Legal Counsel Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Legal counsel professionals are sponsored through H-1B visa at AmLaw 100 firms like Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins, and Skadden, and through L-1 visa transfers at multinational firms like Baker McKenzie and DLA Piper. Practicing U.S. law requires bar admission, which for foreign-trained lawyers typically means completing an LL.M. and passing a state bar exam.
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Get Access To All JobsJOB TITLE:
Sr. Counsel, Commercial Law - Mars Veterinary Health
LOCATION & SCHEDULE:
Support Office - Vancouver, Full time
COMPENSATION:
$145,600.00 - $227,500.00
As part of the Mars Petcare family of businesses, Mars Veterinary Health is a global network of veterinary practices made possible by 75,000 Associates who care for millions of pets across nearly 3,000 clinics in more than 20 countries each year. We are committed to leveraging our reach to make a long-term positive impact on people, pets, and the planet and know our Purpose – A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS – starts with the people who care for them. We strive to offer unparalleled veterinary care for pets by first and foremost enabling and empowering our Associates to do what they love, whether in primary, specialty, and emergency care or management and leadership.
This role requires associates to work out of a MVH North America hub location – Vancouver, WA | Santa Monica, CA | Tampa, FL
Why This Role Matters:
The Senior Counsel, Commercial Law supports Mars Veterinary Health’s (MVH) business units in North America, including Banfield, BluePearl, and VCA. This role is part of the MVH Legal function’s regional Commercial Law Center of Excellence & Deployment (CoE&D), a collaborative pool of legal resources, designed to flexibly support business needs, balance workloads across the team, and provide responsive, high impact commercial law guidance across multiple business lines and jurisdictions, including outside the United States with the assistance of local counsel.
The Senior Counsel, Commercial Law provides responsive, business-oriented legal support across a diverse portfolio of commercial transactions and strategic and operational matters, based on deep expertise in commercial contracts, risk allocation, third party strategic collaborations, and legal support for cross-functional business operations. The role requires strong drafting and negotiation skills, business acumen, and a collaborative mindset.
You Will:
- Provide practical, risk-balanced legal advice on a broad range of commercial matters for North American business units, including:
- Vendor and customer agreements
- Distribution contracts
- Licensing and technology agreements
- Service-level agreements (SLAs), NDAs, MOUs, Mars intercompany agreements and other legal documentation
- Strategic sourcing and indirect and direct procurement activities, including pharmaceuticals, medical supplies and equipment, and related services
- Support on leasing matters and other activities of the MVH Real Estate and Facilities Management team
- Agreements related to strategic initiatives of the MVH Medical and Scientific Affairs teams
- Draft, review, and negotiate complex agreements related MVH Commercial, Medical and Scientific Affairs activities and third party strategic collaborations, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements while aligning with business strategy.
- Operate as part of a centralized pool of legal professionals, dynamically balancing workload and responding to shifting priorities across multiple business units.
- Management of outside counsel where required.
- Advise business stakeholders on contract interpretation, dispute resolution, and enforcement issues, escalating matters where necessary.
- Partner closely with a broad spectrum of internal MVH stakeholders (e.g., Commercial, Medical and Scientific Affairs, IT, Finance, Legal, and Operations) and greater Mars to develop and standardize contract templates, policies, and processes.
- Support cross-border transactions, agreements and international stakeholders in collaboration with Legal colleagues across regions to ensure global alignment.
- Stay current on changes in commercial law and regulatory developments in North America, including Canada, proactively identifying potential impacts to the business.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of the team and the capabilities of other key stakeholders such as MVH Commercial, including development of playbooks, training, and process enhancements.
- Provide guidance and mentorship to more junior attorneys and other Legal staff, as needed.
- Work closely with privacy and security teams to review new AI use cases that meet Mars Responsible AI standards. Provide input on new AI and other technologies or processes that promote legal operations efficiencies.
- Advise stakeholders on legal/regulatory risks associated with client and associate personal or other sensitive/proprietary information and data. Advise on client privacy rights requests and other privacy or security matters, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Provide legal guidance on data protection and manage privacy incident response with Mars Privacy.
- Live and exemplify the Five Principles of Mars, Inc. within self and team.
- Other job duties as assigned.
Your Experience Should Include:
- Juris Doctor (JD) from an ABA-accredited law school and licensed to practice law in the United States.
- 8+ years of commercial legal experience preferred, including significant experience as in-house counsel for a large, matrixed, or global organization.
- Demonstrated expertise in drafting and negotiating complex commercial and third party strategic alliance agreements.
