Ag & Business Legal Strategies
Overview
Ag & Business Legal Strategies (ABLS) is an entrepreneurial boutique firm focused on helping farmers and business owners with debt restructuring negotiations and bankruptcy. The firm seeks an experienced Managing Attorney to join its team and collaborate with the owner, attorneys, and staff to support the team and help clients. The selected Managing Attorney will have the opportunity to become an owner of the firm. Highlights : ABLS’s specialized expertise has led to engagements with venues such as Congress, the United States Supreme Court, and national legal and agricultural industry seminars. The owner is a frequent presenter at legal education seminars and ag financial industry training seminars across the United States. ABLS emphasizes client-centric service and comprehensive problem-solving to achieve long-term success for farmers and businesspeople. Position scope : This role will be responsible for important work, including: Collaborating with the owner to take over day-to-day management of the firm; supervising the delivery of legal services by the firm’s staff; ensuring staff meet key performance indicators; evaluating staff and conducting periodic reviews of staff performance. Identifying training, recruitment, client needs/opportunities, and current trends in collaboration with the Administrative and Management Team. Working with the Firm’s HR Team to proactively identify staffing needs and participate in vetting processes as needed. Maintaining excellent communication with clients, advisors, opposing counsel, courts, and other interested parties. Supervising and assisting the firm’s qualified staff and professionals in evaluating the client’s overall financial, tax, and legal position. Assisting clients in determining realistic goals and designing strategies to accomplish those goals. Providing excellent legal services, including legal research; drafting petitions, schedules, motions, pleadings, orders, and status updates; and overseeing and analyzing discovery. The Managing Attorney may delegate tasks to Junior Associates and Paralegals but remains responsible for the final work product. Representing clients at mediations, negotiations, depositions, and in court, including state court, federal district court, or bankruptcy court. Conducting new client meetings (case evaluations or initial consultations) to promote the firm’s services. ABLS uses a mix of technology and carefully crafted policies and procedures to deliver consistently excellent work products. The following duties are critical aspects of this position. Management
Collaborate with the firm’s owner, its professional legal administrator and/or Chief Operating Officer to refine and optimize policies and procedures relevant to the Managing Attorney’s workflow. Train subordinate staff (e.g., paralegals, legal secretaries) on the firm’s policies and procedures and audit compliance as appropriate. Develop familiarity with the firm’s law practice management software and other technological systems to enhance efficiency and consistency of work product across cases. Follow the firm’s policies and procedures to ensure efficient and consistent work product. Suggest improvements to technologies, policies, and procedures as part of ongoing process refinement. Eligibility and Fit
You aspire to help build the preeminent law firm in the United States handling farm debt restructuring and bankruptcy. You aim to be a leading advocate for farmers and businesses. You are familiar with bankruptcy and tax issues affecting distressed businesses. You are adept at juggling tasks and adapting quickly. You are a team player who will pitch in when teammates are in the weeds. You strive for excellence and ongoing improvement of your work product. ABLS seeks a Managing Attorney who can hit the ground running and grow into increasing levels of authority as the firm expands. The role offers the opportunity to work with Joseph Peiffer, a leading expert in distressed agricultural debt cases and Chapter 12 bankruptcy, and to grow within a systems-driven entrepreneurial law firm culture. Education
A Managing Attorney candidate must have a law degree from an accredited law school and be licensed in Iowa or be able to obtain licensure in Iowa within a reasonably short period. Attorneys licensed in Illinois are encouraged to apply as the firm has worked with Illinois farm debtors. Experience
A Managing Attorney candidate must have experience in bankruptcy and debt restructuring with a record of increasing responsibility in a law firm or corporate legal department. Ideal candidates will have confirmed at least five Chapter 11 or Chapter 12 plans (or equivalent creditor-side experience) and participation in related activities (motions to lift stay, motions to incur secured debt, motions to assume or reject leases and executory contracts, claim objections, plan objections, adversary proceedings, etc.). Subject matter expertise should include: Bankruptcy & commercial law Knowledge and familiarity with the agricultural industry Understanding of how income taxes affect businesses in distress and considerations of partial or complete liquidation Ability to evaluate probable outcomes in bankruptcy scenarios Ability to determine the priority of liens on real and personal property Negotiation practice Income tax considerations Technical Skills
Ideal candidates have the following technical skills: Experience in program management, including project management, tracking deliverables, hiring, planning, and development Strong cross-cultural communication skills Effective written and oral communication Proven leadership with sound professional judgment Ability to work with internal and external stakeholders Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds Compensation
The target compensation for an ideal Managing Attorney is up to $175,000 per year, contingent on experience and meeting defined benchmarks. A generous benefits package is included, with relocation assistance available if needed to move to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. How to Apply
Please submit your resume and cover letter. In your cover letter, answer the following questions: What do you enjoy about working with family-owned businesses? What do you find most challenging about this client type? Be detailed, but concise, and then explain why you would be a good fit for this firm. In the last paragraph, tell us what you liked and did not like about our ad. Honesty is welcome; we will not hold it against you. Seniorities and Type
Mid-Senior level Employment type
Full-time Job function
Legal Industries
Legal Services
