Senior Counsel, Commercial Law – Partnerships

Overview

A global Employer-of-Record (EOR) provider is seeking a Senior Counsel, Commercial Law – Partnerships to join their Legal & Compliance team. This leadership role involves structuring and negotiating complex, high-value commercial agreements that enable the company to hire, pay, and support workers across more than 160 countries. The position requires close collaboration with Sales, Partnerships, Operations, and Finance teams to provide practical legal advice and support on partner-related commercial deals while ensuring global compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead negotiations for complex partner agreements, including EOR service agreements, reseller and white-label arrangements, referral structures, and global enterprise deals from term sheet through execution.
• Draft, review, and refine a wide range of commercial documents such as master service agreements, partner framework agreements, NDAs, engagement letters, statements of work, and bespoke transactional contracts tailored for multi-jurisdictional EOR arrangements.
• Assess legal, regulatory, and commercial risks in deals, including employment liability, indemnification, data protection, and cross-border compliance, and provide clear, actionable guidance to business leaders.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design deal structures that balance growth objectives with risk mitigation, focusing on long-term partnership health.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to senior executives on partner expansion decisions, deal strategy, and partnership model evolution.
• Lead high-impact projects aligned with commercial and strategic goals.
• Mentor and lead Legal & Compliance team members, promoting professional ethics, collaboration, and continuous learning.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school or international equivalent.
• Active admission to at least one U.S. state bar.
• Minimum of 8 years of legal experience, including at least 4 years in-house at a global organization, preferably within EOR, HR technology, SaaS, PEO, or professional services sectors.
• Extensive experience structuring, negotiating, and closing complex commercial transactions in fast-paced business development environments.
• Strong preference for candidates with direct experience in or alongside EOR or global employment solutions businesses.
• Exceptional negotiation skills with a focus on durable, win-win outcomes.
• Excellent written communication skills, producing precise contracts and clear legal memos.
• Outstanding verbal communication and high emotional intelligence to explain complex legal concepts and manage negotiations effectively.
• Unwavering ethics and integrity, providing honest assessments regardless of convenience.
• Strong risk assessment capabilities, offering solutions and understanding commercial and operational contexts.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with data privacy frameworks such as GDPR and CCPA.
• Knowledge of international labor and employment law, corporate governance, and M&A transactions.

Compensation & Benefits

• Flexible paid time off (PTO).
• Birthday off and an additional day to volunteer for a charitable organization.
• Generous parental leave program.
• Country-specific benefits.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development with access to top learning content.

Location

This is a global role with team members located worldwide. Specific location or work authorization requirements were not detailed.

Additional Information

• The role reports to the Director, Assistant General Counsel, Commercial Law.
• Employment is subject to background checks and reference verification as permitted by local law.
• The employer is an equal opportunity organization committed to a discrimination-free workplace and provides accommodations for applicants with disabilities during the recruitment process.
• Hiring decisions are based on operating needs, qualifications, experience, availability, and location.