- Strong working knowledge of contract law, UCC principles (U.S.), privacy/data use issues, and risk management strategies.
- Track record of success providing actionable, business-focused legal counsel to cross-functional stakeholders.
- Ability to juggle multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment, delivering high-quality legal services under tight deadlines.
- Experience working in a Center of Excellence, shared services model, or similar matrixed environment is highly preferred.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills with a team-oriented mindset.
Salary Range: $145,600 - $244,562.50
Compensation is determined based on education, experience, and other relevant credentials. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, location, and market competitiveness.
Does this sound like you? Want to join an organization that values Quality, Efficiency, Responsibility, Mutuality, and Freedom? Apply today to be considered and join us to advance our mission to create A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS.
What We Offer You:
- Competitive salary with paid time off & holidays so you can spend time with the people you love.
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your loved ones.
- Fertility and family-building assistance.
- Paid Parental leave.
- Practice Paid Basic Life Insurance.
- Practice Paid Short- and Long-Term Disability.
- Automatic enrollment 401(k) Savings Plan after 60 days of employment with generous company match.
- Commuter Benefits.
- Legal Plan.
- Health Savings Account & Flexible Spending Account.
- Mental health support and resources.
- Paid Volunteering.
- Optimum Wellness Plans® for up to three pets.
- Continuing Education allowance & MED hours for eligible positions.
- Student Debt Relief (for full-time DVMs).
- A Variety of discounts including Mars, PetSmart, Royal Canin, fitness, cellular and so much more.
Special Working Considerations:
- Ability to work at a computer for long periods of time.
- Must have mental processes for reasoning, remembering, mathematics and language ability (reading, writing, and speaking the English language) to perform the duties proficiently.
- Ability to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form and to solve problems involving several variables.
- The noise level in the work environment is normally moderate.
- Environment where pets are present.
WE ARE A DRUG-FREE, SMOKE-FREE, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.
Mars Veterinary Health (MVH)® strongly supports and values the uniqueness of all individuals and promotes a work environment where diversity is embraced. MVH is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetic information, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with disability. MVH complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every MVH location.
JOB TITLE:
Sr. Counsel, Commercial Law - Mars Veterinary Health
LOCATION & SCHEDULE:
Support Office - Vancouver, Full time
COMPENSATION:
$145,600.00 - $227,500.00
As part of the Mars Petcare family of businesses, Mars Veterinary Health is a global network of veterinary practices made possible by 75,000 Associates who care for millions of pets across nearly 3,000 clinics in more than 20 countries each year. We are committed to leveraging our reach to make a long-term positive impact on people, pets, and the planet and know our Purpose – A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS – starts with the people who care for them. We strive to offer unparalleled veterinary care for pets by first and foremost enabling and empowering our Associates to do what they love, whether in primary, specialty, and emergency care or management and leadership.
This role requires associates to work out of a MVH North America hub location – Vancouver, WA | Santa Monica, CA | Tampa, FL
Why This Role Matters:
The Senior Counsel, Commercial Law supports Mars Veterinary Health’s (MVH) business units in North America, including Banfield, BluePearl, and VCA. This role is part of the MVH Legal function’s regional Commercial Law Center of Excellence & Deployment (CoE&D), a collaborative pool of legal resources, designed to flexibly support business needs, balance workloads across the team, and provide responsive, high impact commercial law guidance across multiple business lines and jurisdictions, including outside the United States with the assistance of local counsel.
The Senior Counsel, Commercial Law provides responsive, business-oriented legal support across a diverse portfolio of commercial transactions and strategic and operational matters, based on deep expertise in commercial contracts, risk allocation, third party strategic collaborations, and legal support for cross-functional business operations. The role requires strong drafting and negotiation skills, business acumen, and a collaborative mindset.
You Will:
- Provide practical, risk-balanced legal advice on a broad range of commercial matters for North American business units, including:
- Vendor and customer agreements
- Distribution contracts
- Licensing and technology agreements
- Service-level agreements (SLAs), NDAs, MOUs, Mars intercompany agreements and other legal documentation
- Strategic sourcing and indirect and direct procurement activities, including pharmaceuticals, medical supplies and equipment, and related services
- Support on leasing matters and other activities of the MVH Real Estate and Facilities Management team
- Agreements related to strategic initiatives of the MVH Medical and Scientific Affairs teams
- Draft, review, and negotiate complex agreements related MVH Commercial, Medical and Scientific Affairs activities and third party strategic collaborations, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements while aligning with business strategy.
