Head of Legal

About the role

We are looking for a seasoned legal professional to oversee PatSnap's legal operations in the Western region, encompassing the UK, North America, and Canada. This role involves providing strategic counsel on corporate matters, commercial agreements, and international business activities to support company growth.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Guide significant merger and acquisition activities, managing all stages from initial review to post-deal integration.
• Advise on strategic investments, partnerships, and negotiate high-value commercial contracts.
• Develop and implement legal policies and processes to manage risk and support international expansion.
• Oversee dispute resolution and litigation, working with external legal teams.
• Manage intellectual property matters, including patents, trademarks, and licensing.
• Collaborate with teams across the Western region and APAC to ensure legal consistency.
• Act as a key advisor to executive leadership, partnering with Finance, Sales, Product, and People departments.

Requirements

• A minimum of 10 years of legal experience, with a substantial portion gained in-house at a fast-growing technology or SaaS company.
• Demonstrated experience leading or playing a critical role in M&A transactions.
• Solid foundation in corporate law, commercial agreements, and legal risk management.
• Proven ability to manage litigation and disputes, including directing external counsel.
• Qualified solicitor, comfortable working across multiple legal jurisdictions.
• Commercially minded with the ability to balance legal considerations with business objectives and budget constraints.
• Strong negotiation capabilities with a history of successful outcomes in complex deals.
• Excellent communication skills, able to explain complex legal issues clearly to non-legal audiences.

Nice to have

• Proficiency in Mandarin or experience working with teams in China or the broader APAC region.
• Experience with intellectual property law, data privacy regulations (GDPR, PIPEDA, CCPA), or regulatory compliance in the technology sector.
• Familiarity with cross-border transactions between Western and Asian markets.
• Previous experience working with investment firms, private equity, or venture-backed organizations.
• Knowledge of UK, US, and Canadian corporate law.

Skills & tools

• Legal counsel
• M&A
• Commercial contracts
• Corporate governance
• Risk management
• Litigation
• Intellectual property
• Negotiation
• Communication

Practical notes

• Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
• Occasional travel may be required.
• PatSnap is an equal opportunity employer.