Senior Counsel - Automotive

About Us

Dealer Owned Warranty Company LLC is a leading provider of F&I (Finance and Insurance) partnership services in the automotive industry, offering a full suite of obligor and administrator services, top-of-the-line products, technology, and training. We understand the importance of leveraging process and technology in the F&I industry to drive revenue and ensure success. Our goal is to provide visibility, transparency, and the tools needed for our partners to build their wealth and achieve their goals. DOWC prides itself on taking care of its employees (We were voted one of the “Best Places to Work” three years in a row!), and we also offer award-winning products. All of our positions are fully on-site in Parsippany, NJ.

Position Overview

The Senior Corporate Counsel serves as a key member of the in-house legal team, providing strategic legal advice and business-oriented counsel across a multi-state corporate environment. This individual will oversee a broad range of corporate legal matters including governance, contracts, compliance, litigation and regulatory affairs. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated expertise in corporate law and significant experience serving as in-house counsel for a complex, multi-jurisdictional organization. This role will be 60/40 corporate/litigation focused in the automotive industry.

Key Responsibilities

Corporate Governance:

• Advise executives and senior management on corporate governance best practices and entity management.
• Draft, review, and maintain corporate organizational documents, resolutions, and policies.
• Oversee domestic and international entity formations, qualifications, and annual compliance filings across multiple states.

Contracts & Transactions:

• Draft, negotiate, and review a wide variety of commercial contracts, including vendor agreements, NDAs, licensing, and strategic partnership agreements.
• Support M&A activity, due diligence, and integration efforts as needed.
• Develop and implement contract management processes and standard templates to improve efficiency and compliance.

Regulatory & Compliance:

• Provide legal guidance on federal and state regulatory requirements impacting the company’s operations.
• Partner with compliance teams to design and enforce corporate compliance programs, policies, and employee training initiatives.
• Monitor changes in laws and regulations that may affect the company’s legal obligations and advise leadership on risk mitigation strategies.
• Prepare for and perform corporate litigation proceedings on behalf of the company.

Risk Management, Dispute Resolution, & Litigation Management:

• Identify, assess, and mitigate potential legal risks in corporate transactions and operations.
• Manage and coordinate external counsel in litigation, arbitration, and regulatory matters.
• Resolve pre-litigation disputes and advise internal stakeholders on dispute avoidance and resolution strategies.
• Prepare for litigations and take the necessary measures to represent the company in a court of law.
• Work closely with external counsel on appropriate matters to develop and drive overall litigation strategy, ensure compliance with company policies, manage litigation budget and drive cost savings. In consultation with outside counsel, recommend and monitor financial reserves for lawsuits and investigations.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Partner with business units, HR, finance, and operations to align legal strategies with business objectives.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the executive leadership team, providing sound judgment and practical legal solutions.
• Support the development of internal training materials and public-facing documents to ensure compliance and legal standards are met.

Qualifications:

Education: Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.

Licensure: Active bar membership in the state of New Jersey is required.

Experience:

• Minimum of 7+ years of corporate legal experience.
• Experience representing automotive dealers.
• Proven expertise in corporate law, entity management, and multi-state operations.
• Must have an active bar in the state of NJ.
• Employment law experience highly preferred (NJ predominant).
• Experience managing complex commercial agreements and advising executive teams on business and legal risks.
• Proven full-cycle litigation experience including preparation and court proceedings.
• Familiarity with regulatory compliance frameworks relevant to a multi-state corporate enterprise.

Come join our growing team here in Parsippany! As NJ's Best Places to Work Honoree for three years in a row, we offer:

• Competitive compensation
• Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k matching, Life Insurance, medical expense card
• PTO and Sick Time
• Corporate events, team and culture building activities, employee awards and recognition, company trips and more!

DOWC is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. Applicants who require accommodation to participate in the job application process may contact us for assistance

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $180,000.00 - $215,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• What are your salary requirements?

Experience:

• automotive representation: 1 year (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Parsippany, NJ 07054 (Required)

Work Location: In person