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.
Provide timely and practical legal advice on commercial, regulatory, and operational matters to support business activities in the U.S. and Canada, including:
o Steel(e.g., Cold-Roll, Hot-Roll, Automotive)
o Chemicals
o Agro-commodities (e.g., Grain, Corn)
o 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:
o Sales and Purchase agreements
o Logistics, Warehouse, Agency and other Service agreements
o NDAs, MOUs, Investment agreements (e.g., Joint venture, Partnership and Shareholder
agreements)
o Financial agreements (e.g., Loan Agreements, Guarantees & Collaterals)
o 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 HQ’s policies and risk management framework.
Requirements
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
Experience in the international trade, commercial transactions, corporate compliance or logistics sectors
Previous in-house experience with a Korean or global trading company
