Senior Commercial Counsel
Job description
About the role
As a , you will play a vital role within the legal team, primarily supporting enterprise-level transactions and working closely with West Coast Area Directors and their teams. Your main responsibilities will include independently leading legal negotiations with customers and providing comprehensive legal guidance on a variety of contractual agreements. These agreements encompass subscription contracts, data processing agreements, partner agreements, and vendor agreements. You will also have the opportunity to influence and develop initiatives aimed at streamlining and improving the contracting process to support the company's ongoing growth and scaling efforts. This position requires a proactive legal professional with strong negotiation skills, a deep understanding of SaaS and enterprise agreements, and the ability to collaborate effectively across multiple teams.
Key facts
What you'll do
- Lead and manage legal negotiations for enterprise deals, ensuring favorable terms while managing risk.
- Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of contracts including subscription agreements, data processing agreements, partner agreements, and vendor agreements, ensuring they align with company policies and legal standards.
- Provide strategic legal advice to sales, security, product, and other internal teams during the negotiation process to facilitate deal closure while mitigating legal risks.
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders to develop and refine contract templates, standard clauses, and negotiation strategies to enhance efficiency and consistency.
- Manage the entire contract lifecycle from initial NDA discussions through internal approvals to final signatures, ensuring timely execution of agreements.
- Support the development and implementation of policies and procedures related to commercial contracts, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
- Advise internal teams on legal risks associated with transactions and assist in structuring deals to align with company objectives.
- Maintain organized records of all contractual documents, negotiations, and related correspondence for audit and compliance purposes.
- Stay informed of evolving legal standards, industry best practices, and regulations affecting SaaS, data privacy, and enterprise agreements.
- Work closely with the legal team to develop training materials and provide guidance to non-legal staff involved in contract negotiations.
- Assist in resolving contractual disputes or issues that may arise during or after the negotiation process.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of legal processes, tools, and workflows to support the company's scaling efforts.
- Support the company's growth initiatives by ensuring contractual clarity and compliance, enabling sales and business development teams to operate efficiently.
- Participate in cross-functional projects that impact legal and contractual operations, providing legal insights and risk assessments.
- Foster a collaborative and positive working relationship with internal teams and external partners to facilitate smooth negotiations and contract execution.
Requirements
- Minimum of 8 years of in-house transactional legal experience, with a focus on enterprise-level deals and direct interaction with customers, partners, vendors, and internal stakeholders.
- At least 5 years of experience negotiating SaaS agreements, amendments, and order forms with enterprise clients.
- Strong understanding of the full contract lifecycle, from initial NDA to internal approvals and final signature.
- Proven ability to independently lead complex negotiations and draft clear, enforceable contractual language.
- Excellent organizational skills with attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple negotiations simultaneously.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, capable of working effectively with diverse teams and external partners.
- Proficiency in editing and managing contracts using Microsoft Office and Google Suite tools.
- Licensed to practice law and in good standing in the state of residence.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple projects and deadlines efficiently.
- Growth mindset with a proactive approach to problem-solving and process improvement.
- Strong team player with the flexibility to address unique issues as they arise and the awareness to escalate when necessary.
- Experience working with SaaS, security, AI, or related technology sectors is a plus.
- Familiarity with data privacy laws, compliance standards, or ITAR regulations is beneficial.
- Prior experience supporting sales teams or working in a high-growth tech environment is advantageous.
Nice to have
- Experience working with AI, security, SaaS, or related technology sectors.
- Familiarity with ITAR regulations or other compliance standards.
- Prior experience supporting sales teams in enterprise negotiations.
- Knowledge of data privacy laws and compliance issues.
- Experience working in a high-growth tech company.
- Ability to adapt quickly to changing priorities and legal landscapes.
Skills & tools
- Contract negotiation and drafting
- Legal risk assessment and mitigation
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides)
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Organizational and project management skills
- Attention to detail and accuracy in document review and management
Practical notes
- This role is based on-site in the United States.
- Background checks are required as part of the employment process.
- Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act.
- The position may involve access to highly sensitive data, including employee data, customer data, company financials, and proprietary product information.
- Optro cannot accept unsolicited resumes from agencies; any submissions without a signed agreement in place will not create a fee obligation.
- Perks and benefits may vary based on eligibility and location.