- Operate as part of a centralized pool of legal professionals, dynamically balancing workload and responding to shifting priorities across multiple business units.
- Management of outside counsel where required.
- Advise business stakeholders on contract interpretation, dispute resolution, and enforcement issues, escalating matters where necessary.
- Partner closely with a broad spectrum of internal MVH stakeholders (e.g., Commercial, Medical and Scientific Affairs, IT, Finance, Legal, and Operations) and greater Mars to develop and standardize contract templates, policies, and processes.
- Support cross-border transactions, agreements and international stakeholders in collaboration with Legal colleagues across regions to ensure global alignment.
- Stay current on changes in commercial law and regulatory developments in North America, including Canada, proactively identifying potential impacts to the business.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of the team and the capabilities of other key stakeholders such as MVH Commercial, including development of playbooks, training, and process enhancements.
- Provide guidance and mentorship to more junior attorneys and other Legal staff, as needed.
- Work closely with privacy and security teams to review new AI use cases that meet Mars Responsible AI standards. Provide input on new AI and other technologies or processes that promote legal operations efficiencies.
- Advise stakeholders on legal/regulatory risks associated with client and associate personal or other sensitive/proprietary information and data. Advise on client privacy rights requests and other privacy or security matters, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Provide legal guidance on data protection and manage privacy incident response with Mars Privacy.
- Live and exemplify the Five Principles of Mars, Inc. within self and team.
- Other job duties as assigned.
Your Experience Should Include:
- Juris Doctor (JD) from an ABA-accredited law school and licensed to practice law in the United States.
- 8+ years of commercial legal experience preferred, including significant experience as in-house counsel for a large, matrixed, or global organization.
- Demonstrated expertise in drafting and negotiating complex commercial and third party strategic alliance agreements.
- Strong working knowledge of contract law, UCC principles (U.S.), privacy/data use issues, and risk management strategies.
- Track record of success providing actionable, business-focused legal counsel to cross-functional stakeholders.
- Ability to juggle multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment, delivering high-quality legal services under tight deadlines.
- Experience working in a Center of Excellence, shared services model, or similar matrixed environment is highly preferred.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills with a team-oriented mindset.
Salary Range: $145,600 - $244,562.50
Compensation is determined based on education, experience, and other relevant credentials. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, location, and market competitiveness.
Does this sound like you? Want to join an organization that values Quality, Efficiency, Responsibility, Mutuality, and Freedom? Apply today to be considered and join us to advance our mission to create A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS.
What We Offer You:
- Competitive salary with paid time off & holidays so you can spend time with the people you love.
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your loved ones.
- Fertility and family-building assistance.
- Paid Parental leave.
- Practice Paid Basic Life Insurance.
- Practice Paid Short- and Long-Term Disability.
- Automatic enrollment 401(k) Savings Plan after 60 days of employment with generous company match.
- Commuter Benefits.
- Legal Plan.
- Health Savings Account & Flexible Spending Account.
- Mental health support and resources.
- Paid Volunteering.
- Optimum Wellness Plans® for up to three pets.
- Continuing Education allowance & MED hours for eligible positions.
- Student Debt Relief (for full-time DVMs).
- A Variety of discounts including Mars, PetSmart, Royal Canin, fitness, cellular and so much more.
Special Working Considerations:
- Ability to work at a computer for long periods of time.
- Must have mental processes for reasoning, remembering, mathematics and language ability (reading, writing, and speaking the English language) to perform the duties proficiently.
- Ability to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form and to solve problems involving several variables.
- The noise level in the work environment is normally moderate.
- Environment where pets are present.
WE ARE A DRUG-FREE, SMOKE-FREE, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.
Mars Veterinary Health (MVH)® strongly supports and values the uniqueness of all individuals and promotes a work environment where diversity is embraced. MVH is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetic information, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with disability. MVH complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every MVH location.
See all 171+ Legal Counsel Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Legal Counsel roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Legal Counsel Jobs
Complete an LL.M. at a Top U.S. Law School
An LL.M. from NYU, Columbia, Harvard, Georgetown, or Berkeley opens the pathway to bar admission and provides access to law firm recruiting pipelines that lead to H-1B sponsorship. These programs have established relationships with AmLaw 100 firms that recruit LL.M. graduates for associate positions.
Target International Practice Groups at Large Firms
AmLaw 100 firms with cross-border M&A, international arbitration, and trade practices actively seek attorneys with foreign legal training and language skills. Baker McKenzie, White & Case, Freshfields, and Cleary Gottlieb specifically recruit LL.M. graduates with dual-jurisdiction expertise. Your foreign law knowledge is a competitive advantage in these groups.
