What's the Short Version?
The Associate Corporate Counsel is a key legal partner to multiple business units, drafts and negotiates commercial agreements, and helps balance legal risk with business objectives. They play a critical role in supporting our continued growth and commercial success.
What Will You Be Doing?
- Draft, review, and negotiate complex commercial transactions including partnerships, licensing agreements, manufacturing agreements, distribution agreements, master service agreements, and vendor/supplier agreements.
- Serve as the primary legal point of contact for multiple business units, providing strategic legal guidance and commercial counsel.
- Oversee and mentor legal support staff on routine and ordinary-course contracting matters.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with business teams to identify legal risks and develop practical solutions that support business objectives.
- Assist with product safety and regulatory compliance matters, including applicable federal and state consumer product requirements.
- Monitor and communicate relevant regulatory developments affecting the company's business.
- Manage outside counsel relationships and coordinate on matters requiring specialized legal support.
- Manage contract lifecycle processes and maintain organized contract management systems.
- Develop and implement standardized contract templates, playbooks, and negotiation guidelines.
- Support compliance initiatives and risk management programs as they relate to commercial operations.
- Provide legal training and guidance to business stakeholders on contract terms and commercial legal matters.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
- Comply with all policies and standards.
What Are We Looking For?
- Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school
- 4-6 years of professional legal experience as an attorney.
- Licensed Attorney (varies by state)
- Active membership in good standing with applicable state bar(s)
- Strong experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial contracts and transactions
- Excellent negotiation, drafting, and written and verbal communication skills
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines
- Collaborative approach with ability to build relationships across all levels of the organization
- In-house counsel experience, particularly in corporate or commercial roles, is a plus
- Law firm experience focused on commercial transactions and business law is a plus
- Exposure to trade compliance, customs, supply chain, or regulatory matters is a plus
- Experience in apparel, retail, wholesale, consumer products, e-commerce, or related industries preferred
- Knowledge of intellectual property, marketing, advertising, and regulatory compliance matters preferred
- Experience with contract lifecycle management systems and legal technology tools preferred
What's Our Offer?
Salary Range: You`ll earn between $140,000 - $180,000 annually, depending on experience.
Bonus: You`ll be eligible for an annual discretionary bonus up to 15% of base salary.
Paid Time Off: You`ll accrue paid time off on a bi-weekly basis based on hours worked up to 152 hours per year to start. Employees also receive 8 paid holidays and 1 paid family day off.
Additional Benefits:
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits
- 401k plan and matches $1 for $1 up to 4% of earnings, matched & vested at every pay cycle
- Life insurance
- Short/long-term disability coverage
- Paid maternity/paternity leave
- Pet insurance
What Should You Expect?
Office: SanMar's Eastpointe office is located in Issaquah, WA in the Seattle metropolitan area. Our standard working hours are 8:00-5:00 PST. Periodic travel may be required. The employee is regularly required to sit for extended periods while working on a computer and participating in virtual and in-person meetings. Frequent use of hands for keyboarding and standard office equipment is required. Occasional standing, walking, and reaching may be needed to attend meetings or collaborate in an office setting. The role requires the ability to perform close visual work on a computer for extended periods. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 10–15 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
Skills Required
- Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school
- 4-6 years of professional legal experience as an attorney
- Licensed Attorney (varies by state)
- Active membership in good standing with applicable state bar(s)
- Strong experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial contracts and transactions
- Excellent negotiation, drafting, and written and verbal communication skills
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines
- Collaborative approach with ability to build relationships across all levels of the organization
- In-house counsel experience, particularly in corporate or commercial roles
- Law firm experience focused on commercial transactions and business law
- Exposure to trade compliance, customs, supply chain, or regulatory matters
- Experience in apparel, retail, wholesale, consumer products, e-commerce, or related industries
- Knowledge of intellectual property, marketing, advertising, and regulatory compliance matters
- Experience with contract lifecycle management systems and legal technology tools
SanMar Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about SanMar and has not been reviewed or approved by SanMar.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is described as comprehensive, including medical, dental, vision, life and disability, alongside an EAP and digital mental‑health and chronic‑condition tools. Benefits are often characterized as solid for the company's size, supporting positive views of total rewards.
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Retirement Support — A 401(k) plan with company match and per‑pay‑period vesting is repeatedly highlighted, reinforcing retirement support as a core element of the package. This straightforward match is framed as competitive within the company’s industry context.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Paid time off with holiday schedules and a dedicated family day are emphasized, alongside documented paid parental leave. Role‑specific postings also indicate PTO accrual that begins early and grows with tenure.
SanMar Insights
What We Do
SanMar’s success and growth can be attributed to one thing - outstanding employees who provide superior services and products to our customers. We promote a culture that recognizes the importance of a healthy work-life balance. Recognizing that happy and relaxed employees make better ambassadors for SanMar, we encourage initiative and participation by creating a casual environment that taps full employee potential. Family owned since 1971, SanMar is an award-winning supplier of over 20 retail and private brands of imprintable apparel and accessories, including Port Authority, America’s No. 1 preferred private label. SanMar is the exclusive distributor of Nike Golf, Eddie Bauer®, OGIO® and New Era®. SanMar is based outside Seattle, WA, with eight national distribution centers. We invest in your future with life-enhancing opportunities and benefits including: • Competitive pay and bonuses • Competitive benefits • Company paid time off (PTO) • Life insurance • 401(k) plan with matching fund • Flexible spending program • Anniversary awards • Discounts on brand name clothing • Diverse and laid-back atmosphere • One floating family holiday every year • Monthly employee events • Charitable giving of your choice • Flexible schedules We’re growing and encourage you to find out what over 4,000 employees call the “The SanMar Difference.” SanMar is currently accepting resumes for those who have the necessary skills. SanMar is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
