In-House Counsel

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.

• Translate and summarize legal documents and correspondence (Korean ↔ English) when required.
• Support business license renewals and compliance for U.S. HQ and branch offices.
• Oversee U.S. entity governance and corporate filings (including NY and NJ requirements).
• Ensure contracts comply with U.S. legal standards while considering Korean parent company practices.
• Help align U.S. legal operations with Korea HQ’s policies and risk management framework
• 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.
• Manage and respond to legal disputes and claims involving customers, vendors, employees or other third parties.
• Liaise with the Korea HQ regarding global compliance alignment and reporting.
• 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)
• 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)
• Assist in internal audits, compliance monitoring, and risk assessments.
• Support the implementation of risk mitigation policies across business units.
• Coordinate with external counsel for litigation, employment matters, or regulatory investigations as needed.
• Ensure compliance with internal by-laws and coordinate Board of Directors meetings and approvals as needed.

3. Dispute Resolution & Risk Management

6. Bilingual Support & HQ Coordination (Preferred)

• Bilingual in Korean and English preferred (not required, but highly advantageous)
• Strong understanding of U.S. regulatory requirements (customs, trade, corporate law)
• Ability to work cross-functionally and across time zones with HQ in Korea
• Periodic travel to branch offices as needed.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant legal experience in a law firm or in-house legal department
• Licensed to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction (J.D. degree from an accredited U.S. law school preferred)
• Previous in-house experience with a Korean or global trading company
• Experience in the international trade, commercial transactions, corporate compliance or logistics sectors
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills