Head of Legal

About the role

The organization is seeking a seasoned legal professional to oversee PatSnap's legal operations within the Western region, which includes the United Kingdom, North America, and Canada. This executive position is responsible for delivering strategic counsel on corporate matters, commercial agreements, and international business activities to actively support scalable company growth. The role requires a leader capable of navigating complex legal landscapes while fostering collaboration across diverse business units. You will own the end-to-end management of legal initiatives that mitigate risk and enable expansion. This position is pivotal in translating business objectives into robust legal strategies. The successful candidate will act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, ensuring legal compliance without impeding commercial momentum. You will establish frameworks that standardize operations across jurisdictions while maintaining agility. This is an opportunity to shape the legal culture and infrastructure of a growing global enterprise.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Orchestrate and drive significant merger and acquisition activities, managing all stages from initial review through due diligence to post-deal integration and value realization.
• Provide strategic advisory on investments, partnerships, and high-value commercial contracts, negotiating terms to protect the company while advancing business goals.
• Architect, develop, and implement comprehensive legal policies and processes designed to manage enterprise risk and facilitate smooth international expansion into new markets.
• Oversee all dispute resolution and litigation matters, directing external legal counsel and coordinating internal resources to achieve favorable outcomes efficiently.
• Exercise end-to-end ownership of intellectual property matters, including patents, trademarks, copyright, and licensing strategy to maximize asset value and enforceability.
• Liaise and align legal strategies with teams across the Western region and APAC to ensure regulatory and operational consistency regardless of geographic boundaries.
• Function as a key advisor to executive leadership, establishing strong partnerships with Finance, Sales, Product, and People departments to integrate legal insight into decision-making.
• Lead the creation of contract templates, playbooks, and governance documents that standardize commercial activities and reduce legal exposure.
• Monitor evolving legal landscapes and regulatory changes to advise on compliance requirements and potential impacts on business operations.
• Cultivate a high-performance legal department through mentorship, process optimization, and clear communication of legal obligations across the organization.

Requirements

• Possess a minimum of 10 years of cumulative legal experience, with a substantial portion acquired in-house within a fast-growing technology or SaaS company environment.
• Demonstrate a proven track record of leading or playing a critical role in complex merger and acquisition transactions, from deal initiation to closing.
• Maintain a solid and sophisticated foundation in corporate law, commercial agreements, and legal risk management principles and practices.
• Exhibit a proven ability to manage litigation and disputes strategically, including the direction and oversight of external legal counsel and law firms.
• Hold qualifications as a solicitor or equivalent, and demonstrate comfort and competence working across multiple legal jurisdictions and regulatory frameworks.
• Operate with a commercial mindset, consistently balancing rigorous legal considerations with overarching business objectives and strict budget constraints.
• Show strong negotiation capabilities, evidenced by a history of securing successful outcomes in complex, high-stakes deals involving multiple stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively, translating intricate legal jargon into clear, accessible language for non-legal audiences, including executives and board members.
• Adhere to the highest standards of ethical conduct and confidentiality when handling sensitive corporate information and strategic initiatives.
• Display resilience and adaptability in a fast-paced environment where priorities shift rapidly and demands are high.

Nice to have

• Demonstrate proficiency in Mandarin or possess direct experience working with teams based in China or the broader APAC region.
• Bring specialized experience in intellectual property law, data privacy regulations such as GDPR, PIPEDA, and CCPA, or broader regulatory compliance within the technology sector.
• Have familiarity with the nuances of cross-border transactions between Western and Asian markets, including cultural and legal intricacies.
• Hold previous experience working with investment firms, private equity houses, or venture-backed organizations where agility and compliance are critical.
• Show deep knowledge of UK, US, and Canadian corporate law, including jurisdictional differences and cross-border enforcement mechanisms.

Practical notes

• Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
• Occasional travel may be required as part of the role responsibilities.
• PatSnap is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in all employment practices.