Product Counsel

Wicker Hamilton; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Office in Downtown SF

Job summary

Wicker Hamilton in San Francisco is seeking a Commercial & Product Counsel for an early-stage AI-native legal startup. You will shape the legal function and collaborate with product and engineering to scale AI-driven workflows.

The role emphasizes in-house experience at a startup, with ownership and fast decision-making in a 100% office-based environment in Downtown San Francisco. Expect substantial equity alongside a base salary of $150k–$230k.

Qualifications

• 5–8 years of legal experience with strong commercial/transactional background for technology companies.
• In-house experience is required; prior sole counsel/early legal hire within a startup is preferred.
• Active membership in the California Bar is required.

Responsibilities

• Reviewing and negotiating commercial agreements for growing technology companies.
• Advising on product, privacy and general corporate matters.
• Building commercial playbooks, templates and review standards.
• Collaborating with product and engineering to improve AI-assisted legal workflows.
• Identifying ways to make legal delivery quicker, more scalable and consistent.

Skills

In-house experience

Commercial contracts

Startup environment

Education

California Bar

Job description

San Francisco | $150k–$230K + Equity | On-Site in Union Square

The Opportunity

We’re working with an early-stage, AI-native legal business in San Francisco looking to hire a Commercial & Product Counsel.

This will be the second major legal hire, joining a small team at a point where there is genuine opportunity to help shape how the legal function, product and service offering develop. The business is Series A stage and is building technology to make commercial legal work faster and more scalable.

This is very much a start‑up environment — high ownership, quick decision-making and the opportunity to build rather than inherit established processes.

The Role

You’ll work across a mixture of commercial contracting and product‑facing legal work, including:

• Reviewing and negotiating commercial agreements for growing technology companies
• Advising on product, privacy and general corporate matters
• Building commercial playbooks, templates and review standards
• Working closely with product and engineering to improve AI‑assisted legal workflows
• Identifying ways to make legal delivery quicker, more consistent and scalable

What They’re Looking For

• Ideally 5–8 years’ legal experience, with strong commercial/transactional experience supporting technology companies.
• In-house experience is required, with particular interest in lawyers who have worked as sole counsel, an early legal hire or within a start‑up environment. You’ll also need to be an active member of the California Bar.

Why Consider It?

The main attraction is the opportunity to join extremely early. You’re not coming into a large established legal team — you’ll be helping to build one.

There is also significant exposure to the product side of the business, the chance to work directly alongside engineers, and the opportunity to turn your legal expertise into systems and processes that scale beyond individual matters.

Compensation: $150k–$230 base + meaningful equity.

Important: Working Pattern

This role is 100% office-based in Downtown San Francisco.

Candidates need to be comfortable with that working pattern before applying — this is a high‑intensity start‑up environment and the six-day office requirement is a core part of the role.