Global General Counsel: Tech & Open Source Leader

Canonical Ltd.; United States; Remote; USD 250,000 - 380,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

40 days annual leave per year

Maternity and paternity leave

Team learning & development budget

Wellness platform

Bi-annual compensation review

Priority Pass lounge access

Travel opportunities

External recognition rewards

Job summary

Canonical Ltd. is seeking a General Counsel to lead the global Legal and Compliance function, reporting to the COO. The role drives governance, licensing, IP strategy, data protection, and regulatory affairs for a private technology company with global reach.

You will manage a distributed team across EMEA and the Americas, partner with product and engineering, and advise the Board on complex strategic and governance matters. Remote-ready, with travel.

Qualifications

• Senior in-house legal leadership experience in a global technology or software business.
• Active license to practice in an EMEA or Americas jurisdiction.
• Strong academic track record in law.
• Experience leading a distributed legal team across regions.

Responsibilities

• Lead the global Legal and Compliance function across EMEA and the Americas.
• Set structure, standards, and priorities for the function.
• Advise the CEO, COO, CFO and Board on governance, risk and strategic deals.
• Own commercial contracting framework and licensing strategy for products.
• Oversee data protection, export controls, anti-bribery and regulatory matters.
• Manage litigation, regulatory engagement, and external counsel relationships.

Skills

Leadership

Licensing expertise

Open source governance

IP strategy

Data protection & privacy

Regulatory compliance

Commercial contracts

Education

Law degree / qualified

Qualified in EMEA or Americas

Tools

Contract management systems

Open source licensing knowledge

Job description

Canonical Ltd. is seeking a General Counsel to lead the global Legal and Compliance function, reporting to the COO. The role drives governance, licensing, IP strategy, data protection, and regulatory affairs for a private technology company with global reach.

You will manage a distributed team across EMEA and the Americas, partner with product and engineering, and advise the Board on complex strategic and governance matters. Remote-ready, with travel.