Senior Legal Counsel

Intent HQ; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading Customer AI Analytics firm in London is seeking a Senior Legal Counsel to oversee legal risks and contract negotiations. This role will involve closely working with Sales, Product, and Engineering to ensure compliance with data privacy laws and drive responsible AI innovation. Ideal candidates will have over 8 years of experience as a qualified lawyer and strong knowledge of SaaS agreements and data governance.

Benefits

Flexible working

Free breakfast daily

26 days holiday

Pension scheme

Life Assurance

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Substantial in-house experience in an AI SaaS or data analytics company.
• Proven expertise in SaaS and AI solution agreements.
• Strong knowledge of privacy law and data governance.

Responsibilities

• Lead and advise on data solution contracts.
• Oversee the legal risk management framework.
• Provide expert guidance on data protection and privacy.

Skills

Legal negotiation skills

Data governance

Interpersonal skills

Education

Qualified lawyer (8+ years PQE)

Job description

About Intent HQ

Recognised by the Financial Times as one of the FT1000 Fast Growing Companies in Europe (2022‑2024), and winners of both Analytics Company of the Year 2025 and AI Company of the Year 2024 at the British Data Awards, Intent HQ is a leader and innovator in Customer AI Analytics and Data Science. Backed by strong investors and trusted by a blue‑chip international enterprise customer base, our mission is to become the world’s preeminent Customer Intent Engine by combining privacy‑first signal intelligence, proprietary behavioural AI/ML analytics, and uniquely accessible enterprise insights into a single platform that enables organisations to build more genuine, sustainable, and profitable relationships with customers.

We began by solving complex challenges for clients in the telecommunications sector, including Verizon, O2, and Orange, and have since expanded into Financial Services, Retail, and Social Media, with clients such as HB Reavis and Zurich Group. Our clients typically manage tens of millions of customers and process billions of interactions daily. Our platform is purpose‑built to handle data at this enormous scale efficiently, delivering tangible results.

What sets us apart is our focus on deep customer interaction data, doing the hard, specialised work so our clients can focus on applying insight to their business strategies.

Today, Intent HQ is home to an exciting, diverse, and fast‑growing team of 100+ people across London, Barcelona, Lisbon, Tel Aviv, New York, South Africa & India, collectively speaking over 15 languages.

Recent Awards & Recognition

• Best AI Ethics & Diversity Award 2025 – AI World Series Awards
• AI Business of the Year 2025 – The National AI Awards
• Analytics Company of the Year 2025 – British Data Awards
• AI Company of the Year 2024 – British Data Awards
• FT1000 Europe’s Fastest Growing Companies 2022‑2024 – Financial Times & Statista
• Top 100 Edge Computing Company 2024 – STL Partners

The Opportunity

We are looking for a Senior Legal Counsel who will be a trusted advisor across the business – leading negotiations, shaping scalable legal frameworks, and balancing innovation with compliance. Working at the intersection of AI governance, data licensing, and SaaS commercialisation, you’ll partner closely with Sales, Product, and Engineering teams to drive agile deal structures and data partnerships. You’ll take ownership of the company’s legal risk, privacy, and responsible AI frameworks, ensuring all activities align with international standards and evolving regulations (GDPR, UK Data Protection Act 2018, EU AI Act). The role is ideal for a strategic, solutions‑oriented lawyer who thrives in fast‑paced, product‑led environments and wants to shape the legal foundations of AI‑driven innovation. As part of a globally distributed team, you will collaborate with cross‑functional leaders to enable compliant experimentation, guide ethical data usage, and advise on commercial strategies that support long‑term scalability and trust.

What You Will Do

Commercial & Technology

• Lead and advise on negotiations for AI and data solution contracts, including SaaS, freemium platform, and cloud licensing agreements, as well as data partnerships and collaboration frameworks.
• Draft, review, and refine commercial and licensing documentation (bespoke and template) for AI and freemium‑based cloud products, ensuring alignment between business model flexibility and compliance obligations.
• Partner with Sales, Product, and Engineering teams to ensure commercial agility aligns with legal integrity, balancing innovation, monetisation strategies (including free‑to‑paid conversion), and risk management.
• Support international operations, ensuring legal agreements are consistent with local and cross‑border compliance requirements.

