Senior Legal Counsel

About the Role

The role's initial focus on commercial contracting and data partnerships will involve leading important negotiations, improving legal systems, and partnering closely with business leaders. The Senior Legal Counsel will also take on key legal projects across areas such as corporate governance, employment, equity, disputes, privacy, product counseling, and outside counsel management. This position reports to the General Counsel, offering a direct line to strategic decision-making and the opportunity to make a significant impact on the company's growth and direction.

Given Placer.ai's position as a leader in location analytics and its commitment to responsible data practices, the Senior Legal Counsel will be at the forefront of navigating the complex legal landscape surrounding data privacy, AI, and commercial partnerships. The company's rapid growth and expansion into new markets mean that this role will be dynamic, with evolving challenges and opportunities for professional development.

What You Will Do

• Lead complex commercial negotiations, including enterprise customer MSAs, license agreements, government reseller agreements, professional services agreements, vendor agreements, and strategic partnership agreements.
• Serve as a senior escalation point for high-value or complex deals, providing strategic guidance and ensuring that legal standards are met.
• Collaborate with GTM, Deal Desk, Partnerships, Security, Product, and Compliance teams on deal structuring, escalations, and processes.
• Own inbound data provider agreements, including data rights, licensing structures, and IP issues critical to Placer's product infrastructure.
• Improve playbooks, templates, fallback positions, and standards while providing practical risk guidance to the business teams.
• Advise on privacy and data protection matters for Placer's location analytics platform, partnering with Compliance, Product, Security, and Engineering on privacy-by-design practices.
• Translate privacy, data, and AI governance developments into practical business guidance, supported by subject-matter experts and outside counsel where appropriate.
• Partner with Product, Engineering, Compliance, Security, and GTM teams on new feature launches, AI-related functionality, data use questions, and product risk assessments.
• Use and help develop AI tools and legal technology to improve the speed, scale, and quality of Legal work, including contract review, research, and workflow automation.
• Identify recurring legal issues and develop strategies to mitigate them, ensuring that the Legal function is proactive and supportive of the business.

What We Are Looking For

• A qualified attorney with significant experience in complex commercial contracting, particularly in the tech or data analytics sector.
• Strong background in data privacy and protection laws, with the ability to apply this knowledge in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Experience with GTM and Excel, with the ability to analyze data and make informed legal and business decisions.
• Proven track record of leading negotiations and providing strategic legal counsel to business teams.
• Ability to work independently with sound judgment, making decisions that balance legal risk with business objectives.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to partner effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Experience in legal operations and technology, with a keen interest in leveraging AI and legal tech to enhance legal services.
• Adaptable and flexible, with the ability to thrive in a rapidly changing environment and prioritize tasks effectively.

Nice to Have

• Experience working in a lean legal team or a fast-paced startup environment.
• Knowledge of location analytics or a similar field, with an understanding of the regulatory and legal issues surrounding data collection and use.
• Familiarity with privacy-by-design principles and their application in product development.
• Certification in data privacy or a related field, demonstrating a commitment to ongoing professional development.

Benefits and Perks

• Competitive compensation package, reflecting the candidate's experience and qualifications.
• Equity in a rapidly growing company, providing a unique opportunity for long-term financial growth.
• Comprehensive health benefits, ensuring that employees and their families are well-supported.
• Generous PTO policy, recognizing the importance of work-life balance and employee well-being.
• Remote work stipend, supporting employees in creating a productive and comfortable home working environment.
• Opportunities for professional development, including training, workshops, and conference attendance.
• Access to cutting-edge legal technology and AI tools, enhancing the efficiency and quality of legal work.

• Highlight relevant experience: Emphasize your background in complex commercial contracting, data privacy, and protection laws, and how these skills can be applied to Placer.ai's unique challenges.
• Showcase your analytical skills: Demonstrate your ability to analyze data, make informed decisions, and apply legal knowledge in a fast-paced environment.
• Prepare to discuss AI and data governance: Be ready to talk about how you've handled AI-related legal issues, data privacy, and governance in previous roles, and how you stay updated on the latest developments.
• Demonstrate your ability to work independently: Share examples of times when you've worked independently with minimal supervision, making sound judgments and balancing legal risk with business objectives.
• Be ready to talk about legal tech and operations: Show your interest in leveraging AI and legal technology to improve legal services, and discuss any experience you have with legal operations and process improvement.
• Research Placer.ai's culture and values: Understand the company's commitment to privacy, innovation, and collaboration, and be prepared to discuss how your values and work style align with these principles.
• Prepare thoughtful questions: Come up with questions that demonstrate your interest in the role, the company, and its future, such as asking about the biggest legal challenges facing the company or how the legal team contributes to business strategy.