In-House Counsel

About the CompanyDMSI is retained by a diversified private holding founded in 2024 and headquartered in New York City, operating across energy, commodity trading, defense and security, and capital markets. The enterprise is in aggressive growth mode, actively acquiring assets and launching new business lines across multiple states and jurisdictions. The company is led by a seasoned executive team with backgrounds spanning finance, federal government, energy, and technology. The culture is fast-paced, lean, and execution-driven. This is a high-autonomy environment where every team member wears multiple hats and moves with speed and conviction.The OpportunityWe are seeking a business-minded Legal Counsel to serve as the lead legal advisor to executive leadership and take ownership of the company’s legal function. This is a high-impact role for a lawyer who is comfortable operating broadly across commercial contracts, compliance, corporate matters, risk management, and cross-border transactions.The ideal candidate will be practical, responsive, and able to work closely with senior leadership in a dynamic environment where legal support must be both strategic and hands-on.KEY RESPONSIBILITIESCorporate Governance & Entity ManagementSupport governance and legal entity management across a multi-entity structure operating in multiple U.S. states and international jurisdictionsAssist with entity formation, maintenance, and related corporate records as the business evolvesDraft and review operating agreements, corporate resolutions, board materials, and other governance documentationCommercial ContractingDraft, review, and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements across the Company’s business linesSupport vendor, partnership, referral, services, transaction-related, and other operating agreementsIdentify legal and commercial risk in proposed deal structures and recommend practical solutions aligned with business objectivesCoordinate with outside counsel on specialized finance, securities, or transaction documentation as neededRisk Management & Dispute CoordinationSupport pre-dispute strategy, claims management, and coordination with outside counsel on disputes, arbitration, and other contentious mattersHelp develop practical legal risk management, contract tracking, and documentation protocolsManage relationships with outside counsel across litigation, regulatory, and transactional mattersRegulatory / Securities Exposure (Preferred)Familiarity with private placement structures, exemptions, and related offering documentation is a plusAbility to identify issues and coordinate effectively with specialist outside counsel on securities, commodities, and related regulatory mattersExposure to AML/KYC frameworks or regulated onboarding environments is helpfulStrategic Business SupportProvide legal support for new business launches, asset acquisitions, and other growth initiativesSupport trademark, brand protection, and related matters in coordination with outside counsel where neededServe as a practical business partner to leadership, balancing legal judgment with commercial realitiesIDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILERequired QualificationsJ.D. from an accredited law school and active bar membership in good standingFlorida bar strongly preferred8+ years of legal experience, including meaningful experience in-house and/or in a law firm supporting commercial, corporate, transactional, or regulated business mattersStrong hands-on experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex commercial agreementsExperience supporting corporate governance, entity management, and general business legal matters across multiple jurisdictionsSound business judgment and the ability to operate independently in a lean, fast-paced environmentExperience in one or more relevant sectors such as financial services, energy, commodity trading, industrials, transportation, or other regulated operating businessesPreferred QualificationsExperience as a first or early legal hire inside a growth-stage companyFamiliarity with securities law concepts, including private placements and Reg D / Reg S structuresExposure to cross-border transactions or multi-jurisdictional operating structuresExposure to trade finance, commodity-related transactions, or upstream/downstream energy mattersExperience managing outside counsel across multiple legal disciplinesCharacter & Culture FitComfortable making decisions independently and working through problems without heavy infrastructure or established processBuilds structure where none exists rather than waiting for directionDirect communicator who gets to the point; the executive team operates the same wayHolds high standards on substance and documentation while keeping pace with a fast-moving business