Risk & Governance

• Oversee the company’s overall legal risk management framework, identifying and mitigating risks associated with AI models, data usage, and freemium service models.
• Advise on intellectual property ownership, open‑source licensing, and data usage rights for AI models, datasets, and user‑generated data in freemium environments.
• Develop scalable legal processes that enable product experimentation while maintaining compliance and commercial clarity.

Privacy, Ethics & Responsible AI

• Provide expert guidance on data protection and privacy, ensuring compliance with GDPR, the UK Data Protection Act 2018, and emerging AI and digital consumer protection regulations.
• Contribute to the definition and implementation of ethical AI and freemium data usage policies, ensuring transparency and fairness in how customer data supports model improvement and monetisation.
• Work closely with internal stakeholders to ensure that AI systems are developed and deployed responsibly, and that freemium models comply with data privacy and consumer protection standards.

What You Will Need

• 8+ years PQE as a UK‑qualified lawyer (or equivalent common law jurisdiction). Advisory experience on AI model ownership, intellectual property, and open‑source licensing.
• Substantial in‑house experience within an AI SaaS, or data analytics company, ideally supporting freemium or subscription‑based commercial models.
• Proven expertise in drafting and negotiating SaaS, AI solution, and freemium platform agreements, including data licensing, model access, and usage‑based pricing structures.
• In‑depth knowledge of privacy law and data governance, with experience advising on data processing, AI training data use, and customer consent frameworks.
• Demonstrable ability to balance legal rigour with commercial pragmatism, providing solutions‑oriented advice in fast‑paced, innovation‑driven contexts.
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, with confidence engaging senior leadership, product strategists, and commercial teams.
• A keen interest in AI, data science, and emerging business models such as freemium and usage‑based pricing.

Desirable Experience

• Familiarity with US privacy frameworks (CCPA/CPRA), EU AI Act, and emerging international AI and consumer regulations.
• Experience supporting security certifications (ISO 27001, SOC 2) and ensuring compliance across AI model lifecycles.
• Involvement in investment or M&A transactions within the technology or AI sectors.
• Understanding of AI governance, algorithmic accountability, and the legal implications of freemium and hybrid monetisation models.

Who You Are

• A strategic, forward‑looking lawyer who understands both AI innovation and commercial product realities, including the challenges of scaling freemium and subscription ecosystems.
• Pragmatic, adaptable, and solutions‑oriented.
• Comfortable working in a fast‑moving, scale‑up environment where product experimentation and market testing are part of the culture.
• Collaborative and open, thriving in cross‑functional work with AI, Product, Data Science, and Commercial teams.
• Passionate about AI technology, its transformative potential, and the ethical and legal frameworks that underpin responsible use and monetisation.

Reporting Line

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, line report and supported by our Legal Manager.

Diversity & Inclusion

Intent HQ is an equal opportunities employer with an ethos of commitment to promoting and practising diversity, equality and inclusion at work. At IHQ, different perspectives, ideas and experiences are valued and respected, with fair and equal opportunities provided for all. Our diversity and inclusion efforts have been recognised with us winning two consecutive Women in Tech UK Awards, under the Best Tech Employer (51‑149 Employees) category & being shortlisted for the Best Employer for Parental Support award - an achievement we are very proud of. This year in 2024 we have been nominated again for the Best Tech Employer and our in‑house recruiter has been shortlisted for the Best In‑house Recruiter award!

Our Culture

Working for Intent HQ, you have the opportunity to work with cutting edge technology in an environment where you are encouraged to think and act outside traditional methods. We are a growing business with a flat structure meaning everyone is visible and able to make an impact, not just in their own role, but across the business on a daily basis. We promote a collaborative, innovative and sociable culture, oriented towards performance and competitive advantage. Our DNA is made up of flexibility to all staff with a family friendly approach and focus on personal development. We have high expectations and pride ourselves on our cultural standards.

Benefits

• Flexible working
• Free breakfast daily (when in the office)
• 26 days holiday (increasing with service)
• Pension scheme
• Income Protection with Employee Assistance Programme
• Life Assurance
• Oliva Mental Health platform and counselling
• Higher than statutory maternity/paternity benefits
• Work socials
• Wellbeing programme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Training opportunities