Senior Legal Counsel

About the role

OpenZeppelin is a leader in blockchain security, aiming to drive the transition to an open financial system. As a Senior Legal Counsel, you will support various legal operations and ensure compliance while managing contracts and agreements. Your role is crucial in balancing legal risks with business needs.

You will work closely with the General Counsel and cross-functional teams, providing legal advice and support on diverse matters including intellectual property, compliance, and risk management. Success in this role involves effective communication, strong analytical skills, and the ability to manage multiple projects in a dynamic environment.

Skills that matter here

• legal experience: This role requires 8-10 years of legal experience, particularly in the blockchain and digital assets sector.
• contract negotiation: You will draft, negotiate, and manage a variety of commercial agreements.
• analytical skills: A highly analytical approach is necessary for evaluating legal risks and providing sound advice.
• communication: You must effectively communicate complex legal concepts to non-legal stakeholders.
• problem-solving: Creative problem-solving skills are essential for addressing legal challenges in a business context.
• self-direction: The role requires a self-directed individual comfortable with high levels of responsibility.

Who this role suits

• A candidate with extensive legal experience in high-growth technology or blockchain companies.
• Someone who is detail-oriented and possesses strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• An effective communicator who can simplify complex legal topics for diverse audiences.
• A self-motivated individual who thrives in a remote work environment and can manage multiple priorities.

From the employer

What You'll Do:

• Draft, negotiate, and close a wide variety of agreements and manage the process behind all client and vendor agreements.
• Support all commercial and contractual matters and deal flow for OpenZeppelin.
• Proactively provide risk-weighted advice to business leaders that succinctly balances commercial upside against corresponding legal, financial, operational, and reputational risk.
• Collaborate with and support the General Counsel on intellectual property strategy and licensing (with a focus on open source issues), privacy, compliance, acquisitions, and other diverse matters.
• Work across cross-functional teams as a business partner, including Sales, Finance, Operations, HR and IT & Security.
• Design and execute automated processes for contracting and complying with contractual obligations and building automations, using AI and advanced tools.
• Design and execute staff trainings and compliance practices on a variety of topics, in line with the requirements of a regulated and publicly-traded organization.
• Manage legal records and organize corporate governance processes for entities in multiple jurisdictions.
• Tackle projects assigned to you to help the Company meet its goals and take ownership of projects that are of a personal interest to you.

What You'll Bring:

• 8-10 years of relevant legal experience, including in-house experience at a high-growth company in the blockchain and digital assets space.
• Demonstrated experience and comprehensive knowledge in drafting, reviewing and negotiating a wide variety of commercial agreements in the blockchain space, including open source expertise.
• Highly analytical with an impeccable attention to detail.
• Creative problem-solving and negotiation skills and you take a pragmatic, business-minded approach to legal analyses and risk assessments.
• Comfortable with high levels of responsibility and self-direction with excellent follow-through skills, and able to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
• Expert communicator, verbally and in writing, who is capable of explaining complicated topics to those without legal training.
• A law degree and a license to practice law in at least one jurisdiction.

Benefits:

• Meet your teammates at company gatherings around the world.
• Enjoy the flexibility of fully remote work.
• Take the time you need with flexible time off.
• Grow your family with 8 weeks of paid leave for primary caregivers, 4 weeks for secondary caregivers, and a one-time $3,600 baby bonus.
• Build your ideal home office with up to $500 in equipment support.
• Stay covered with medical insurance.
• Keep growing with learning and development opportunities.
• Get a monthly stipend for your preferred co-working space.