house counsel experience at a public company.
• Demonstrated expertise in corporate and securities law (’34 Act), SOX compliance, employee relations, and export controls (EAR/ITAR).
• Strong background in contract negotiation, product liability, and litigation management.
• Proven ability to provide balanced, practical legal guidance to senior executives and operational teams.
• High integrity, sound judgment, and ability to manage sensitive and confidential matters effectively.