Senior Paralegal - Corporate Mergers/Acquisitions

At Johnson Outdoors, home to some of the world's most innovative and best-known outdoor recreation brands, we create amazing outdoor experiences - for adventurers, by adventurers.

Located at our beautiful Headquarters along Lake Michigan in downtown Racine: 555 Main Street, Racine, WI. We operate on a hybrid work schedule (3 days in office-Tues/Wed/Thurs and 2 days remote-Fri/Mon).

The Senior Commercial Paralegal provides diverse, advanced and confidential legal support which may include drafting correspondence, performing legal research, managing corporate governance matters for domestic and foreign subsidiaries, supporting the corporate secretary function, managing the Company's legal e-bill system, maintaining the corporate contracting system, assisting with administration of company agreements and acting as a liaison regarding various legal matters.

What you will be doing:

• Serves as a liaison with internal departments, outside counsel, vendors and other external parties regarding legal needs and advice. Acts as a resource providing general department and legal information and screening inquiries. Gathers and analyzes research data, such as statutes, decisions and legal articles, codes and documents.
• Conserves the attorney's time by reading, researching, reviewing, verifying and routing correspondence, reports and legal documents; drafting letters and documents; collecting and analyzing information; initiating communications; organizing client conferences, and attorney meetings; and scheduling couriers.
• Supports contract administration by assisting in the preparation and review of contracts, evaluating for compliance, advising others on contractual rights and obligations and managing the organization's contract library.
• Assists with drafting, reviewing and/or negotiating customer, marketing, vendor and other agreements (e.g., NDAs, supplier agreements, dealer agreements, terms of sale, terms of purchase, termination letters, master services agreements and other commercial agreements).
• Manages the sign off process for NDAs and other documents managed by the legal team, providing backup support as needed for execution of documents.
• Assists the legal team with various strategic projects, including M&A, joint ventures, joint development agreements, and strategic alliances.
• Drafts by-laws, resolutions, consents, and corporate maintenance documents, certificates and agreements.
• Provides legal assistance on corporate governance compliance matters and supports the corporate governance process by preparing organization documents, maintaining the corporate minute books, meeting notes and corporate resolutions.
• Reviews and monitors legislation that impacts the Company's products and/or processes. Updates leadership with timely analysis and summaries of new legislation/regulations affecting the business.
• Represents attorneys by communicating and obtaining information, following-up on delegated assignments and knowing when to act and when to refer matters to the attorney.
• Provides historical reference by developing and utilizing filing and retrieval systems, recording meeting discussions, and maintaining minute books for the Board of Directors and committee meetings.
• Supports the corporate secretary function including proxy preparation and stock transfer agent transactions.
• Works with the legal team to optimize processes, playbooks, and improve standard templates.
• Maintains the attorney's calendar by planning and scheduling conferences, meetings and travel.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

What you need to succeed:

• Typically requires a paralegal associate degree or equivalent.
• Typically requires a minimum of 5 years of experience acting as an in-house corporate paralegal or a paralegal within a law firm which includes performing legal research, drafting a wide range of legal documents and managing the contract library.

• Excellent interpersonal/communication skills using tact and diplomacy in dealing with all levels of individuals, both internally and externally.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to collect, organize, analyze, and disseminate significant amounts of information with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Demonstrated strong knowledge of law and legal processes, terminology and documentation.
• Ability to work on a broad variety of matters in a fast-paced environment.
• Detail oriented, friendly, approachable, professional demeanor and disposition with a corresponding level of maturity.
• Ability to work autonomously as well as collaboratively.
• Ability to act with sound business judgment in ambiguous situations.
• Team player who can easily handle shifting priorities and pressure, and multi-tasking in a deadline-oriented environment.
• Advanced skills and proficiency in using the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook). Proficiency in using the following or similar systems: Docusphere, Board Vantage, Serengeti e-billing system.
• Skills and experience writing effective and diplomatic correspondence.

About Us:

A few pointers about our culture:

• Entrepreneurial spirit and innovation are in our bones! We authentically innovate trusted equipment that gets people out there.
• We are laser-focused on our consumers, and passionate about inspiring people to actively engage with the amazing awe of the outdoors again and again.
• We strive to create meaningful, healthy change in the world as individuals and as a family of brands.
• We value team members who are willing to wear many hats; who take personal initiative, anticipating what needs to be done, and figuring things out to make them happen; but who are also willing to ask for help, to assist others and work together.

What you will receive:

• Share in the company's success - Competitive base salary, with additional earning potential through participation in the annual discretionary cash profit sharing program, eligibility for annual pay increases, and employee stock purchase plans.
• Find your work/life balance with generous paid time off and holiday benefits, health insurance and wellness plans.
• Further your career with training opportunities including our tuition assistance program.
• Plan for your future with our 401k with company match and deferred retirement contributions, Sons & Daughters Scholarship program, life and LTD insurance, employee stock purchase plan, and more.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment at Johnson Outdoors (and all subsidiaries) without regard to race; creed; color; religion; national origin; sex; age; disability; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; genetic predisposition or carrier status; veteran, marital, or citizenship status; or any other status protected by law. Johnson Outdoors is proud to be an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer.

If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, please contact Human Resources at HRSpecialAccommodations@johnsonoutdoors.com to let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

JOHNSON OUTDOORS is a leading global innovator of outdoor recreation equipment and technologies that inspire more people to experience the awe of the great outdoors. The company designs, manufactures and markets a portfolio of winning, consumer-preferred brands across four categories: Watercraft Recreation, Fishing, Diving and Camping. Johnson Outdoors' iconic brands include: Old Town canoes and kayaks; Ocean Kayak; Carlisle paddles; Minn Kota fishing motors, batteries and anchors; Cannon downriggers; Humminbird marine electronics and charts; SCUBAPRO dive equipment; Jetboil outdoor cooking systems; and, Eureka!camping and hiking equipment. Founded in 1970 by Samuel C. Johnson, the Company has delivered double-digit compound annual growth over its history, evolving from a single brand into a nearly $743 million global enterprise with around 1,400 employees across 20 countries.