Sr. Counsel, North America

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Date: Nov 10, 2026

Location: Lake Zurich, IL, US, 60047

Company: accobrands

 

 

A company with a pioneering past and a purposeful future.

At ACCO Brands, we are united by a common purpose, to empower our consumers to feel good when they work, learn, and play. For more than a century we have developed and nurtured brands that enable people to work with more productivity, learn with more confidence, and play with more enjoyment. We are passionate about a winning culture where we grow together, driving business, professional growth, and success.  We invite you to be part of a team that is grounded in a history of category-leading brands and products and focused on positioning our company for the future.

Job Summary

ACCO Brands is seeking a Sr. Counsel, North America to join our dynamic legal team. This hybrid role is based in Lake Zurich, Illinois and reports directly to the Senior Vice President, General Counsel.

The Senior Counsel, North America serves as the lead legal business partner for the North America organization, providing practical, strategic, and risk-based legal counsel to commercial, product, marketing, sales, operations, and leadership teams.This role works closely with business leaders to identify risks, solve complex business challenges, support innovation, and enable profitable growth while ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and company policies.

The successful candidate will provide leadership across a broad range of legal disciplines, including commercial contracting, marketing and advertising law, government contracting, competition law, intellectual property, product development, and general business operations. The role will act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders and help foster a culture of compliance, integrity, and business partnership throughout the Americas region.

Responsibilities

  Legal Leadership & Business Partnership

  • Serve as the lead legal counsel for the North America business, providing strategic legal guidance to executive and functional leaders.
  • Partner with business leaders to evaluate legal risks and opportunities associated with strategic initiatives, new products, commercial programs, and market expansion efforts.
  • Manage outside counsel, legal budgets, and legal resources efficiently and effectively.
  • Support cross-functional collaboration among Sales, Marketing, Product Development, Supply Chain, IT, Finance, HR, and Operations teams.
  • Lead legal training and awareness programs throughout the North America organization.
  • Develop and maintain legal policies, processes, and governance practices that support business objectives.
  • Advise leadership on emerging legal, regulatory, and industry developments that may impact the business.

Commercial Contracting & Transactions

  • Provide legal support for customer agreements, amendments, assignments, novations, bid-related agreements, and commercial support.
  • Draft, review, and negotiate sales representative agreements, vendor and supplier agreements, distribution agreements, and regional or global commercial arrangements.
  • Advise on joint development, collaboration, partnership, licensing, and intellectual property agreements.
  • Support marketing, sponsorship, promotion, endorsement, influencer, creative services, professional services, and statement of work agreements.
  • Provide education and public sector bid/RFP support, in partnership with the legal operations team and paralegal support resources

Marketing, Advertising & Consumer Protection Law

  • Provide strategic legal support for advertising law compliance and claim substantiation.
  • Advise on FTC compliance, product marketing review, promotional materials, comparative advertising, and pricing claims.
  • Counsel on endorsement, influencer, affiliate, testimonial, and social media marketing compliance.
  • Review sweepstakes, contests, rebates, and promotional campaigns.
  • Advise on green, sustainability, environmental, and ESG-related claims and substantiation.
  • Provide guidance on consumer protection, unfair trade practices, annual marketing subscriptions, and digital marketing compliance matters in coordination with the attorney responsible for privacy when appropriate.
  • Create policies, guidelines, and best practices related to advertising and marketing compliance

U.S. Federal Government Contracting

  • Review and negotiate direct and indirect U.S. federal government contracts.
  • Analyze FAR, DFARS, and customer flow-down requirements, including letters of supply and related government procurement documents.
  • Advise on Trade Agreements Act compliance and similar government contracting requirements.
  • Support annual SAM.gov registrations and certifications.
  • Oversee compliance with Section 889, Section 5949, and other applicable sourcing restrictions.
  • Monitor regulatory developments, executive orders, FAR updates, DFARS updates, and OFCCP requirements, and advise the business on potential impact.
  • Advise business teams regarding government contracting risks and obligations.

Competition, Antitrust & Trade Practices

  • Provide counseling on antitrust and competition law compliance.
  • Advise on pricing policies, pricing communications, reseller relationships, distributor relationships, exclusivity arrangements, and channel management structures
  • Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

  • Juris Doctor degree from an accredited U.S. law school.
  • Licensed and in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar.
  • Ability to provide legal support across multiple U.S. jurisdictions
  • Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible legal experience, including substantial in-house and/or major law firm experience.
  • Experience supporting consumer products, manufacturing, retail, technology, or related industries strongly preferred.
  • Demonstrated expertise in commercial transactions, marketing law, and business counseling.
  • Experience supporting U.S. federal government contracting matters preferred.
  • Experience advising senior executives and business leadership teams.
  • Experience managing outside counsel and cross-functional projects

 

#LI-Hybrid

Salary Range: $185,000 - $250,000

About Us:

You know our brands. You love our brands. You just may not know they are ours.

If you have touched a PowerA® gaming controller, a Five Star® notebook, a Swingline® stapler, a Quartet® dry erase board, or a Kensington® computer mouse, you have touched part of ACCO Brands Corporation. With annual revenues of more than $1.5 Billion, ACCO Brands (NYSE: ACCO) designs, markets, manufactures, and sells branded academic, consumer, and business products globally. The power of our brands, our unmatched global customer reach, and our strategic market strengths put us in a position to achieve global leadership and growth. We're proud of our long history of industry leadership and innovation and are focused on delivering exceptional value to our customers by providing unique, cutting-edge, branded products.

What we offer:

  • Comprehensive medical, prescription, dental, and vision plans
  • 4% 401(k) match with immediate eligibility and vesting
  • Competitive time off, available from the first day of employment 
  • Parental leave
  • Company-paid life and disability benefits
  • Critical illness, accident, and long-term care insurance options
  • Employee and family assistance programs

 

Growing together is how we win.

With trusted brands, strong leadership, and a clear purpose, you’ll find opportunities to grow in your career, contribute to meaningful work, and be a part of a culture that values creativity and putting our consumers and customers first.

Apply now and build a successful future with ACCO Brands.

More information about ACCO Brands can be found at www.accobrands.com.

 

ACCO Brands has developed and maintains a written Affirmative Action Program (“AAP”) for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.  A copy can be requested from Human Resources. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants.

 

Equal Opportunity Employer

ACCO Brands is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. The company strives to create a winning culture with a leadership promise to provide equal access and opportunity for all to grow, succeed, and contribute to their full potential.

 

AODA

Accommodation for applicants with disabilities will be provided in all parts of the recruiting process as required under the ACCO Brands Canada AODA policy. Applicants are asked to make their needs known in advance.


Nearest Major Market: Chicago