Vice President of Legal

At Heartland Veterinary Partners, our mission is centered around elevating the lives of veterinarians and their teams. By partnering with Heartland, practice owners unlock a world of operational advantages and economies of scale, all while retaining their clinical autonomy. At Heartland, we go beyond the ordinary to foster an environment that nurtures growth, invests in our employees, and creates pathways for professional development.

The Heartland promise doesn't stop at operational brilliance; it extends to encompass non-clinical facets like recruiting & human resources, marketing, procurement, payables management, accounting & finance, and information technology. In essence, we've got every corner covered, so our partners can focus on what truly matters - providing optimal care for their patients. As a dedicated member of our Support Center, you'll have the opportunity to be a part of what makes that happen. Your role will be pivotal in helping our partners deliver unparalleled patient care.

The Heartland philosophy rests firmly on the pillars of Servant Leadership. This ethos defines our Support Center team, where every member embraces the ethos of selfless service and approaches every challenge with an unwavering commitment to support. If this resonates with your personal and professional values, then we'd like to get to know you better!

Position Purpose

The Vice President of Legal serves as Heartland's senior legal advisor and primary legal business partner. Reporting to the Chief Development Officer and working closely with other company leaders, the Vice President of Legal is responsible for leading legal support related to acquisitions, joint ventures, lease agreements, and other strategic growth initiatives while providing practical legal guidance and support across a broad range of business matters.

The Vice President of Legal will serve as lead legal counsel for acquisition activity, partnering closely with the Business Development team to structure, negotiate, execute, and close transactions. This role will oversee legal due diligence, transaction documentation, and post-close legal integration activities.

In addition to transaction support, the Vice President of Legal will provide general legal guidance or support related to employment matters, DEA and controlled substance compliance, contract review, corporate governance, regulatory matters, and risk management. The role will coordinate specialized legal support through outside counsel when appropriate while ensuring Heartland receives practical, business-oriented legal advice. This is a hybrid role with Chicago residency strongly preferred.

At Heartland, all of our team members embody the spirit of Servant Leadership.

• Authentic Listening - Continually listening with an open mind and heart to what is said and unsaid.
• Building Community –Bringing team members together and mobilizing them around our collective purpose and commitment to our communities.
• Commitment to the Growth of the People – Dedicated to the personal and professional growth and development of our team members.
• Conceptualization -Forward thinking and approaching work and challenges with an end-to-end view.
• Empathy – Demonstrating empathy and understanding with others, approaching everything assuming positive intentions.
• Foresight – Taking the past, the present, and the future decision-making process.
• Healing – Focusing on the emotional and physical health of our team members.  Offering support and solutions to ensure our team members have balance.
• Persuasion – Building group consensus and buy-in.
• Self-Awareness – Conscious knowledge of personal character, emotions, intentions, and leadership impact.
• Stewardship - Concern for our team members, customers, communities, and the organization as a whole and making good use of all that is available to provide appropriate support.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Serves as lead legal counsel for acquisitions, affiliations, and strategic growth initiatives.
• Partners closely with Business Development leaders throughout the transaction lifecycle.
• Reviews, drafts and manages letters of intent, purchase agreements, disclosure schedules, employment agreements, restrictive covenant agreements, and ancillary transaction documents.
• Leads legal due diligence activities and coordinates diligence processes across internal and external stakeholders.
• Supports transaction structuring and integration planning activities.
• Provides practical legal guidance that facilitates efficient transaction execution while appropriately managing organizational risk.
• Serves as a trusted legal advisor to executive leadership and business partners across the organization.
• Identifies and mitigates legal and business risks associated with proposed transactions.
• Advises leaders on legal risks associated with strategic initiatives, operational decisions, employment law matters, and organizational growth.
• Identifies and leverages technology to create efficiencies in legal processes.

Requirements/Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
• Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction (IL preferred).
• 4+ years of progressive legal experience with significant experience supporting mergers and acquisitions, corporate transactions, and business operations.
• Demonstrated experience leading acquisition transactions from letter of intent through closing and integration.
• Experience reviewing and negotiating complex commercial agreements.
• Working knowledge of employment law and labor-related legal matters.
• Familiarity with healthcare, veterinary, multi-site services, or regulated industries preferred.
• Knowledge of DEA regulations and controlled substance compliance considerations preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to balance legal risk management with practical business objectives.
• Strong executive presence and ability to influence leaders across the organization.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, relationship-building, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.

Benefits Offered:

• Physical wellness: Health, dental, vision, voluntary life and disability programs, and discounted access to gym memberships
• Mental wellness: Paid time off, flexible work schedules, and EAP
• Financial wellness: Bonus incentives, retirement accounts, retail discounts, and access to financial planning tools
• Professional wellness: Learning and career development solutions

Pay Range: