Lead Counsel

Respond.io; Kuala Lumpur; On-site; MYR 190,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A growing SaaS company in Kuala Lumpur is seeking a Lead Counsel to establish its legal framework as their first in-house lawyer. The ideal candidate will have 5 to 8 years of experience in commercial law, focusing on SaaS contracting, negotiations, and data protection. This role offers the opportunity to directly impact company policy and growth strategies. The company supports an autonomous work environment with significant responsibilities and potential for leadership development.

Qualifications

• 5 to 8 years of experience in commercial or technology law.
• Strong grounding in SaaS contracting and negotiation.
• Working knowledge of GDPR and data protection fundamentals.

Responsibilities

• Lead negotiations across customer, partner, vendor contracts.
• Modernize internal policies in security, privacy, operations.
• Maintain GDPR-aligned operations including DPAs and DPIAs.
• Support leadership on scalability and operational clarity projects.

Skills

Commercial law expertise

Negotiation skills

SaaS contracting knowledge

GDPR understanding

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

Lead Counsel

Location: Malaysia

Experience: 5 to 8 years in commercial or technology law

About the Role

Respond.io is hiring a commercially sharp, business-minded Lead Counsel as our first in-house lawyer. You will build the legal foundation that supports our next phase of scale. This includes shaping how we negotiate, how we govern, how we manage privacy, and how we design systems that enable the company to move faster and more confidently.

Your work will focus on commercial contracting and leverage building. You will also take meaningful ownership of privacy and data protection, and you will contribute to company-level initiatives that strengthen long‑term scalability and operational readiness.

This role suits someone who enjoys autonomy, handles complexity with clarity, and prefers building durable systems over managing legacy ones.

What You Will Do

1. Commercial

• Lead negotiations across customer, partner, reseller, vendor, and procurement contracts.
• Build templates, clause libraries, fallback positions, and negotiation playbooks.
• Partner with Sales and GTM teams to improve deal velocity and strengthen commercial posture.
• Create internal enablement that helps non‑lawyers operate with consistency and speed.

2. Legal Infrastructure and Governance

• Modernize internal policies across security, privacy, operations, and product.
• Establish clear and scalable legal workflows that support international growth.
• Strengthen legal hygiene and documentation standards as the company expands.
• Identify systemic gaps and design simple, repeatable processes that reduce friction.

3. Privacy and Data Protection

• Maintain core GDPR‑aligned operations including DPAs, DPIAs, LIAs, and sub‑processor updates.
• Translate regulatory requirements into practical and defensible decisions.
• Work with Product, Engineering, and Customer Operations to embed privacy‑aware practices.
• Coordinate with external counsel selectively on high‑complexity matters.

4. Company‑Level Strategic Work

• Support leadership on projects that improve scalability, structure, and operational clarity.
• Coordinate with external advisors across compliance, tax, and corporate matters.
• Ensure documentation, processes, and governance remain high‑quality as we grow.

Who You Are

Experience

• 5 to 8 years of experience in commercial or technology law.
• Strong grounding in SaaS contracting and negotiation.
• Working knowledge of GDPR and data protection fundamentals.
• Experience partnering with GTM, Product, Security, and Finance teams.

Mindset

• Business‑first judgment with a practical approach to risk.
• Enjoys being the first in‑house lawyer and building systems from the ground up.
• Communicates clearly and simplifies complex issues for non‑lawyers.
• Comfortable operating in a fast‑moving environment with high ownership.

Why This Role Is Rare

• You will build the legal function from scratch for a growing SaaS company.
• You will work directly with the executive team on impactful cross‑company initiatives.
• You will shape contracting posture, privacy operations, and governance standards.
• You will have a clear growth runway into a future leadership role as the function expands.

If you want a role that blends commercial rigor, privacy craftsmanship, and strategic influence in a high‑growth environment, this is the opportunity.