Legal Counsel - US
VISTRA · Florida, United States
- Hybrid
- Full-time
- $120,000 / year
- Florida, United States
Job highlights
- Support Americas legal function with contract review.
- Draft and negotiate U.S. law governed commercial agreements.
- Focus on services agreements, data protection, and NDAs.
- Utilize legal tech and AI tools for efficiency.
- Work remotely with flexible country-based benefits.
About the role
About Vistra
It’s never been a more exciting time to join Vistra. At Vistra our purpose is progress. We believe that our clients have the power to change the world and to do great things for global progress, and we exist to remove the friction that comes from the complexity of global business – to help our clients achieve progress without friction. But progress only happens when people come together and take action. And we’re absolutely committed to building a culture where our people can do just that.
Purpose of the Role
The purpose of this role is to support the Legal function across the Americas by efficiently reviewing, drafting, and negotiating U.S.-law governed commercial contracts, enabling the business to execute services at scale while maintaining appropriate legal and risk protections. The role exists to handle day-to-day contract execution, standard negotiations, and data protection documentation, allowing senior legal leadership to focus on material risk, governance, and strategic matters. By applying standard templates, playbooks, and technology-enabled tools, the role helps ensure consistency, speed, and quality across commercial contracting activities.
Scope
The role is responsible for supporting the Legal function across the Americas with the review, drafting, and negotiation of commercial agreements, with a primary focus on U.S. law-governed services agreements, statements of work, and data processing arrangements. The scope includes day-to-day contract execution, application of standard templates and playbooks, and coordination with internal stakeholders to support deal closure. The role operates under the supervision of the Legal Director for the Americas and does not include responsibility for setting legal policy, determining risk appetite, or providing final legal sign-off on material or non-standard matters.
Key Responsibilities
- Review, draft, and negotiate commercial agreements, with a strong focus on: Services agreements, statements of work, and amendments; Data processing agreements and privacy-related terms; NDAs and other commercial documentation.
- Support negotiations with U.S. and international clients, primarily across the Americas.
- Apply and defend standard contractual positions, playbooks, and risk allocation frameworks.
- Identify legal and commercial risks and propose pragmatic, business-oriented solutions.
- Coordinate with internal teams (commercial, compliance, operations, IT/security) to support deal execution.
- Support continuous improvement of contract templates, standard positions, and internal processes.
- Use legal technology and AI-based tools to improve contract review, drafting, and consistency.
Attributes/Technical Skills
- Strong attention to detail with the ability to work autonomously.
- Practical, solution-oriented mindset with good commercial judgment.
- Comfortable pushing back and explaining legal positions in a clear, professional manner.
- Curious and proactive, with an interest in technology and in using AI and other tools to enhance productivity.
- Able to manage multiple matters in parallel and meet deadlines.
Relevant Experience
- Solid experience reviewing and negotiating U.S.-law governed commercial contracts.
- Familiarity with services agreements and SOW structures; Data protection concepts (including DPAs and basic U.S./international privacy frameworks).
- Experience with contracts across the Americas region (U.S., Latin America, cross-border matters) is a strong plus.
- Comfortable working with contract management systems, collaboration platforms, and AI-assisted legal tools.
- Excellent written and spoken English.
Education and Professional Qualification
- Law degree or equivalent legal qualification or significant experience as a senior paralegal in a commercial/legal contracts role.
- Admission to the U.S. bar is not required, provided the candidate has meaningful experience with U.S. style contracts and negotiations.
Benefits
Benefits will be aligned to the country where the candidates reside.
Key skills/competency
- Legal Counsel
- Commercial Contracts
- U.S. Law
- Contract Negotiation
- Data Protection
- Privacy Frameworks
- Legal Technology
- AI Tools
- Risk Management
- Cross-border Matters
Skills & topics
- Legal Counsel
- Commercial Contracts
- Contract Negotiation
- US Law
- Data Protection
- Legal Technology
- Remote
- Americas
- Vistra
- Law Degree
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight your experience with U.S.-law governed commercial contracts and legal tech tools.
- Craft a compelling cover letter: Emphasize your solution-oriented mindset and interest in AI.
- Prepare for interviews: Be ready to discuss your experience with contract negotiation and risk identification.
- Showcase technical aptitude: Demonstrate your familiarity with legal technology and AI-based tools.
- Emphasize remote work readiness: Highlight your ability to work autonomously and manage multiple tasks.
Technical preparation
Behavioral questions
Frequently asked questions
- What is the primary focus for a Legal Counsel at Vistra?
- The primary focus for a Legal Counsel at Vistra is to efficiently review, draft, and negotiate U.S.-law governed commercial contracts, ensuring appropriate legal and risk protections are maintained while enabling business execution.
- Is admission to the U.S. bar required for this Legal Counsel role at Vistra?
- No, admission to the U.S. bar is not required for this Legal Counsel position at Vistra, as long as you have meaningful experience with U.S. style contracts and negotiations.
- What types of agreements will this Legal Counsel be reviewing and negotiating?
- This Legal Counsel will primarily be reviewing and negotiating U.S.-law governed services agreements, statements of work, data processing agreements, privacy-related terms, and NDAs.
- Does this Legal Counsel role involve setting legal policy or determining risk appetite at Vistra?
- No, this Legal Counsel role operates under supervision and does not involve setting legal policy, determining risk appetite, or providing final legal sign-off on material or non-standard matters.
- What technical skills or tools are important for the Legal Counsel position at Vistra?
- Key technical skills include experience with contract management systems, collaboration platforms, and AI-assisted legal tools, along with excellent written and spoken English.
- What is Vistra's stance on using technology and AI in legal work?
- Vistra is committed to using legal technology and AI-based tools to enhance productivity, improve contract review, drafting, and consistency for its Legal Counsel.
- What kind of experience is considered a strong plus for the Legal Counsel role?
- Experience with contracts across the Americas region, including the U.S., Latin America, and cross-border matters, is considered a strong plus for this Legal Counsel role.
- How does Vistra approach benefits for its remote Legal Counsel positions?
- Vistra aligns benefits to the country where the candidates reside, offering flexibility for its fully remote Legal Counsel positions.