General Counsel

Job Title: General Counsel 

Location: Havertys Furniture Home Office located at 780 Johnson Ferry Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30342 

Company Overview: Join one of the top one hundred furniture retailers in the country, boasting 137 retail, office, and distribution properties across 17 states, and a dedicated team of 2,500 employees. We are committed to providing high-quality furniture and exceptional customer service.  

Position Overview: The General Counsel is responsible for overseeing all legal matters and providing a wide range of legal advice and counsel within the organization. This role requires a strategic thinker with extensive experience in corporate law, compliance, and risk management. The General Counsel will report to the Chief Executive Officer and work closely with the executive team to ensure the company's operations adhere to all legal and regulatory requirements. 

SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS: 

• Provide legal advice and support to the executive team and all departments. 
• Oversee the company's legal compliance and partner with the risk management department to manage risk. 
• Manage and coordinate with external legal counsel as needed. 
• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts, agreements, and other legal documents. 
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations. 
• Develop and implement policies and procedures to mitigate legal risks. 
• Represent the company in legal proceedings, if necessary. 
• Stay updated on relevant legal developments and advise the company accordingly. 
• Manage contractual matters, disputes, litigation, and compliance.  
• The General Counsel is one of the primary points-of-contact for legal issues related to Havertys' business. They anticipate and guard against legal risks facing the business and contribute to the development of company policy and positions on legal issues. 
• Provide commercial and pragmatic legal counsel to the business units across a broad range of matters affecting the corporation, ensuring reliable, cost-effective, and timely legal advice and support. 
• Support the business units and functional areas, including Risk Management, Retail Operations, Distribution, People Services, Supply Chain, Finance, Real Estate, and other teams, in the management of day-to-day legal issues. 
• Advise on a wide variety of commercial transactions with key customers and vendors and negotiate agreements to facilitate operations, logistics, asset management, real estate property matters. 
• Lead and support major transactions, including real estate acquisitions, identifying areas of risk and requirements for additional due diligence. 
• Anticipate, mitigate, and guard against legal risks facing the company. 
• Research emerging legal issues to develop pragmatic business guidance, utilizing external counsel as warranted. 
• Provide legal counsel on issues arising from actual or anticipated lawsuits and provide solutions for settlement of cases and arbitration. 
• Contribute to the development of company policy and position on legal issues. 
• Develop and recommend operating policy and procedural improvements. 

Qualifications: 

Education/Experience 

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school. 
• Admission to the state bar and in good standing. 
• Minimum of 10 -15 years of legal experience, with at least 5 years in a senior legal role. 
• Extensive knowledge of corporate law, compliance, and risk management. 
• Strong negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills. 
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines. 
• Experience in the retail and real estate industries. 
• Experience with data security compliance standards, privacy laws and technology transactions. 
• Experience in platform liability, customer/third party agreements, and procurement agreements. 
• Experience in drafting, reviewing, negotiating, and managing commercial contracts with a customer-centric mindset. 
• Experience with Securities & Exchange Commission filings is preferred. 

Skills & Competencies: 

• Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills. 
• High ethical standards and professional integrity. 
• Strong analytical and decision-making skills. 
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced and dynamic environment. 
• Exemplary written and verbal communication skills. 
• Executive level business acumen. 
• Extraordinary work ethic, coupled with superior multi-tasking capabilities. 
• Knowledge of commercial contracts and dispute resolution practices is essential. 
• Must be a team player, and highly approachable. 
• Strong interpersonal, presentational, and networking skills. 
• Strong analytical and technical legal skills – including drafting, negotiating, risk mitigation, and problem resolution. 
• Dynamic, energetic, positive. 
• Prior in-house or large law firm experience preferred. 
• Familiarity with employment, litigation, and real estate law required. 
• Ideal candidate has experience with (or aptitude to assume) corporate secretary duties (ie. corporate governance and Board liaison) 

Disclaimer 

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties performed by this employee. He/she will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other duties upon the request of his superior. 

Havertys is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Havertys does not discriminate based on race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law.