Legal Counsel, Commercial

Role description:

We are looking for an experienced, service-oriented and practical Commercial Counsel to join our growing legal team. This role will focus on software licensing, and the candidate should have a track record of supporting sales and channel/partner teams in the software/SaaS business. Candidates should be ready to dive and manage all aspects of commercial activity – negotiating and closing complex customer, channel, and business development agreements. Our legal team works across Customer Contracting, Vendor Contracting, Data Privacy, Investor Relations, Corporate Law, and Employment Law, touching every corner of our business. This role will also help support all legal functions within a fast-paced and rapidly growing technology company. Due to Fonoa's continued success and growth, we are now looking to hire a savvy Commercial Counsel who is a keen negotiator and can help guide us on this next leg of growth. The commercial counsel will report directly to Fonoa’s General Counsel and work alongside our commercial teams, whose customers are predominantly enterprise-level technology organisations.

What you will do :

• Draft and negotiate a wide variety of commercial contracts, such as SaaS or other software licensing contracts with our enterprise customers, reseller agreements with our distribution partners, managed service provider (MSP) agreements and distribution agreements.

• Provide risk assessment of contract terms and issues and offer alternative approaches to mitigate risk, including alternative contractual language.

• Support with vendor security/privacy questionnaires and vendor contracts.

• Build close cross-functional relationships with team members, especially Fonoa’s sales team, and obtain and maintain solid knowledge of Fonoa's product suite and business.

• Support on wider legal team initiatives that arise as a result of being in a fast-paced, rapidly growing tech organisation.

• Advise customer-facing teams and the relevant business unit leaders of the key legal risks of the proposed project and contract, including what legal and regulatory issues need to be addressed early in the process and requirements for the company in meeting obligations associated with contracts and agreements

• Provide advice based on the appropriate balance of risk mitigation and business interests on a real-time basis

• Coordinate with outside counsel as needed

This role will be a great fit if you:

• Possess 3+ years of experience in drafting and negotiating a wide variety of technology commercial contracts, including SaaS or other software licensing, reseller agreements, managed service provider (MSP) agreements, and distribution agreements.

• Have strong drafting and negotiation skills complemented by excellent business judgment and critical thinking.

• are outstanding in both written and verbal communication.

• Have a strong penchant and ability for collaboration with both legal and non-legal colleagues.

• Exhibit excellent problem-solving and organisational skills.

• Show a keen interest in learning about new and emerging technologies.

• Are capable of explaining complex legal concepts (e.g., liability, indemnity, warranties, etc.) to those without a legal background.

• Are able to prioritise effectively, multitask, and drive commercial deals to closure.

• Skilled in advocating for a position while remaining open to different perspectives.

• Hold a law degree and qualification in the US, with 3+ years of post-qualification experience.

• Are comfortable with data privacy and security issues, and have some experience in drafting and negotiating data privacy and data security terms.

• Have experience working in the enterprise SaaS industry.

Fonoa is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The US base salary range for this full-time position is $170K - $210K + equity + benefits, and represents Fonoa’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. Actual compensation will depend on a variety of factors unique to each candidate, including but not limited to, the candidate’s years of experience, qualifications, relevant skill set, certifications, and geographic office location. Pay ranges may vary in different regions based on local market conditions and cost of labor.

To learn more about life at Fonoa and our benefits, please visit fonoa.com/careers.

Additional Information

Equal Opportunity Statement

At Fonoa, we seek candidates from a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives, and we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, ancestry, age, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, citizenship, or any other legally protected status.

Fonoa is committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible workplace where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. We comply with the requirements of all applicable California and federal employment laws, including those protecting disabled individuals.

If you require a reasonable accommodation to search for a job opening, apply for a position, or participate in the interview process, please contact us via email at [email protected] and describe the specific accommodation needed due to a disability-related limitation.

Examples of reasonable accommodations include, but are not limited to:

• Receiving application materials in an alternate format

• Conducting interviews in an accessible location

• Being accompanied by a service animal

• Having a sign language interpreter present during interviews

We respond to accommodation requests within three business days. Please note that non-disability-related inquiries, such as application status follow-ups, may not receive a response through this channel.

Fonoa will not discharge or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants for discussing or disclosing their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to compensation information as part of their essential job functions may not disclose this information to others who do not have access, unless it is:

• In response to a formal complaint or charge

• In furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or legal action

• Consistent with Fonoa’s legal obligations to disclose such information

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