Senior Commercial Counsel

General Legal (YC26); United States; Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote-first with quarterly on-sites

Ownership and growth opportunities

Job summary

General Legal, Inc. is seeking a Senior Commercial Counsel to lead complex tech contracts, licensing, and IP work for high-growth startups. You’ll negotiate to close, guide risk strategy, and leverage AI tools to accelerate high-quality outcomes.

The role emphasizes autonomy, craft, and impact within a remote-first team that values ownership and practical business counsel.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience with a strong commercial contracts practice, or fewer with a compelling case.
• Deep familiarity with technology transactions, IP licensing, and SaaS agreements.
• Experience advising high-growth technology or emerging companies is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own complex commercial transactions end-to-end (tech agreements, SaaS, vendor/partner contracts, IP licenses).
• Negotiate efficiently to close, prioritizing real risks and value.
• Leverage AI tools to raise quality and speed.
• Advise internal stakeholders on risk, strategy, and deal structure.
• Contribute beyond your lane by improving processes or leading new workstreams.

Skills

Technology transactions

IP licensing

SaaS agreements

Commercial contracts

Education

J.D. from an accredited law school

Job description

About General Legal, Inc.

General Legal is an AI-native law firm built to deliver high-quality commercial contract work faster and more predictably than traditional firms. We combine experienced, U.S.-barred attorneys with AI-native workflows to handle drafting, review, and negotiation end to end—without billable hours, bloated process, or junior handoffs. We operate like a startup because we are one. That means modern tooling, outcome-based pricing, remote-friendly work, and meaningful ownership for the people doing the work. By using AI to make the routine parts of contracting effortless, we give our attorneys the space to focus on judgment, negotiation, and advising clients on what actually matters. We’re starting with commercial contracts for growing companies and building a modern law firm where great lawyers can do their best work—and help reshape how legal services are delivered.

About the Role

We're looking for a Senior Commercial Counsel who's genuinely exceptional at what they do. We don't believe you have to choose between quality and speed. We believe that talented attorneys, equipped with the right tools, produce outstanding work product faster than most people think possible. If you've spent your career proving that point, we'd like to talk.

This is a heads-down, high-output role built around deep commercial work: negotiating and closing complex agreements, advising on risk, and delivering thoughtful guidance that moves the business forward. You'll have the autonomy to do excellent work, the support of a team that values craft, and a structure designed to let you log off at the end of the day feeling good about what you accomplished.

And if you're the kind of person who spots an opportunity to improve a product, build out a new practice area, or lead something that doesn't exist yet — we're always listening.

What You’ll Do

• Own complex commercial transactions end-to-end, including technology agreements, SaaS and enterprise contracts, vendor and partner agreements, and IP licenses.
• Negotiate efficiently and to a close. You know where the real risks are, which battles are worth fighting, and how to get deals done without unnecessary back-and-forth.
• Leverage AI tools as a genuine force multiplier. You're already a power-user of legal tech, using it to raise the quality of your work and compress timelines.
• Advise internal stakeholders on commercial risk, contract strategy, and deal structure with clarity and appropriate speed. You know your audience and calibrate accordingly.
• Contribute beyond your lane. Whether it's flagging a product gap, proposing a better process, or raising your hand to lead a new workstream — we value attorneys who bring a "yes, and" orientation to the work.

What We’re Looking For

Background & Experience

• J.D. from an accredited law school; active bar membership in good standing
• 8+ years of experience with a strong commercial contracts practice, or fewer years if you can make a compelling case
• Deep familiarity with technology transactions, IP licensing, and SaaS agreements
• Experience in or advising high-growth technology or emerging companies is preferred

How You Work

• You are fast and good
• You use AI tools in your practice today, not theoretically
• You produce clean, sophisticated work product
• You communicate directly: clear recommendations, appropriate caveats, no filler
• You're self-directed and don't need hand-holding, but you collaborate well and know when to loop people in

Bonus Points

• You've built or improved a legal intake, playbook, or contracting process from scratch
• You have a vertical or subject matter you'd love to grow or lead
• You've mentored junior attorneys or contributed to team development in a meaningful way

The Structure

This is a remote-first role with quarterly in-person on-sites for team collaboration, planning, and the occasional celebration. We take the on-sites seriously, and otherwise trust you to do your best work from wherever you do your best work.

Why This Role

We've built a legal team that operates like a high-functioning business unit: principled about quality, unsentimental about inefficiency, and genuinely excited about where the tools are going. We're not looking for someone to grind; we're looking for someone who's good enough that they don't have to.

If you've been waiting for a role that matches your ability to produce at a high level without sacrificing the rest of your life, we want you to apply.

We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team.

Salary

$180,000 - $240,000 per year