Lead IP & Commercial Counsel for Defense Tech

Alta Ares; Paris; On-site; EUR 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Alta Ares is seeking an in-house Legal & IP Counsel to establish and lead the company’s legal function. You will shape IP strategy, manage the patent portfolio, draft and negotiate defense contracts, and oversee corporate governance across France, UK, US, and Ukraine.

You will work directly with the CEO and COO in a fast-moving, high-stakes environment where precision, speed, and discretion are essential. Fluency in French and English is mandatory.

Qualifications

• 3 years of experience in law combining in-house counsel experience and/or private practice in a top-tier firm.
• Strong background in at least two of: intellectual property law, commercial contracts, corporate law
• Exposure to technology, defence, aerospace, or dual-use sectors is a strong plus
• Experience in a startup or scale-up environment is advantageous
• Prior exposure to multi-jurisdictional legal environments (France + UK or US) is valued

Responsibilities

• Lead IP strategy, manage patents, trade secrets, software copyrights, and know-how protection
• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial contracts, MOUs, NDAs, and licensing
• Advise on corporate governance, board resolutions, and cap table management
• Ensure regulatory compliance: RGPD/GDPR and export controls across regimes
• Liaise with external counsel and manage legal spend efficiently
• Provide practical legal guidance to Sales, Engineering, HR, Finance and Ops

Skills

French fluency

English fluency

Rigorous detail-oriented

Pragmatic and business-minded

Fast and responsive

Proactive

Discreet and trustworthy

Generalist in lean environment

Tools

Notion

Job description

Alta Ares is seeking an in-house Legal & IP Counsel to establish and lead the company’s legal function. You will shape IP strategy, manage the patent portfolio, draft and negotiate defense contracts, and oversee corporate governance across France, UK, US, and Ukraine.

You will work directly with the CEO and COO in a fast-moving, high-stakes environment where precision, speed, and discretion are essential. Fluency in French and English is mandatory.