Managing Counsel, Corporate

Sonder is on a mission to revolutionize hospitality and make a world of better stays open to all. No two Sonders are the same – each property has a bespoke design and contains a mix of rooms, suites, and apartments. Though each Sonder is unique, our mobile app allows guests to effortlessly navigate their stay. From check-in to checkout, everything they need is just a tap away. To be better is a never-ending pursuit and revolutions don’t happen overnight. But, together, we can forever change the way people stay, for the better.

We are looking for someone who breathes hospitality operations and is energized by the opportunity to maximize, motivate, and inspire a team to deliver an amazing Sonder guest experience. Our Sonder locations are distributed across a city in different shapes, sizes, ages, and styles, and we pride ourselves on offering a hotel-like service. That’s what you’ll own.

Life at Sonder

We aspire to build a workplace where employees can thrive. Our culture shapes how we make decisions, how we conduct meetings, how we communicate, and how we treat each other. It’s the coordinated way in which we work that gives us a shot at achieving the epic tale we hope to be part of. Our Leadership Principles are a foundational part of our culture and they play a vital role in guiding the values and actions of our team members. Each of these principles is at the heart of what we do. Check out this article to find out more about our Culture and Principles.

Sonder’s legal department supports every aspect of Sonder and its domestic and international growth and operations. If you are interested in supporting the scale of a collaborative, world-class legal department, are a self-confident and experienced entrepreneurial legal professional looking for professional growth and challenges with a Nasdaq-listed company, and are aiming to have an immediate impact and responsibility, we welcome your application.

We’re looking for a Managing Counsel, Corporate, to support our Associate General Counsel with oversight of all corporate aspects of Sonder’s global legal work.  This position will be based in the United States.

The successful candidate will be involved in strategic legal matters of the company, enabling the business to meet its strategic and operational objectives.

The successful candidate will be willing to occasionally travel domestically and internationally.

The Opportunity:

• Oversee and direct all corporate legal matters, including but not limited to responsibility for public company compliance and reporting, corporate, and finance transactions.
• Support the Chief Legal and Administrative Officer with Board and governance matters.
• Participate in the definition and development of corporate policies, procedures, and programs.
• Oversee the preparation of legal documents in connection with subsidiary governance and routine corporate matters, and develop and implement systems for the maintenance of this documentation (or the information and powers therein).
• Anticipate, effectively communicate, and mitigate legal risks, and identify opportunities relating to current business strategies.
• Provide leadership for a high performing organization.
• Possess the gravitas and reputation to achieve effective working relationships with executives, managers, and employees at all levels throughout the company.
• Demonstrate executive presence and self-assurance, without self-importance.

Who We Look For:

• A qualified and well-regarded lawyer with a minimum of 6 years of legal experience, having worked in a major law firm and, ideally, thereafter in a substantial and hands-on in-house counsel role with a publicly-traded company.
• Proven track record of providing thoughtful, pragmatic, commercial, and strategic advice and astute guidance at the senior management level, both with regard to legal risk management and more broadly across the business.
• Experience as a business-oriented contributor in a fast-paced, high-growth, and entrepreneurial culture.
• Business acumen and support.
• Proven experience partnering with senior leaders and the business to provide legal and regulatory guidance while accomplishing business objectives.
• Experience effectively prioritizing and balancing competing interests; able to be viewed as a resource by the organization and to act as a partner to various constituencies.
• Strong leadership skills.
• Member in good standing of at least one state bar.
• Juris Doctor from an ABA accredited law school.

Critical Leadership Capabilities:

• Collaborates and openly debates with the team to manage projects, solve problems, discuss challenging issues, or learn more about critical issues as a group.
• Drives results and clear business impacts.
• Acts to surpass goals, seizing opportunities to push the envelope.
• Actively collaborates and influences within and beyond the legal team including with senior stakeholders.
• Demonstrates maturity, team spirit, and a commitment to fostering a collegial and dynamic work environment.

Benefits

We offer attractive employee travel perks for any Sonder location as well as competitive stock, health and lifestyle benefits. For eligible employees, benefits may include:

• Competitive compensation
• Generous stock plan
• Medical, dental and vision insurance (where applicable)
• Flexible vacation
• Wellness and volunteering days
• Annual free credits and discounts to stay in Sonders
• Workplace flexibility (for remote-specified positions only) #ABetterWaytoWork