Use Multinational Firm L-1 Transfers
If you practice at Baker McKenzie, DLA Piper, Clifford Chance, Allen & Overy, or Linklaters, transferring to the U.S. office on L-1 avoids the H-1B lottery and leverages your existing firm relationships. Build at least one year of strong performance in a practice area with U.S. client overlap before requesting the transfer.
New York and California Allow Foreign-Educated Bar Applicants
New York permits foreign-educated lawyers with an LL.M. to sit for the bar exam without a J.D. California has similar provisions. Washington D.C. allows admission based on reciprocity in certain circumstances. Choose your LL.M. program and bar jurisdiction strategically based on which state's admission rules best fit your educational background.
In-House Tech Roles Offer Higher Total Compensation
Corporate legal departments at Google, Amazon, Meta, Apple, and Microsoft sponsor in-house counsel for commercial contracts, product counsel, privacy, and IP roles. Total compensation at these companies ($180,000 to $350,000) often exceeds law firm pay when equity is included. Target in-house roles after gaining 3 to 5 years of law firm experience and bar admission.
IP and Patent Law Commands a Premium for Technical Degrees
If you hold both a law degree and a technical degree in engineering, computer science, or life sciences, patent prosecution and IP litigation roles are among the highest-paid and most sponsorship-friendly legal positions. The USPTO patent bar requires a technical degree, which creates a natural barrier that limits domestic competition and strengthens employer motivation to sponsor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the typical salary for sponsored Legal Counsel roles in the U.S.?
First-year associates at top law firms (AmLaw 100) earn $225,000 in base salary with bonuses pushing total compensation to $250,000 to $300,000. Mid-level associates earn $300,000 to $420,000. In-house counsel at technology companies like Google, Amazon, and Meta earn $180,000 to $350,000 in total compensation. General counsel and deputy GC roles at large companies pay $300,000 to $600,000 or more. Smaller firms and regional practices pay significantly less, with associates starting at $80,000 to $150,000.
Which visa types do Legal Counsel professionals typically use?
H-1B visa is the primary pathway for attorneys with J.D. or LL.M. degrees and U.S. bar admission, with strong specialty occupation classification. L-1 intracompany transfers are common at multinational law firms like Baker McKenzie, DLA Piper, and Clifford Chance that move lawyers between international offices. O-1 visa is used for attorneys with extraordinary ability in their practice area. E-3 visa is available for Australian nationals with bar admission. TN visa availability is limited because Lawyer is not a standard USMCA profession.
What types of employers sponsor Legal Counsel?
AmLaw 100 law firms are the most frequent sponsors, including Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins, Skadden, Davis Polk, and Sullivan & Cromwell. Multinational firms like Baker McKenzie, DLA Piper, and Clifford Chance sponsor through both H-1B and L-1. Corporate legal departments at Google, Amazon, Meta, Apple, Microsoft, and Fortune 500 companies sponsor in-house counsel. Big Four firms sponsor for tax law and legal advisory roles. Boutique firms specializing in international trade, IP, or immigration law also sponsor.
How to find Legal Counsel jobs with visa sponsorship?
To find Legal Counsel jobs with visa sponsorship, use Migrate Mate, which specializes in connecting international legal professionals with employers offering H-1B, O-1, and other work visas. Focus on multinational corporations, tech companies, financial institutions, and large law firms that regularly sponsor foreign attorneys. These employers typically have established immigration processes and actively recruit international legal talent for corporate counsel, compliance, and specialized legal advisory roles.
Do I need U.S. bar admission to be sponsored as Legal Counsel?
For roles involving the practice of U.S. law, yes. Most attorney positions require admission to a state bar, which for foreign-trained lawyers typically means completing an LL.M. at a U.S. law school and passing a state bar exam. New York and California are the most common states for foreign-educated attorneys to seek admission. Some legal advisory roles that do not involve practicing U.S. law (international arbitration, foreign law advisory) may not require bar admission.
What is the most common pathway for foreign-trained lawyers to work in the U.S.?
The established pathway is completing an LL.M. at a U.S. law school (typically one year), sitting for the bar exam in a state that permits foreign-educated lawyers (New York, California, D.C.), obtaining bar admission, and then securing H-1B sponsorship from a law firm or corporate legal department. Many LL.M. graduates work on OPT during their first year after the program while studying for and passing the bar exam. Top LL.M. programs at NYU, Columbia, Harvard, Georgetown, and Berkeley have the strongest placement rates at sponsoring firms.