Ford Motor Company is seeking a transaction-focused attorney to join the Office of the General Counsel as Lead Counsel, Transactions and Market Compliance. In this role, you will provide practical, business-oriented legal support to Ford Corporate Development, Supply Chain, Finance, and other functions on U.S. and cross-border matters, including strategic alliances, complex commercial arrangements, as well as mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures across our automotive and adjacent businesses.
This is a hands-on role for an attorney who can contribute meaningfully to sophisticated transactions, work effectively with senior legal and business leaders, and help deliver clear, timely, and solutions-oriented advice in support of Ford’s strategic priorities.
ResponsibilitiesYou will . . .
• Support and, where appropriate, lead legal workstreams on domestic and international mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, carve-outs, minority investments, collaborations, and joint ventures, from diligence and negotiation through signing, closing, and post-closing integration.
• Draft, review, and negotiate relevant agreements and related transaction documents.
• Provide legal support for Ford’s global supply chain, including supporting initial sourcing, supplier disputes, driving template and process improvements, and supporting financially distressed supplier matters.
• Negotiate directly with counterparties, suppliers, and joint venture partners in the United States and internationally, with sound judgment, cultural awareness, and commercial sensitivity.
• Help business teams balance legal risk with commercial objectives by identifying practical, compliant, and risk-calibrated paths to execution.
• Advise business clients and support senior attorneys in counseling management on transaction risk, deal alternatives, governance considerations, and execution strategy, including the preparation of clear recommendations and leadership briefing materials.
• Identify responsible opportunities to use artificial intelligence, automation, and legal technology to improve speed, consistency, and quality in transaction execution and legal service delivery, while preserving confidentiality, privilege, compliance, and appropriate human oversight.
• Collaborate with legal colleagues, paralegals, and other professionals to deliver efficient, coordinated, and high-quality legal support.
• Coordinate with cross-functional legal teams around the world on transaction, regulatory, compliance, and governance matters.
• Help manage outside counsel workstreams, including scope, staffing, budgets, timelines, and work product quality.
• Contribute to templates, playbooks, and precedent libraries that improve the efficiency, consistency, and quality of transaction execution.
• Support enterprise priorities in areas such as electrification, software and connectivity, energy, autonomy, and government or defense-related programs.
You’ll have . . .
• Education: Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
• Bar Admission: Active member in good standing of at least one U.S. State Bar (with the ability to register as in-house counsel if relocating).
• Experience: At least 5 years of relevant experience in U.S. and global mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and complex commercial transactions.
• Supply Chain Transactions: Experience advising on complex commercial arrangements involving global supply chains, including production, manufacturing, services, or technology-related transactions.
• Global Reach: Demonstrated experience negotiating and closing transactions with counterparties located outside the United States.
• Business Counseling: Experience providing practical legal advice to business clients and supporting senior attorneys on significant legal and commercial matters.
• Legal Skills: Strong drafting, negotiation, analytical, problem-solving, and business judgment skills.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex legal concepts into clear, actionable, and business-friendly advice.
• Professional Presence: Strong interpersonal skills, sound judgment, and the maturity to build trust with business clients, legal colleagues, and external stakeholders. Collaborative team player.
• Travel: Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally as business necessities require.
Preferred Qualifications
• Industry Experience: Experience supporting transactions or legal matters in the automotive, mobility, technology, manufacturing, energy, or advanced manufacturing sectors.
• Practice Background: A combination of rigorous major law firm training and in-house corporate legal experience.
Skills Required
- Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school
- Active membership in good standing of at least one U.S. State Bar, with ability to register as in-house counsel if relocating
- At least 5 years of relevant experience in U.S. and global mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and complex commercial transactions
- Experience advising on complex commercial arrangements involving global supply chains, including production, manufacturing, services, or technology-related transactions
- Experience negotiating and closing transactions with counterparties outside the United States
- Experience providing practical legal advice to business clients and supporting senior attorneys on significant legal and commercial matters
- Strong drafting, negotiation, analytical, problem-solving, and business judgment skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including translating complex legal concepts into clear, actionable, business-friendly advice
- Strong interpersonal skills, sound judgment, professional maturity, and collaborative teamwork
- Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally as business necessities require
- Experience supporting transactions or legal matters in automotive, mobility, technology, manufacturing, energy, or advanced manufacturing sectors
- Combination of rigorous major law firm training and in-house corporate legal experience
Ford Motor Company Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Ford Motor Company and has not been reviewed or approved by Ford Motor Company.
-
Healthcare Strength — Medical, dental, and vision coverage start on day one with options that include zero-premium plans, free mental health support, and wellness resources. For represented hourly employees, health plans are described as low-cost with strong coverage value.
-
Retirement Support — A 401(k) with company match and additional company contributions is available from day one, alongside life and disability coverage. Pension eligibility in certain situations and financial-planning support reinforce long‑term security.
-
Parental & Family Support — Paid parental leave, fertility, surrogacy, and adoption benefits, plus a ramp‑up program for returning parents, reflect a family‑focused package. Flexible Family Care days and generous time‑off options help address short‑term caregiving and personal needs.
Ford Motor Company Insights
What We Do
Ford is a global company with shared ideals and a deep sense of family. From our earliest days as a pioneer of modern transportation, we have sought to make the world a better place – one that benefits lives, communities and the planet. We are here to provide the means for every person to move and pursue their dreams, serving as a bridge between personal freedom and the future of mobility. In that pursuit, our 186,000 employees around the world help to set the pace of innovation every day.
