Corporate Lawyer licensed in North Carolina Needed for Speaking Engagement Agreement Review

Job Title: Commercial Contract Attorney North Carolina Law Legal Risk Assessment and Negotiation Specialist Project Overview An Ontario-based non-profit organization is hosting a major international summit in Toronto and requires the immediate assistance of a sharp, assertive Corporate Commercial Attorney licensed in North Carolina. We are in the process of onboarding a high-profile Harvard professor through a North Carolina-based talent agency. The agency has issued a highly restrictive, one-sided standard agreement governed by North Carolina law and is pushing back heavily against amendments. We need a skilled legal strategist to evaluate the contract, advise us on our exact exposure, and step in to negotiate a mutually beneficial agreement so we can successfully secure the speaker. Key Responsibilities and Scope of Work The selected attorney will guide our organization through this deadlock by executing three core objectives: 1. Legitimacy and Validity Review: Conduct an immediate evaluation of the agreement under North Carolina law to advise whether the contract is legally enforceable or standard industry practice, and verify the legitimacy of the terms being imposed on a foreign non-profit. 2. Risk Assessment As-Is Analysis: Provide a clear breakdown of the exact financial, operational, and legal risks our Ontario-based non-profit faces if we were to accept this contract as it is. This includes analyzing our exposure regarding cross-border travel logistics, cancellation liabilities, and unilateral indemnification. 3. Active Negotiation and Onboarding Strategy: Actively negotiate with the agency on our behalf. Your goal is to break through their rigid stance and pivot the text into a balanced, mutually beneficial agreement. You will focus on: Eliminating the Continued Obligation Trap: Removing or heavily restricting clauses that try to lock us into paying future procurement or engagement fees for subsequent interactions with the speaker, ensuring our financial obligation is strictly capped at this single event honorarium and approved expenses. Establishing Mutuality: Balancing the cancellation, Force Majeure, and indemnity clauses so our organization is not absorbing 100 percent of the risk if border, travel, or scheduling issues arise. Qualifications and Requirements Bar Admission: Active member in good standing with the North Carolina State Bar. This is required due to the contract governing law. Experience: 5 or more years of experience in commercial contracts, corporate law, or entertainment and talent agency procurement. Negotiation and Representation Skills: Proven track record of actively negotiating directly with stubborn corporate entities or agencies and successfully turning unilateral vendor contracts into balanced agreements. Strategic Advisory: Ability to quickly translate complex North Carolina legal risks into clear, actionable business advice for an international client. Project Details and How to Apply Location: Remote. Must be licensed in North Carolina. Timeline: Time-sensitive with an immediate kickoff required. Compensation: Premium hourly rate or flat project fee. Please specify your fee structure and rates upon applying. To Apply: Please submit a brief overview of your experience handling restrictive agency vendor contracts, your availability to begin this week, and how you typically approach negotiating with a counterparty that refuses to accept standard amendments. Source file: The underlining agreement : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JYfdUmZ7jadlcA837hNkQx3uY5-fswSy/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=108482629796983211671&rtpof=true&sd=true