General Counsel - SaaS

JR United Kingdom; London; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A private equity-backed SaaS scale-up in London seeks an experienced General Counsel to act as chief legal advisor. You will provide strategic legal guidance on compliance matters, negotiate commercial contracts, and oversee governance. Ideal candidates are qualified solicitors with significant experience in technology companies. This challenging position offers an opportunity to impact ambitious growth plans.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of post-qualification experience.
• Trained in a Commercial/TMT team at a top-tier law firm.
• Experience in a technology company.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic legal advice to senior leadership and the Board.
• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial contracts.
• Lead a legal team and oversee corporate governance.

Skills

Strategic legal advice

Negotiating commercial contracts

Stakeholder management

Knowledge of SaaS deals

M&A transactions

Education

Qualified solicitor in England and Wales

Job description

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We are partnering with a private equity-backed UK-based SaaS scale-up seeking an experienced General Counsel to join their senior leadership team. Reporting to the CFO, you will act as the chief legal advisor, providing strategic guidance on legal, regulatory, and compliance matters to support the company’s ambitious growth plans.

About the Role

As General Counsel, you will manage legal risks, ensure compliance, and drive strategic objectives. Collaborating with the Board and senior leadership, you will provide expertise in commercial contracts, corporate governance, and data protection. This role demands a commercially astute legal professional from a fast-paced SaaS scale-up environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic legal advice to senior leadership and the Board.
• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial contracts, including SaaS, licensing, and partnership agreements.
• Lead a team of three, implementing processes for hiring, performance management, and development.
• Oversee corporate governance, M&A activities, and due diligence processes.
• Manage relationships with external counsel and legal budgets.
• Monitor regulatory and legal trends in the technology sector.
• Handle disputes, litigation, or regulatory investigations.
• Deliver legal training to internal stakeholders.

About You

• Qualified solicitor in England and Wales with 10+ years of post-qualification experience.
• Trained in a Commercial/TMT team at a top-tier law firm, with at least five years of in-house experience in a technology company.
• Strong experience dealing with high value enterprise SaaS deals.
• Proven experience in a technology scale-up environment.
• Skilled in negotiating with enterprise clients.
• Experience with M&A transactions and private equity investors.
• Knowledge of cross-border legal considerations is advantageous.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to prioritise and thrive in a high-growth environment.
• Any experience dealing with Financial Services clients would be a plus.

This is a competitive process, so please apply only if your experience aligns with the criteria above.

Please note that PQE/salary levels are used as a guide. We welcome applications from all candidates who can demonstrate the skills required to fulfil this role. Your personal information will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

If this opportunity interests you, please apply directly or contact Albert Toms at [emailprotected] . Applications will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.