Overview
A global leader in Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) software is seeking a General Counsel to build and lead its legal function. This is a remote role open to candidates based in New York or elsewhere on the US East Coast. The position involves managing a broad range of legal responsibilities as a one-person legal department, supporting the CEO, CFO, and Board.
Responsibilities
Commercial Contracts
- Manage the full commercial contracting lifecycle, including drafting, reviewing, and negotiating customer Master Service Agreements (MSAs), order forms, data processing agreements, service level agreements (SLAs), non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), and renewals.
- Provide fast, practical legal guidance to Sales and Deal Desk on deal structure, contract risks, and customer requests outside standard templates.
- Develop and maintain standard contract templates, redline playbooks, and fallback positions to enable efficient business operations.
- Review and negotiate vendor, supplier, and technology agreements; advise Finance on contract terms affecting revenue recognition.
- Support mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and strategic transactions, including legal due diligence and deal documentation.
Data Privacy and Regulatory Compliance
- Lead the global data privacy program, ensuring compliance with GDPR, CCPA, and other applicable frameworks.
- Draft and maintain data processing agreements, sub-processor schedules, and cross-border transfer mechanisms such as Standard Contractual Clauses.
- Collaborate with Product and Engineering teams on privacy by design, new feature releases, and AI-related legal issues.
- Monitor evolving regulations including the EU AI Act, Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, and emerging US state privacy laws.
- Maintain internal compliance programs related to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and UK Bribery Act.
Employment and HR Law
- Serve as primary legal advisor to the People team on employment matters across multiple jurisdictions including the US, Denmark, the UK, and other active markets.
- Draft and maintain employment agreements, offer letters, severance agreements, equity award documentation, and contractor arrangements.
- Advise on employee relations, investigations, performance management, and terminations ensuring compliance in each jurisdiction.
- Manage US multistate employment compliance covering wage and hour laws, leave policies, restrictive covenants, pay transparency, and worker classification, alongside EU and UK obligations.
- Support HR policy and handbook development, equity plan administration, immigration, and benefits compliance.
- Manage employment disputes and agency charges in coordination with external counsel as needed.
International and Corporate Law
- Advise on legal and regulatory requirements across all operating jurisdictions including the US, Denmark, the UK, and other EU and APAC markets.
- Oversee governance of international subsidiaries, including corporate records, intercompany agreements, and local filings, working with external local counsel.
- Advise on cross-border commercial and operational matters such as transfer pricing, intercompany services, and entity-level contract structures.
- Manage external counsel across jurisdictions to ensure focused and cost-effective specialist legal spend.
Intellectual Property
- Protect intellectual property including software ownership, proprietary platform technology, and brand assets.
- Oversee open source license compliance and third-party software usage.
- Manage trademark registration and enforcement in key markets.
- Advise on intellectual property provisions in customer and vendor contracts.
Corporate Governance and Board Support
- Support CEO and CFO on corporate governance matters including Board preparation, equity plan administration, and investor documentation.
- Maintain corporate records and entity governance across domestic and international subsidiaries.
- Advise on equity financings, investor rights, and secondary transactions with external counsel.
- Present legal risk updates to the Board and Audit Committee.
Requirements
- Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
- Admission to at least one US state bar in good standing; New York bar preferred.
- 5-7 years of legal experience, ideally combining law firm training with in-house work at a technology or SaaS company.
- Strong commercial contracting experience drafting and negotiating enterprise SaaS or technology agreements.
- Hands-on experience with GDPR and data privacy, including data processing agreements, Standard Contractual Clauses, and cross-border transfer frameworks.
- Practical employment law experience across several US states, with some exposure to European employment matters.
- Ability to work independently as a solo in-house lawyer in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to explain legal issues clearly to non-lawyers at all levels.
- Sound judgment and discretion handling sensitive matters involving employees, customers, and investors.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience as the first or sole in-house lawyer at a scaling SaaS or technology company.
- Familiarity with compliance, ethics, or GRC software or advising clients in heavily regulated industries.
- Knowledge of EU regulatory frameworks including GDPR enforcement, the EU AI Act, and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive.
- Background in private equity-backed environments and understanding institutional investor requirements.
- Exposure to equity financing transactions such as growth-stage rounds or secondary liquidity events.
- Fluency in Danish, German, or another European language.
Compensation & Benefits
- Competitive salary commensurate with skills and experience.
- Flexible working hours.
- Remote work option from New York or elsewhere on the US East Coast.
Location
Remote role open to candidates based in New York or elsewhere on the US East Coast.
Additional Information
- Visa sponsorship, visa transfers, or relocation support are not available for this role.
- Applicants must hold current and valid authorization to work in the country where they reside at the time of application.