You pass them in the halls, see their faces on Teams calls, and exchange emails. You know their job title and department and might even know their extension by heart. But do you truly know who you’re working with? Get to know Jordan King, our Associate Corporate Counsel and Tandym’s Employee of the Month for November 2024!

Who are you?

I was born in Los Angeles, California, but I consider myself a lifelong New Yorker. When I was 5, my mom and I moved to Manhattan. I went to Dalton High School on the Upper East Side and from there to Duke University (the only time I lived outside of New York), and eventually landed at Pace University for law school (now called the Elizabeth Hobbs Law School). After graduating, I worked as a divorce attorney for about 4 years. I loved my clients, getting to know people, and trying to help them with their problems. It truly was the best part of the job. But after a while, sensitive matters like broken relationships and child custody took a toll on me. The stress of courtroom politics was also something I did not like, so I knew I needed to find something else. I reached out to a legal recruiter to help guide me on a different path, and that led me to Tandym Group.

You’re a huge foodie. If someone asked you where is the best place to get pasta in NYC, what place would you recommend?

Why do you challenge me with these types of questions? I originally wanted to say this restaurant ‘Faro’ in Bushwick – which unfortunately closed in 2023. The other place that immediately comes to mind is another Bushwick restaurant, ‘Maite’. By no means is it an Italian restaurant or a place known for its pasta, but they have a Trumpet Mushroom Gnocchi that is absolutely to die for. The gnocchi are homemade and they’re just these little soft pillows that swim in a delicious and savory sauce. That’s my favorite pasta right now in NYC.

Who were your heroes/inspirations growing up?

I hate to sound like a total cheeseball, but I have to say my mother. When we moved to NYC, it was just the two of us. She raised me all on her own all while working for Sony Music. She eventually decided to go to law school, which is a tough thing to do later in life – especially while being a single mother.  She graduated from law school when I was a freshman in high school, and today she’s a Corporate Counsel at a growing global company. She’s also part of the reason I took the career path I did. She’s just the best.

Who is currently on rotation on your Spotify?

Let me start off by saying, I do not use Spotify. I strictly use YouTube Music and can confidently say it’s better than Spotify, so get on that. As for rotations, it’s been the new FKA Twigs album that recently came out. The best way to describe it is “crying in the club techno type of music”. I’ve already bought tickets to 9 concerts this year, and her show in March is one of them. The most notable: Jamiroquai in Amsterdam.

Did you find Tandym or did we find you?

A small staffing company actually found me and reached out about a position with Tandym. As I was being recruited, I found out he was the one who brought Guido Gabriele, our corporate counsel, and my supervisor, to the company as well. It seemed pretty clear from the get-go that this recruiter was doing a great job, knew how to find great and qualified talent, and was putting them in the right environments.

What was it like transitioning from the recruiting side to an in-house legal role?

I was originally brought on to be a legal recruiter / account executive with our Professional Services team. I’m not going to lie: I was not the best recruiter. Then, I got approached about the opportunity to work on Tandym’s in-house legal team and jumped on it. There was a lot of work that Guido was doing by himself, and he needed some assistance. In my former career as a divorce attorney, I would have never had the opportunity to work within a different genre of the law—especially employment law.

The transition was easier than I had imagined, and I think that speaks to how good a manager and legal mind Guido is. Right off the bat, he was super helpful in getting me up to speed. It also helped that I had worked for the company for a bit before making the transition. I’ve built working relationships with a lot of our coworkers, which made it easy to work directly with them and give them the best advice for any legal situation.

If you could have any other career, what would it be and why?

I’m going to say, therapist. For a brief moment in time, I was strongly considering pursuing a career in therapy but decided against it. A lot of people already tend to come with me with their issues and problems, which is probably why I was a successful divorce attorney and why I excel at the job as well. I just enjoy giving sound advice and defining solutions for people’s problems.

You’re active with our company’s DEI ERGs. Why do you think it is important for a company to offer Employee Resource Groups?

I think companies must prioritize and invest in DEI initiatives to foster a workplace that thrives on diverse perspectives and innovation. By embracing a variety of ideas from individuals of different backgrounds and cultures, organizations create an environment where creativity flourishes. Without fresh perspectives, companies risk stagnation, limiting their ability to grow and adapt.

Not to mention, with a workforce that includes a vast and diverse network of contractors from different backgrounds working across the country, it is essential that the company itself reflects that same inclusivity across all levels. A strong commitment to DEI not only strengthens collaboration but also cultivates a sense of community, psychological safety, and belonging, allowing employees to contribute freely without fear.

What are your goals for 2025 and beyond for Tandym?

I want to continue to support and educate our Sales team on contract review best practices so that they have the knowledge and resources needed to navigate agreements effectively. Additionally, as we explore a new contract management system, I’m excited to learn its capabilities and guide our employees in adopting it seamlessly. Our goal is to help our internal staff become more confident in assessing risk, negotiating terms, and making informed decisions while providing them with the necessary support to succeed in these critical areas.

In your opinion, what is the best rom-com of all-time?

There are definitely a couple of others that I’m forgetting and not immediately considering, but I’ll go with “How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days”. I remember going to the theater to see it and absolutely cracking up the entire time. Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey’s chemistry is also off the charts – which is probably why they teamed up on some other movies. If you’re ever interested in an old-time rom-com, check out “Pillow Talk” with Doris Day and Rock Hudson. For some reason as a child, Doris Day was my favorite actress and I used to watch all her films. That one is a great flick that still holds up.