Legal Counsel

About the role

As the first in-house legal hire at Ritual, you will architect and own the end-to-end legal strategy for a sovereign, execution-layer blockchain built specifically for AI-native operations. You will serve as the primary legal architect establishing the foundational framework for a company operating at the intersection of Web3 and AI. Your work will ensure proactive risk mitigation and compliance as the company scales from testnet to production, guiding leadership on complex regulatory and commercial decisions in a rapidly evolving sector.

What you'll do

You will draft and implement comprehensive legal policies, processes, and standardized templates to support rapid corporate growth and scalability across multiple jurisdictions. You will serve as the primary point of contact for the executive team and board, delivering strategic guidance on legal, regulatory, and commercial matters specific to blockchain and AI infrastructure. You will design, review, and negotiate a broad spectrum of commercial, vendor, partnership, and employment contracts to protect company interests at every stage.

You will establish and maintain a centralized contract management system to streamline workflows, improve visibility, and increase operational efficiency across all departments. You will develop and sustain robust compliance programs focused on data privacy, anti-money laundering, sanctions screening, and other evolving regulatory requirements that impact AI and blockchain technologies. You will monitor global regulatory developments impacting blockchain and artificial intelligence, collaborating cross-functionally to address emerging compliance risks before they become critical issues.

You will identify, assess, and recommend mitigation strategies for legal, regulatory, and business risks across all operational areas of the business. You will manage dispute resolution, litigation support, and engagements with external counsel to resolve conflicts efficiently and cost-effectively while protecting company interests. You will provide legal guidance on equity compensation plans and fundraising transactions, including term sheets, stock issuance, and investor documentation, ensuring alignment with startup best practices.

You will oversee equity administration and shareholder matters in close collaboration with finance and human resources teams, ensuring proper documentation and compliance. You will ensure strict adherence to employment law, intellectual property law, and data protection regulations across all jurisdictions of operation. You will champion best practices in corporate governance by drafting board resolutions, maintaining minutes, and managing shareholder agreements with precision and strategic foresight.

Requirements

You possess a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school and hold active membership in at least one U.S. state bar, demonstrating your formal legal credentials and professional standing. You bring a minimum of three years of relevant legal experience, including practice at a top-tier law firm and in-house counsel roles, providing you with diverse exposure to different legal environments and client needs.

You demonstrate prior experience working with early-stage or high-growth companies, with a specific focus on Web3 and AI sectors, giving you practical insight into the unique challenges these industries present. You possess strong expertise in corporate governance, contract law, regulatory compliance, and risk management frameworks, allowing you to navigate complex legal landscapes effectively.

You show familiarity working with Web3 teams and navigating the unique legal challenges of decentralized technologies, including understanding the implications of blockchain infrastructure and smart contracts. You exhibit exceptional written and verbal communication skills to convey complex legal concepts to non-legal stakeholders, ensuring alignment between legal requirements and business objectives.

You prove the ability to work independently and proactively in a fast-paced, dynamic, and rapidly scaling environment, taking ownership of critical legal functions with minimal supervision. You display strong business acumen with the capacity to balance legal obligations against business objectives and growth priorities, making strategic decisions that support both compliance and company advancement.

Why join us

You will join a passionate group of engineers, researchers, and operators on a mission to build the next generation of AI infrastructure. You will be part of creating the first blockchain custom-built to support AI-native operations, working on the cutting edge of technology integration. You will help establish the legal foundation for a product that pioneers new ground in connecting AI models both on-chain via smart contracts and off-chain, bridging transformative technologies in meaningful ways.

The role offers highly competitive compensation including an annual discretionary bonus and an optimized tax structure compared to the vast majority of web3 startups. You will receive top 1% of benefits across the web3 startup space, including 100% of premiums covered on highest quality healthcare. You will benefit from an aggressive company 401k match and fully remote and/or hybrid work arrangements, providing flexibility in how you structure your work life. You will participate in virtual and in-person events, connecting with a community building AI infrastructure while contributing to groundbreaking work at the intersection of crypto and AI.