In-House Counsel

Socket.dev; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive healthcare and dental

401(k) plan

Generous PTO

Free lunch & dinner

Annual company-paid retreats

Professional development support

Job summary

Socket.dev is seeking its first In-House Counsel in San Francisco to own legal matters across the company, with a focus on arbitration and ADR. This hands-on role partners with founders and operations to manage risk and build the legal function from the ground up.

You will advise on commercial contracts, regulatory and compliance matters in payments, manage outside counsel, and help shape the company's governance as it scales.

Qualifications

• JD and active admission to the California Bar.
• 3–8 years of attorney experience including litigation.
• Hands-on arbitration/ADR experience.
• Experience with payments, collections or related financial matters.
• Knowledge of Delaware corporate law.
• Strong drafting, negotiation and communication skills.
• Ability to operate independently in a fast-moving startup.

Responsibilities

• Advise as in-house counsel on recurring legal needs.
• Resolve business disputes and provide practical guidance.
• Manage arbitration and ADR processes from intake to resolution.
• Evaluate litigation risk and advise on best course of action.
• Draft, review and negotiate commercial contracts with vendors/partners/customers.
• Advise leadership on regulatory/compliance matters in payments.
• Manage outside counsel and support corporate governance.

Skills

Litigation experience

Decision making

Negotiation

Contract drafting

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

California Bar admission

Job description

About the Role

Pump is seeking our first In-House Counsel to own legal matters across the company, with a particular focus on alternative dispute resolution. This is a hands‑on role for someone with a litigation background who is excited to apply their skills in a startup environment in San Francisco. You’ll work closely with our founders and operations team to manage risk, resolve disputes efficiently, and build the legal function from the ground up.

Responsibilities

• Act as in-house counsel for a fast-growing startup advising on recurring legal needs
• Manage and resolve business disputes and provide practical business guidance
• Handle arbitration proceedings and other ADR processes from intake through resolution
• Evaluate litigation risk and make sound judgments on the best course of action on a case-by-case basis
• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial contracts and agreements for vendors, partners, and customers
• Advise leadership on regulatory and compliance matters relevant to payment
• Manage outside counsel relationships and support corporate governance measures

Required Qualifications

• JD and active admission to the California Bar
• 3-8 years of experience as a practicing attorney
• Prior litigation experience, either outside or in-house, including hands-on work on arbitration and other ADR proceedings
• Direct experience with dispute resolution involving payments, collections, or related financial matters
• Working knowledge of Delaware corporate law
• Strong contract drafting, negotiation, and communication skills
• Comfort operating independently and in-person in a fast-moving startup environment

Nice‑to‑Haves

• In‑house experience at an early‑stage startup
• Prior experience building legal processes from start to finish

Benefits

• Comprehensive healthcare and dental coverage for you
• 401(k) plan
• Generous PTO: 13 accrued days, plus company shutdown December 24—January 1st
• Free lunch & dinner at the office
• Annual company-paid retreats
• Developmental bonuses: support for professional development opportunities tied to cloud and related fields

Compensation is commensurate with experience. In addition to base salary, this position includes equity.

Compensation

$150,000 — $200,000 USD