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Ag & Business Legal Strategies (ABLS) is an entrepreneurial boutique firm focused on helping farmers and business owners with debt restructuring negotiations and bankruptcy. The firm seeks an experienced Managing Attorney to join its team and collaborate with the owner, attorneys, and staff to support the team and help clients. The selected Managing Attorney will have the opportunity to become an owner of the firm. Highlights : ABLS’s specialized expertise has led to engagements with venues such as Congress, the United States Supreme Court, and national legal and agricultural industry seminars. The owner is a frequent presenter at legal education seminars and ag financial industry training seminars across the United States. ABLS emphasizes client-centric service and comprehensive problem-solving to achieve long-term success for farmers and businesspeople. Position scope : This role will be responsible for important work, including: Collaborating with the owner to take over day-to-day management of the firm; supervising the delivery of legal services by the firm’s staff; ensuring staff meet key performance indicators; evaluating staff and conducting periodic reviews of staff performance. Identifying training, recruitment, client needs/opportunities, and current trends in collaboration with the Administrative and Management Team. Working with the Firm’s HR Team to proactively identify staffing needs and participate in vetting processes as needed. Maintaining excellent communication with clients, advisors, opposing counsel, courts, and other interested parties. Supervising and assisting the firm’s qualified staff and professionals in evaluating the client’s overall financial, tax, and legal position. Assisting clients in determining realistic goals and designing strategies to accomplish those goals. Providing excellent legal services, including legal research; drafting petitions, schedules, motions, pleadings, orders, and status updates; and overseeing and analyzing discovery. The Managing Attorney may delegate tasks to Junior Associates and Paralegals but remains responsible for the final work product. Representing clients at mediations, negotiations, depositions, and in court, including state court, federal district court, or bankruptcy court. Conducting new client meetings (case evaluations or initial consultations) to promote the firm’s services. ABLS uses a mix of technology and carefully crafted policies and procedures to deliver consistently excellent work products. The following duties are critical aspects of this position. Management
Collaborate with the firm’s owner, its professional legal administrator and/or Chief Operating Officer to refine and optimize policies and procedures relevant to the Managing Attorney’s workflow. Train subordinate staff (e.g., paralegals, legal secretaries) on the firm’s policies and procedures and audit compliance as appropriate. Develop familiarity with the firm’s law practice management software and other technological systems to enhance efficiency and consistency of work product across cases. Follow the firm’s policies and procedures to ensure efficient and consistent work product. Suggest improvements to technologies, policies, and procedures as part of ongoing process refinement. Eligibility and Fit
You aspire to help build the preeminent law firm in the United States handling farm debt restructuring and bankruptcy. You aim to be a leading advocate for farmers and businesses. You are familiar with bankruptcy and tax issues affecting distressed businesses. You are adept at juggling tasks and adapting quickly. You are a team player who will pitch in when teammates are in the weeds. You strive for excellence and ongoing improvement of your work product. ABLS seeks a Managing Attorney who can hit the ground running and grow into increasing levels of authority as the firm expands. The role offers the opportunity to work with Joseph Peiffer, a leading expert in distressed agricultural debt cases and Chapter 12 bankruptcy, and to grow within a systems-driven entrepreneurial law firm culture. Education
A Managing Attorney candidate must have a law degree from an accredited law school and be licensed in Iowa or be able to obtain licensure in Iowa within a reasonably short period. Attorneys licensed in Illinois are encouraged to apply as the firm has worked with Illinois farm debtors. Experience
A Managing Attorney candidate must have experience in bankruptcy and debt restructuring with a record of increasing responsibility in a law firm or corporate legal department. Ideal candidates will have confirmed at least five Chapter 11 or Chapter 12 plans (or equivalent creditor-side experience) and participation in related activities (motions to lift stay, motions to incur secured debt, motions to assume or reject leases and executory contracts, claim objections, plan objections, adversary proceedings, etc.). Subject matter expertise should include: Bankruptcy & commercial law Knowledge and familiarity with the agricultural industry Understanding of how income taxes affect businesses in distress and considerations of partial or complete liquidation Ability to evaluate probable outcomes in bankruptcy scenarios Ability to determine the priority of liens on real and personal property Negotiation practice Income tax considerations Technical Skills
Ideal candidates have the following technical skills: Experience in program management, including project management, tracking deliverables, hiring, planning, and development Strong cross-cultural communication skills Effective written and oral communication Proven leadership with sound professional judgment Ability to work with internal and external stakeholders Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds Compensation
The target compensation for an ideal Managing Attorney is up to $175,000 per year, contingent on experience and meeting defined benchmarks. A generous benefits package is included, with relocation assistance available if needed to move to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. How to Apply
Please submit your resume and cover letter. In your cover letter, answer the following questions: What do you enjoy about working with family-owned businesses? What do you find most challenging about this client type? Be detailed, but concise, and then explain why you would be a good fit for this firm. In the last paragraph, tell us what you liked and did not like about our ad. Honesty is welcome; we will not hold it against you. Seniorities and Type
Mid-Senior level Employment type
Full-time Job function
Legal Industries
Legal Services
#J-18808-Ljbffr