In-House Attorney

Job Type

Full-time

Description

Swickard Automotive Group is a rapidly expanding, family-owned dealership group with over 50 dealerships across 6 states. We are committed to providing an exceptional experience for our customers and fostering a supportive and dynamic environment for our employees. As we continue to grow, we are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Attorney to join our in-house legal team.

This is a unique opportunity for a skilled legal professional to play a key role in supporting the diverse legal needs of a large and growing automotive group. The ideal candidate will possess a strong understanding of various areas of law relevant to business operations, with a particular emphasis on transactional, litigation, and regulatory compliance.

Key Responsibilities:

Provide legal advice and counsel to all levels of the organization on a wide range of legal issues, including but not limited to:

• Contracts: Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating various commercial agreements, vendor contracts, real estate leases, and other business-related agreements.
• Litigation Management: Overseeing and managing litigation matters, including working with outside counsel, developing litigation strategies, and conducting discovery.
• Employment Law: Advising on employment-related matters, including hiring, termination, disciplinary actions, wage and hour compliance, and workplace policies.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations applicable to automotive dealerships (e.g., FTC, CFPB, DMV, consumer protection laws).
• Real Estate: Assisting with real estate transactions, zoning, and land use matters.
• Corporate Governance: Assisting with corporate governance matters and maintaining corporate records.

• Conduct legal research and provide accurate and timely legal opinions.
• Develop and implement legal policies and procedures to mitigate risk and ensure compliance.
• Manage and supervise outside counsel as needed.
• Stay abreast of legal developments and advise the company on potential impacts.
• Assist in the resolution of disputes and negotiate settlements.
• Provide training to employees on legal and compliance topics.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
• Active membership in good standing with the California State Bar is a strong plus.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience practicing law, with a significant portion of that experience in a corporate in-house setting or representing corporate clients.
• Demonstrated experience in transactional law, litigation management, collections, and regulatory compliance.
• Significant litigation experience is desired.
• Strong understanding of business operations and the ability to provide practical, business-oriented legal advice.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex legal concepts clearly and concisely to non-legal stakeholders.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.
• High level of integrity, professionalism, and ethical conduct.
• Experience in the automotive industry or with franchise law is a plus, but not required.

• Ongoing training and support
• Opportunities for continued personal and professional growth.
• We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and value diversity and belonging at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other characteristics protected by law.

• Insurance: medical, dental, vision, life and pet insurance
• Optional disability coverage
• 401k plan
• Paid Holidays
• PTO

• We were founded in 2014 by Jeff Swickard in Wilsonville, OR.
• We're a hospitality company that happens to sell cars, parts, and service.
• We are a team. Everyone plays a role in our success.
• Culture: Our culture is defined by a few core principles: We want to be our customers' favorite place to purchase, lease, or service their vehicle and we want to be your favorite place to work!
• Highline Brands: Swickard has positioned itself as a leader in highline brands such as Mercedes Benz, BMW, Audi, Volvo, Lexus, Porsche, Land Rover, and more.
• We are consistently ranked as one of the fastest growing dealership groups in the US by Automotive News.