[Hiring] Associate General Counsel @SGA Dental Partners

Role Description

The Associate General Counsel serves as a senior in-house attorney responsible for delivering practical, business-focused legal counsel across the organization. Reporting to the Chief Legal Officer, this role partners closely with executive leadership, Human Resources, Operations, Finance, Compliance, affiliated practice entities, and outside counsel to provide legal guidance on contracts, transactions, employment matters, litigation, and regulatory issues. The Associate General Counsel helps ensure business practices remain aligned with applicable legal requirements while supporting strategic initiatives, mitigating legal risk, and providing practical legal solutions in a fast-paced, multi-state healthcare environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Contract Drafting, Review, and Negotiation:
  • Draft, review, negotiate, and interpret a broad range of commercial agreements, including vendor, technology, lease, and professional services agreements.
  • Review and negotiate dental insurance, managed care, and third-party payor agreements.
  • Develop and maintain contract templates, standard provisions, and approval workflows.
  • Provide legal guidance regarding contractual obligations, risk allocation, and business terms.
  • Support business stakeholders throughout the contract lifecycle.
• Corporate and Transactional Matters:
  • Support mergers, acquisitions, de novo development, entity formations, restructurings, and other strategic transactions.
  • Coordinate with outside counsel regarding corporate governance, entity maintenance, ownership transfers, and governance documentation.
  • Support legal due diligence, transaction documentation, and post-acquisition integration activities.
  • Assist with maintaining corporate records and entity governance documentation.
• Employment and Human Resources Legal Support:
  • Draft, review, and maintain employment, executive, restrictive covenant, and independent contractor agreements.
  • Provide legal guidance to Human Resources regarding employee relations matters, investigations, performance management, separations, and employment law compliance.
  • Assist with responses to administrative agency matters, including EEOC charges and employment-related claims.
  • Monitor employment law developments and advise leadership regarding legal risk and compliance.
• Regulatory and Healthcare Legal Counsel:
  • Advise on healthcare regulatory matters affecting multi-state dental operations.
  • Provide legal guidance regarding HIPAA, privacy, data security, business associate agreements, provider licensing, credentialing, corporate practice of dentistry, scope of practice, and state dental board requirements.
  • Review marketing and advertising materials for legal compliance.
  • Monitor legislative and regulatory developments affecting healthcare operations and provide practical business guidance.
• Litigation and Risk Management:
  • Coordinate litigation, claims, subpoenas, government investigations, and regulatory inquiries under the direction of the Chief Legal Officer.
  • Manage relationships with outside litigation counsel and oversee litigation reporting and tracking.
  • Identify legal risks associated with business initiatives and provide practical recommendations to mitigate organizational risk.
  • Support responses to government agencies, licensing boards, and regulatory authorities.
• Legal Operations and Business Partnership:
  • Serve as a trusted legal advisor to Operations, Human Resources, Finance, Clinical Leadership, and other business partners.
  • Draft and maintain legal policies, procedures, and governance documentation.
  • Support enterprise initiatives, strategic projects, and process improvements.
  • Provide legal education and training to internal stakeholders.
  • Balance legal risk with practical business objectives while supporting organizational growth.
  • Perform additional legal responsibilities and special projects as assigned by the Chief Legal Officer.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school required.
• Active license to practice law and membership in good standing with at least one state bar required.
• Eligibility for Georgia in-house counsel registration, or Georgia bar admission, preferred.
• Ten (10) or more years of legal experience, including meaningful in-house counsel experience preferred.
• Experience supporting multi-state healthcare, dental service organizations, or other highly regulated industries preferred.
• Experience with commercial contracting, healthcare regulatory matters, employment law, litigation management, and corporate transactions.
• Demonstrated ability to provide practical legal advice in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.

Requirements

• Thorough knowledge of corporate, commercial, employment, and healthcare law.
• Strong understanding of healthcare regulatory requirements, privacy laws, and multi-state legal compliance.
• Excellent contract drafting, negotiation, and legal research skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and risk assessment abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to balance legal risk with practical business objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships across all levels of the organization.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while exercising sound judgment and maintaining strict confidentiality.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and legal document management systems.
• Must have ability to travel occasionally, as business needs require.

Benefits

• Paid Holidays and Paid Time Off (PTO)
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Health and Vision Insurance
• Employer-Paid Dental Insurance, Life Insurance, Care.com Membership & Employee Assistance Program
• Supplemental Coverage (Disability, Critical Illness, Accident)
• Career Growth and Development Opportunities