General counsel - fashion & apparel - hybrid - $300,000-$400,000

In a world of noise, we find the signal — the pulse of potential. We weave the strands of talent, vision, and purpose into organizations that endure. Blending intelligence with intuition, we honor the human art of connection at the heart of every great company.

About the Job

We are partnered with a multi-brand fashion and apparel company on the search for its next General Counsel. This role owns the full legal function across the organization's portfolio of brands, reporting directly to the CEO and serving as a core advisor to executive leadership.

This leader will manage the company's intellectual property and trademark portfolio across multiple brands, lead legal support for acquisitions as the portfolio grows, and oversee the commercial, employment, and regulatory matters that come with operating a multi-brand, multi-channel fashion business.

The Mandate

This organization is clear about what it is—and is not—seeking. They are not looking for a purely reactive contract reviewer who flags risk after the fact. They are seeking a strategic legal partner: someone who can manage risk proactively across a growing, multi-brand business—enabling acquisitions, licensing deals, and retail partnerships rather than simply gatekeeping them.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the organization's chief legal officer, overseeing all legal matters across the portfolio of brands
• Own and manage the company's trademark and intellectual property portfolio across multiple brands
• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial contracts, including wholesale, retail, licensing, vendor, and e-commerce agreements
• Lead legal due diligence and integration support for brand and asset acquisitions
• Manage employment law matters and partner with HR on compliance, policy, and employee relations issues
• Oversee regulatory compliance across product safety, advertising, data privacy, and consumer protection matters relevant to apparel and retail
• Manage litigation, disputes, and outside counsel relationships, balancing cost and risk
• Advise executive leadership and the board on legal risk, corporate governance, and strategic transactions
• Build and scale the legal function as the organization grows, including hiring and managing internal counsel or paralegal support as needed
• Partner cross-functionally with Finance, Operations, and brand teams to embed legal risk management into day-to-day decision-making

Ideal Profile

• JD and active bar membership, California bar strongly preferred
• 10+ years of legal experience, including in-house experience within fashion, apparel, retail, or consumer brands
• Strong background in intellectual property and trademark management across a multi-brand portfolio
• Experience with M&A due diligence and integration, ideally supporting brand or asset acquisitions
• Experience negotiating wholesale, retail, licensing, and e-commerce agreements
• Strong employment law knowledge and experience partnering with HR
• Comfortable operating as both a hands-on legal practitioner and a strategic advisor to executive leadership
• Excellent judgment, discretion, and communication skills

Location & Work Model

Los Angeles, CA
Hybrid work model with regular in-office collaboration

Compensation

Base salary: $300,000 - $400,000
Bonus: Performance-based, aligned with level and experience

Interested?

This search is being conducted with a high degree of discretion. If this role aligns with your background—or you know a legal leader you deeply respect who fits this profile—we welcome a confidential conversation.

Equal Opportunity & Non-Discrimination Statement

Signal and Strand is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We—and our clients—do not discriminate in employment or contracting on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, registered domestic partner status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws. We comply fully with the provisions of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). All employment decisions are made based on qualifications, merit, and business needs. We are committed to providing a workplace that is inclusive, respectful, and free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.