Job description

Please note that we will never request payment or bank account information at any stage of the recruitment process. As we continue to grow our teams, we urge you to be cautious of fraudulent job postings or recruitment activities that misuse our company name and information. Please protect your personal information during any recruitment process. While Monks may contact potential candidates via LinkedIn, all applications must be submitted through our official website ( monks.com/careers ). This role is HYBRID and will require scheduled days at our office 32 Old Slip # 705, New York, NY 10005 About the Role We are seeking an experienced, strategic, and highly-collaborative Senior Legal Counsel to support our North American region and provide practical and business-focused guidance to internal and external stakeholders. This role will focus on high-volume commercial contract negotiation and providing strategic and operational legal counsel across all areas of our business. This role will work closely with account and growth leaders, commercial finance, content and technology teams, and data/privacy experts to ensure efficient contract execution, manage legal risks, and enable business growth across our North American operations. This position is based in New York or Los Angeles, and reports to the Director, Legal who is based in New York. Responsibilities: Draft, review, and negotiate a high-volume of commercial contracts in North America, including client MSAs and SOWs, technology licensing and reseller agreements, influencer and media partnerships, SaaS/vendor agreements, and production-related agreements. Work closely with commercial finance and business teams to respond to RFPs and RFIs from our clients and participate actively in client pitches to help our business win. Evaluate legal risks and provide strategic and practical day-to-day legal advice to key business stakeholders. Work alongside our integrated Business Affairs team to advise on and mitigate legal risks during the production lifecycle, including intellectual property rights management, generative AI, music/stock licensing, rights of publicity, and other clearance matters. Ensure operational efficiency and consistency with global standards. Develop standardized contract templates and tools that improve process efficiency and legal protection. Stay up to date on the most recent legal development and ensure internal policies and procedures are updated accordingly. Advise on other aspects of our North America business as required, including litigation (where necessary in conjunction with external counsel). Work closely with peers in our other three key regions (Latin America; Europe, Middle East and Africa; and Asia Pacific) to ensure we follow consistent standards, tools, and processes across the Legal and Business Affairs team. About You The essentials: J.D. from an accredited law school Active bar membership in at least one U.S. jurisdiction, New York or California preferred, with ability to register/registration as an in-house counsel in New York required. 4-6 years of professional legal experience, including in-house and/or major law firm experience, with a strong emphasis on commercial contract review, drafting, and negotiation (advertising, production, digital media, technology, and data contract experience strongly preferred). Proven ability to work with cross-functional teams and independently manage a high-volume workload in fast-paced, innovative environments. Strong legal drafting and negotiation skills. Excellent commercial judgment with a strategic mindset. Ability to translate complex legal issues into pragmatic business advice. Superior interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal. Experience managing legal teams or supervising attorneys. At Monks, we believe in fostering an environment where a diversity of perspectives can thrive. We proactively work to design hiring processes that promote equity and inclusion while mitigating bias. We celebrate diversity and are committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome and encourage qualified applicants, from all backgrounds, who are excited to contribute to our mission. This role is subject to our Return to Office (RTO) policy. If you reside within a commutable distance of one of our office locations, you will be expected to work from the office a set number of days per week. The specific details, including the number of required office days, will be in accordance with the company’s then-current RTO policy, which is subject to change from time to time. #LI-Hybrid #LI-SDL1 What We Offer Benefits Excellent, full coverage medical, dental, and vision insurance - more about our coverage here ! Generous PTO and 15 company-wide holidays 401k with company contribution Paid parental leave Work-life balance with an emphasis on personal well-being Career growth in a disruptor space & entrepreneurial opportunities within the Monks network A globally diverse & inclusive culture with employee resource groups such as S4 Melanin, Pride.Monks, Cultura.Monks, and more! Authentic commitment to DEI efforts and sustainable growth. (Why Sir Martin Sorrell signed The Climate Pledge here !) This role is subject to our Return to Office (RTO) policy. If you reside within a commutable distance of one of our office locations, you will be expected to work from the office a set number of days per week. The specific details, including the number of required office days, will be in accordance with the company’s then-current RTO policy, which is subject to change from time to time. Monks has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what Monks may pay for the position at the time of posting. Monks may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on job-related factors, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status. Salary Range: $160,000 — $185,000 USD About Monks Monks is the global, digital-first, data-driven, unitary operating brand of S4Capital plc, where our culture centers on how we show up for the work and for one another. That begins with the commitment to strive for mastery—taking deep pride in our craft and creating work that sets the bar. In everyday execution, we drive momentum by choosing bold action rather than waiting for certainty. Above all, our teams are stronger together, bringing diverse perspectives into a unified team that communicates with clarity, trust, and mutual respect. This commitment to craft and innovation translates directly into widespread industry acclaim: Monks was named a Contender in The Forrester Wave™: Global Marketing Services and a leader in the 2026 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Global Digital Marketing Agencies. It ranks among Cannes Lions' Top 10 Creative Companies (2022-25) and remains the only partner featured in AdExchanger’s Programmatic Power Players list every year (2020-24). Named Adweek’s first AI Agency of the Year (2023) and The One Show’s inaugural AI Pioneer Organization (2025), Monks was also awarded Business Intelligence Group’s 2026 Excellence in Artificial Intelligence Award in the Human-Machine Interaction Team category. Additionally, Monks.Flow earned AI-based Marketing Solution of the Year at the 2026 AI Breakthrough Awards and a 2026 Global Generative AI Award in the Agentic Marketing Innovation category. Finally, Monks achieved a record-breaking number of FWAs and continues to hold the most of any partner. We are an equal-opportunity employer committed to building a respectful and empowering work environment for all people to freely express themselves amongst colleagues who embrace diversity in all respects. Including fresh voices and unique points of view in all aspects of our business not only creates an environment where we can all grow and thrive but also increases our potential to produce work that better represents—and resonates with—the world around us.

Requirements

Must-haves

We are seeking an experienced, strategic, and highly-collaborative Senior Legal Counsel to support our North American region and provide practical and business-focused guidance to internal and external stakeholders.
Work closely with commercial finance and business teams to respond to RFPs and RFIs from our clients and participate actively in client pitches to help our business win.
Evaluate legal risks and provide strategic and practical day-to-day legal advice to key business stakeholders.
Ensure operational efficiency and consistency with global standards.
Develop standardized contract templates and tools that improve process efficiency and legal protection.
Stay up to date on the most recent legal development and ensure internal policies and procedures are updated accordingly.
Advise on other aspects of our North America business as required, including litigation (where necessary in conjunction with external counsel).
J.D. from an accredited law school
Proven ability to work with cross-functional teams and independently manage a high-volume workload in fast-paced, innovative environments.
Strong legal drafting and negotiation skills.
Excellent commercial judgment with a strategic mindset.
Ability to translate complex legal issues into pragmatic business advice.
Superior interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal.
Experience managing legal teams or supervising attorneys.
#LI-SDL1 What We Offer

Nice-to-haves

Active bar membership in at least one U.S. jurisdiction, New York or California preferred, with ability to register/registration as an in-house counsel in New York required.

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Platform: greenhouse
Effort: quick

Benefits

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Dental

Vision

401k

Pto

Parental Leave