In House Legal Counsel (#2228)

Whitehardt is a fast-growing Nashville-based advertising agency serving the legal industry. 

As the company continues to scale, Whitehardt is committed to operating responsibly, creatively, and in full compliance with applicable laws and ethical standards. To support this growth, Whitehardt seeks an In-House Legal Counsel who can provide practical, business-focused legal guidance across marketing, intellectual property, employment, and regulatory matters.

Position Overview

The In-House Legal Counsel will serve as the primary legal advisor for Whitehardt,

working closely with executive leadership and cross-functional teams to identify,

manage, and mitigate legal risk while enabling efficient business operations. This role is

highly collaborative and advisory in nature, emphasizing preventive legal strategy,

contract management, regulatory compliance, and process development rather than

litigation.

This position is ideal for a legal professional who enjoys building in-house legal

infrastructure, advising on emerging regulatory issues, and translating complex legal

concepts into actionable guidance for non-lawyers.

Key Responsibilities

Intellectual Property & Brand Protection

• Manage the company’s trademark portfolio, including clearance, filings, renewals, and coordination of enforcement efforts
• Advise on copyright ownership, licensing, and content usage across marketing campaigns, digital media, and client deliverables
• Support internal teams on intellectual property risk assessment and best practices

Advertising & Marketing Compliance

• Advise on federal and state advertising and marketing regulations, including TCPA, CAN-SPAM, and consumer protection laws
• Research and apply state bar advertising rules and required disclosures for legal-adjacent or regulated clients
• Review marketing materials for compliance and risk mitigation

Privacy & Digital Compliance

• Draft, update, and maintain website terms of service, privacy policies, and related disclosures
• Advise on data privacy obligations and emerging regulatory requirements

Employment & Internal Operations

• Provide guidance on employment law matters, including ADA compliance, leave policies, workplace accommodations, and employee relations issues
• Review and update employee handbooks, internal policies, and procedures

Contracts & Commercial Matters

• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts, licensing agreements, vendor agreements, and client-facing contracts
• Develop standardized contract templates and internal approval processes

Strategic Advisory Collaboration

• Partner with leadership and department heads on strategic legal issues and risk management decisions
• Communicate legal risks and recommendations clearly and practically to non-legal stakeholders
• Coordinate with outside counsel when specialized expertise or escalation is required

Qualifications

Required

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school
• Active and good-standing Tennessee Bar license
• Minimum of two years of legal research, in-house legal, or closely related experience
• Strong contract drafting, review, and negotiation skills
• Demonstrated ability to research and quickly learn new regulatory and legal areas
• Clear and effective communication skills, with the ability to explain legal risk in business-focused terms

Preferred

• Experience supporting marketing, advertising, or creative businesses
• Familiarity with intellectual property management and advertising compliance
• Interest in building long-term legal processes within a growing organization

Why Join Whitehardt?

• Opportunity to help shape the legal function of a growing company
• Direct access to leadership and meaningful influence on business strategy
• Broad, hands-on exposure to marketing, intellectual property, and operational law
• Long-term growth potential within an in-house environment