Legal Counsel (In-House Attorney)

NJ Branch Legal Counsel / In-House Attorney

Job Summary:

We are seeking a detail-oriented and business-minded In-House Legal Counsel to support our U.S. operations. This role will be based at our U.S. headquarters (a New York corporation located in New Jersey) and will manage a wide range of legal and compliance matters across our U.S. and Canadian operations, working closely with internal business teams and HQ in Korea to manage legal risks and ensure compliance with U.S. and international laws relevant to global trade and commerce.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Legal Advisory & Compliance

• Provide timely and practical legal advice on commercial, regulatory, and operational matters to support business activities in the U.S. and Canada, including:
  • Steel(e.g., Cold-Roll, Hot-Roll, Automotive)
  • Chemicals
  • Agro-commodities (e.g., Grain, Corn)
  • Energy projects (e.g., LNG, CCS)
• Ensure ongoing compliance with applicable U.S. federal, state, and local laws, as well as Canadian regulations where relevant (e.g., trade, customs, tariffs & duties, chemical reporting, hazardous materials, anti-corruption, human-resource issues)
• Assist in internal audits, compliance monitoring, and risk assessments.

2. Contract Review & Negotiation

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of contracts, including:
  • Sales and Purchase agreements
  • Logistics, Warehouse, Agency and other Service agreements
  • NDAs, MOUs, Investment agreements (e.g., Joint venture, Partnership and Shareholder agreements)
  • Financial agreements (e.g., Loan Agreements, Guarantees & Collaterals)
  • Human-Resource, General management related agreements (e.g., Employment Contracts, Severance Agreements, Lease Agreements)
• Ensure contracts comply with U.S. legal standards while considering Korean parent company practices.

3. Dispute Resolution & Risk Management

• Manage and respond to legal disputes and claims involving customers, vendors, employees or other third parties.
• Coordinate with external counsel for litigation, employment matters, or regulatory investigations as needed.
• Support the implementation of risk mitigation policies across business units.

4. Corporate & Governance Matters

• Oversee U.S. entity governance and corporate filings (including NY and NJ requirements).
• Support business license renewals and compliance for U.S. HQ and branch offices.
• Liaise with the Korea HQ regarding global compliance alignment and reporting.
• Ensure compliance with internal by-laws and coordinate Board of Directors meetings and approvals as needed.

5. Regional Office Support

• Provide legal support to branch offices in Houston, Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Toronto, including reviewing contracts, advising on employment and local regulatory matters.
• Periodic travel to branch offices as needed.

6. Bilingual Support & HQ Coordination (Preferred)

• Translate and summarize legal documents and correspondence (Korean English) when required.
• Help align U.S. legal operations with Korea HQs policies and risk management framework

Qualifications:

• Licensed to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction (J.D. degree from an accredited U.S. law school preferred)
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant legal experience in a law firm or in-house legal department
• Strong understanding of U.S. regulatory requirements (customs, trade, corporate law)
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work cross-functionally and across time zones with HQ in Korea

Preferred Experience:

• Bilingual in Korean and English preferred (not required, but highly advantageous)
• Experience in the international trade, commercial transactions, corporate compliance or logistics sectors
• Previous in-house experience with a Korean or global trading company