Commercial Counsel

Wwshemi; San Francisco (CA); Remote; USD 170,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Wwshemi is seeking a founding Commercial Counsel to lead commercial contracting for startup clients. You will provide practical legal advice while shaping how commercial services are delivered through software and repeatable workflows.

Key responsibilities include drafting and negotiating MSAs, SaaS contracts, NDAs, DPAs, and vendor agreements, advising founders, and building templates and playbooks for scalable workflows. The role emphasizes platform development and strategic business impact.

Qualifications

• 4–5 years of commercial contracts experience; 5–8 years preferred.
• JD and active US bar membership; California or New York admission preferred.
• In-house commercial counsel experience at a startup or technology company.
• Hands-on experience drafting, negotiating, and building templates for SaaS, MSAs, NDAs, DPAs, and vendor deals.
• Strong knowledge of SaaS and technology contract terms including liability caps, indemnity, IP, data, and termination.
• Ability to explain legal tradeoffs in plain language for founders.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreements including MSAs, SaaS contracts, NDAs, DPAs, and vendor agreements.
• Advise founders and in-house teams via calls and Slack with practical, risk-calibrated guidance.
• Manage client relationships and meet turnaround commitments as trusted commercial counsel.
• Turn negotiation positions and playbooks into AI-enabled workflows.
• Help develop the commercial practice and contribute to product development.

Skills

Commercial contracts

In-house counsel

SaaS contracts

Template drafting

AI tools in legal practice

Slack communication

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Bar admission (US)

Tools

Slack

Job description

About the Role

A venture-backed legal technology company is hiring a founding Commercial Counsel to lead commercial contracting for startup clients. You will provide practical legal advice while helping shape how commercial legal services are delivered through software and repeatable workflows.

What You'll Do

• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreements, including MSAs, SaaS contracts, NDAs, DPAs, and vendor agreements.
• Advise founders and in-house teams through calls and Slack, offering practical, risk-calibrated guidance.
• Manage client relationships, meet turnaround commitments, and serve as a trusted commercial counsel.
• Turn negotiation positions, fallback terms, and review standards into playbooks and AI-enabled workflows.
• Help develop the commercial practice, onboard future attorneys, and contribute to product development.

What We're Looking For

• At least 4 to 5 years of commercial contracts experience, with 5 to 8 years preferred.
• A JD and active bar membership in a US jurisdiction. California or New York admission is preferred.
• In-house commercial counsel experience at a startup or technology company.
• Hands-on experience drafting, negotiating, and building templates for SaaS agreements, MSAs, NDAs, DPAs, and vendor deals.
• Strong knowledge of SaaS and technology contract terms, including liability caps, indemnity, intellectual property, data, and termination.
• Sound business judgment and the ability to explain legal tradeoffs in plain language while working directly with founders.
• Experience using AI tools in legal practice and interest in codifying legal judgment into workflows. The role includes substantial platform and workflow development.
• Comfort using Slack for client communication.

Compensation & Benefits

Base salary: $170,000 to $220,000 annually. Visa sponsorship is not available. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Location

Remote within the United States. Primary location: San Francisco, California.