Products & Platforms Ecosystems Counsel

The Products & Platforms Ecosystems Counsel is a member of the Technology & Managed Services (TMS) team within the Ernst & Young LLP (EY) U.S. General Counsel’s Office (GCO).

The opportunity

This position provides a unique opportunity within the Products & Platforms legal group to help enable and support other TMS team members and corresponding business clients. The role involves the provision of complex legal advice as well as the negotiation of legal terms and conditions in various commercial agreements and contracts with third parties (including professional services agreements, data agreements, alliance agreements, sales channel and reseller agreements, and other technology related agreements), and providing related advice to address, manage and mitigate identified risks.  The work is complex and requires sound experience in professional services, technology, software licenses, contract drafting, AI, data governance, privacy issues, intellectual property (including joint development and complex licensing arrangements) and the negotiation of large, complex deals.

Your key responsibilities

• Partner with the applicable Service Line Counsels for Products & Platforms on go-to-market initiatives, alignment between ecosystem arrangements and EY's product and platform commercialization objectives.
• Coordinate with EY Procurement, Alliances, sourcing functions, and other EY Member Firms to provide strategic legal guidance on third-party technology, data, AI, supplier arrangements, alliances and third-party partnerships that underpin EY's products and platforms.
• Collaborate with the Products & Platforms Coordinating Counsel, IP Counsel, and the broader TMS team on legal and commercial considerations spanning EY’s products and platforms ecosystem.
• Working collaboratively with internal clients to develop strategies to address identified issues.
• Advising internal procurement, alliances, product and technology teams and the relevant Service Line leaders of the key legal risks of the proposed project or contract, including the legal and regulatory issues that need to be addressed early in the process.
• Coordinating with cross functional teams (tax, independence, information security) and legal colleagues (data privacy, alliances, sourcing) in order to provide a comprehensive risk assessment and risk management.
• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating contracts with third parties (including master service agreements, professional services agreements, NDAs, outsourcing agreements, technology services agreements, systems implementation agreements, data agreements, and other technology related agreements) and evaluating third party agreement templates against EY standards.
• Support integration of ecosystem-specific issues and risk matters into TMS team priorities (e.g., addressing key third-party dependencies and risks in client-facing contracts).
• When considering items with implications beyond the EY U.S. firm, consulting with legal counsel in other member firms around the world to explain the objective of the activity, the data or personnel that will be impacted, how risks will be mitigated and managed; and addressing any remaining local issues with the affected member firms, the counterparty and other stakeholders.
• Interpreting and explaining contract terms and conditions for internal clients and stakeholders.
• Confirming that contracts are compliant with EY policies and maintaining an understanding of the impact of any changes in EY’s policies, organizational structure and procedures.
• Contractually protecting EY’s intellectual property to prevent loss/infringement by third parties.
• Providing input and feedback concerning GCO contracting procedures.
• Effectively managing workflow, including multiple projects, in a proactive and highly responsive manner.

Skills and attributes for success

• Excellent organizational skills; demonstrated ability to create, plan and successfully execute projects; and the ability to meet multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to interface and communicate effectively and diplomatically with all levels of EY personnel
• Experience with negotiation techniques, transactional analysis, contract law, IP, commercial agreements and workload/project management
• Excellent negotiation, drafting and interpersonal skills, with high degree of cultural and emotional intelligence
• Ability to understand, and accurately articulate and document, complex concepts
• Ability to assess size and scope of contemplated relationships and transactions
• Understanding of when to consult with and seek the input of others
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks with competing deadlines
• Ability to foster teamwork and maintain effective working relationships with internal clients/stakeholders
• Responsiveness with ability to manage high workload volumes efficiently and effectively
• Commercial, solution-oriented thinking, with a focus on exceptional client service
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited 4-year college
• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school
• Approximately 3 – 7 or more years of relevant work experience in a related role, with a particular emphasis on commercial matters
• Membership in a State Bar as an attorney; qualified to practice law as an in-house attorney in state of residence
• Good standing with the State Bar, including being current on individual state Continuing Legal Education requirements

Ideally, you’ll also have

• Provide advice based on the appropriate balance of risk mitigation and business interests on a real-time basis.
• Use of independent judgment and thinking applied to resolution of issues.
• Escalate identified key issues and contractual provisions in accordance with EY policies/protocols.
• Work independently on projects, with limited direction, and draw upon knowledge and experience to deliver quality risk management.
• The Products & Platforms Ecosystems Counsel will receive general direction from his/her supervisor and should consult with the supervisor when dealing with complex or high-risk issues.
• This role is expected to work independently and should be comfortable proceeding based on guidance and general direction rather than hands-on micro management and supervision.
• This position may also contribute to training and development of team members.

What we look for

We’re interested in agile individuals who have critical thinking skills along with a strong business acumen and deep knowledge of the law.