Chief Legal & Compliance Officer at Release Recovery

Locations: New York, NY; Washington, DC

Position Summary

The Chief Legal & Compliance Officer serves as Release Recovery’s primary in-house attorney and oversees the company’s legal and compliance functions. This role advises leadership, reviews major contracts, supports acquisitions and growth, and oversees the companywide compliance program.

The position works closely with leaders across the organization to address legal and regulatory issues, support business decisions, and help the company manage risk as it grows.

Essential Functions

Legal & Contract Support

• Serve as the company’s primary legal resource and advise the CEO, COO, and other leaders on significant legal matters.
• Review, draft, and negotiate major contracts, including real estate, vendor, partnership, employment-related, and other business agreements.
• Advise leadership on legal risk and recommend practical ways to address issues.
• Partner with the COO, Director of People, and PEO legal counsel on significant employment matters, employment agreements, and other issues requiring legal support.
• Manage outside counsel, determine when specialized legal support is needed, and oversee outside legal spend.

Growth, Acquisitions & Corporate Matters

• Provide legal support for acquisitions, new locations, partnerships, and other growth initiatives.
• Lead or coordinate legal due diligence and work with internal and outside resources throughout the transaction process.
• Review and negotiate transaction documents and help identify legal, regulatory, and operational issues related to acquisitions.
• Advise on entity formation, organizational structure, restructuring, and other corporate matters.
• Review real estate agreements and support legal matters related to leases, property transactions, and expansion into new markets.
• Help leadership evaluate legal requirements and risks associated with new programs, services, and business relationships.

Compliance & Regulatory Oversight

• Oversee the companywide compliance program, including policies, training, reporting, investigations, and follow-up.
• Maintain a process for employees and leaders to raise compliance concerns and ensure significant matters are reviewed and addressed.
• Monitor changes in laws and regulations that may affect the organization and work with leadership to implement needed changes.
• Partner with Clinical, Operations, and other departments on licensing and regulatory matters while those departments continue to manage their day-to-day responsibilities.
• Support reviews, audits, investigations, and corrective actions related to significant compliance concerns.
• Provide legal support on confidentiality, billing, insurance, and other specialized compliance matters when needed.

Leadership & Organizational Support

• Maintain appropriate corporate records, entity documents, and governance materials, and involve outside or separate counsel when appropriate.
• Help establish clear and consistent processes for reviewing contracts, legal issues, and compliance concerns across the organization.
• Assist clients and families in identifying and navigating appropriate legal resources as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned based on organizational needs.

Competencies

Legal Judgment: Identifies significant legal risks, provides clear recommendations, and escalates high-risk matters appropriately and in a timely manner.

Contract Management: Reviews major contracts thoroughly, identifies material issues before execution, and moves agreements through review and negotiation within reasonable business timelines.

Compliance Oversight: Maintains required compliance processes, ensures reported concerns are reviewed and documented, and follows corrective actions through to completion.

Transaction & Growth Support: Completes assigned legal work for acquisitions, real estate matters, new entities, and expansion projects accurately and by agreed deadlines.

Communication: Explains legal and compliance issues in plain language and provides leaders with clear options, recommendations, and next steps.

Outside Counsel Management: Uses outside counsel when necessary, manages scope and expectations, and monitors legal spend against approved budgets or expectations.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.

• Licensed and in good standing to practice law in New York.
• Eligible for admission to the Texas Bar and able to obtain Texas licensure within a reasonable period following hire.
• 8–10 years of relevant legal experience preferred.
• Healthcare, behavioral health, or other regulated-industry experience strongly preferred.
• Experience with commercial contracts, acquisitions, real estate, corporate matters, and compliance.
• Experience supporting or overseeing an organizational compliance program.
• Ability to evaluate complex legal and business issues and provide clear, practical guidance to leadership.
• Experience managing outside counsel and legal expenses preferred.
• Ability to travel occasionally between states and facilities.

Benefits

Joining our team means being part of a mission-driven organization redefining how the world views and treats substance use and mental health. At Release, recovery is about growth, connection, and long-term transformation.

When you join our team, you will:

• Work alongside respected thought leaders in the recovery space
• Make a direct, meaningful impact on individuals and families
• Receive compensation commensurate with experience (salary range: $225,000 - 300,000)
• Be eligible for health, dental, and vision benefits (full-time employees)

We believe recovery is a journey, not a destination, and we’re committed to shaping that journey with intention, care, and innovation.