Nippon Express Company, Ltd. (“NX”) was founded in 1872 in Japan and is headquartered in Tokyo.  NX employs approximately 72,000 employees at 733 locations, in 47 countries and 314 cities around the world. 

Nippon Express U.S.A., Inc. (“NEU”) was incorporated in New York in 1962 as a fully owned subsidiary of NX.  NEU provides logistics solutions and comprehensive transportation services through its international freight forwarding and logistics network, including specialized handling of: air, land, sea and express packages; all types and sizes of cargo; personal effects and household goods; fragile and perishable freight; and livestock.  NEU also provides related services, such as warehousing, distribution and customs brokerage and clearance. NEU operates at 55 locations in 27 states within the U.S., with approximately 1300 employees.  NEU has enjoyed tremendous growth and success as one of the top five international freight forwarders in the world. We connect people with products throughout the world.

Purpose:

We are seeking a motivated, business-oriented and independent attorney who will be a key member and leader of NEU’s legal department.  Working at the direction of the General Counsel, the Assistant General Counsel will serve as an in-house generalist as part of a small legal team addressing all of the various legal needs for the U.S. operations of one of the leading freight forwarders in the world. 

The successful candidate will be business savvy and able to understand the Company’s business thoroughly, provide practical legal solutions in furtherance of corporate goals, be self-motivated and excel in an international, multicultural company.  The successful candidate will also have a proven track record of commercial contract review, drafting and negotiation, in addition to having general law knowledge in other common in-house legal areas. They will be eager to understand our business and the various laws and regulations applicable to it in order to provide sound counsel and guidance. They will be collaborative with stakeholders and customers to effectively support the needs of our business units.  They will also be an effective communicator with many different types of constituents across the entire range of the company, some of whom are not native English speakers. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Identify and manage legal risks in substantive areas common to a large global logistics provider, including, but not limited to:

• air, ocean and truck transportation operations;
• warehouse and distribution center operations;
• international trade and export controls;
• employment law;
• real estate;
• privacy and data protection; and
• litigation and other dispute management and resolution.

• Draft, review and negotiate a range of commercial contracts, including logistics and warehouse services agreements, master service agreements, vendor agreements, real estate leases and other customary company contracts.  Review Request for Proposals /Information (RFPs) to ensure responses are accurate from a legal perspective and align with the company’s ability to comply with all contractual and regulatory obligations; help identify risks and solutions.
• Provide analysis and counsel on various laws affecting the company or its operations.
• Develop and lead, either directly or by managing outside counsel, the company’s responses to various legal proceedings, including actual or anticipated lawsuits, subpoenas and regulatory inquiries.
• Develop and recommend company policy and procedures.
• Assist in risk management and compliance management activities.
• Anticipate and guard against legal risks facing the company.
• Oversee maintenance of the corporate books for the company and its U.S. subsidiaries.
• Conduct and coordinate research into a variety of legal issues and provide advice on day-to-day company legal issues.
• Assist in the administration of the legal department.
• Participate in global Nippon Express initiatives in the areas of legal management, compliance and risk mitigation.
• Maintain precedent forms.
• Perform other duties or special projects as assigned.
• Drive an environment of continuous quality and process improvement.

Education, Bar Admission and Experience:

• J.D. from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school.
• Good standing member of the Illinois bar.
• 5+ years of legal experience required; preference for both law firm and previous in-house experience.
• Experience in the logistics industry preferred.
• Experience dealing with international trade rules and regulations (e.g., export controls and sanctions) and regulatory bodies regulating portions of logistics businesses (e.g., FMC, TSA, CBP, FMCSA) preferred.
• Experience with medical device distribution licensing requirements a plus.
• In-depth knowledge of employment laws a plus.
• Experience working in an international environment a plus.
• Knowledge of Japanese language and culture a plus.

Skills, Behavioral & Abilities:

• Thrive in a “roll-up your sleeves, get the job done and own the outcome” environment. 
• Be solution oriented.
• Sound business judgment and strategic thinking ability while under deadline pressures.
• Able to work independently or as part of a team, as necessary.  Can lead cross-functional projects.
• Ability and patience to communicate complex issues effectively with business partners from different international backgrounds.  Excellent writing and oral skills.
• Superior judgment and attention to detail. 
• Ability to strike sensible and practical balance between legal risks and business requirements.
• Strong ability to listen, provide perspective and context, and influence results.
• Ability to manage many matters simultaneously and quickly pivot from one situation or task to another. 
• Flexibility to work the hours needed to meet deadlines or for project completion.
• Team attitude that no job is too big or too small.

Organization Relationships:

 This position will interact with branch colleagues, leadership staff, and office /warehouse personnel. Must be able to work with customers, vendors, and outside organizations.

 Work Environment:

(With or without accommodations) This position is predominantly sedentary office work, which involves sitting, typing, filing, and conversing on the phone.

This job description is not intended to be and should not be construed as an all-inclusive list of all the responsibilities and working conditions of the position. While it is intended to accurately reflect the position activities and requirements, management reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties and assign other duties as necessary.

Nippon Express offers a generous Employee Benefits Package including:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision beginning the 1^st of the month after 30 days.
• 401k with a company match
• Flexible Spending Accounts, HSA, Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance, Short & Long Term Disability, Auto and Home policies, Commuter Benefits, and much more.
• Generous Vacation and Sick time.

Nippon Express USA provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.