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- Tasks: Lead legal guidance on commercial transactions and employment law across EMEA.
- Company: Join Benchling, a pioneering biotech firm transforming science with innovative software.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, generous leave, wellness perks, and remote work options.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in biotech while shaping the future of legal practices.
- Qualifications: 7+ years legal experience, especially in SaaS and European employment law.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with excellent growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Biotechnology is rewriting life as we know it, from the medicines we take to the crops we grow, the materials we wear, and the household goods that we rely on every day. But moving at the new speed of science requires better technology. Benchling's mission is to unlock the power of biotechnology. The world's most innovative biotech companies use Benchling's R&D Cloud to power the development of breakthrough products and accelerate time to milestone and market. Come help us bring modern software to modern science.
We are looking for a mission-driven, collaborative, and highly motivated individual to join Benchling as a critical member of the legal team. As Senior Counsel, EMEA Legal, you will be a trusted advisor to Benchling's EMEA teams, supporting revenue growth in Europe and guiding compliance across multiple jurisdictions. This is a unique opportunity for an experienced, pragmatic, and business-oriented attorney to provide legal guidance focused on commercial transactions, privacy, and regional employment law. The ideal candidate will be based in/near London or Zurich.
Responsibilities
- Commercial Transactions: Own and manage the full lifecycle of commercial contracts for our EMEA operations. This includes structuring, drafting, and negotiating SaaS agreements, professional services and outsourcing agreements, partner agreements, DPAs and security addendums, and other operational agreements for customers. You’ll work closely with our EMEA sales, revenue operations teams and deal desk to accelerate deals, provide strategic legal advice on complex issues, and ensure efficient, timely support for customer negotiations and other commercial transactions.
- Process Improvement: Collaborate with the Head of Commercial, Legal and other global legal team members to develop and implement efficient, scalable, localized contracting policies, practices, and processes. You’ll also evolve and manage training programs for the EMEA sales organization on negotiation best practices and relevant legal issues.
- Risk Mitigation and Business Partnership: Apply sound judgment to assess risks associated with non-standard legal positions and collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement practical mitigation strategies. You’ll provide clear, concise guidance to senior stakeholders on legal risks and liabilities within proposed commercial transactions, finding creative solutions to drive successful deal completion while fostering positive internal and external relationships.
- Employment Law: Partner with our global HR, legal, and business leaders on a wide range of European employment law matters. You will proactively identify and mitigate employment legal risks and disputes leveraging your experience, and manage relationships with local outside counsel. You will also guide the business on hiring, compensation, commission plans, benefits, performance management, leaves of absence, and contingent workers across multiple jurisdictions.
- Compliance and Data Protection: Maintain a working knowledge of relevant European laws and regulations related to privacy customer data protection and advise on their implications for Benchling's business in EMEA. Have a working knowledge of regional laws more broadly, to effectively collaborate on global expansion, local compliance, and people matters.
Qualifications
- Experience: 7+ years of general relevant legal experience, with at least 5 years in house specifically focused on commercial enterprise SaaS transactions. Understand SaaS contracting norms and market terms. Experience supporting sales and go-to-market activities in biotech, healthcare, or life sciences industries is a plus. Experience navigating employment law across multiple European jurisdictions is preferred. Qualified attorney or solicitor (or EU equivalent) with experience in an English-speaking jurisdiction required.
- Strategic Thinker: Proven ability to provide entrepreneurial, pragmatic, and business-oriented legal advice, balancing legal risk with business objectives. You can translate complex legal concepts into actionable frameworks for non-legal colleagues.
- Autonomous and Collaborative: Comfortable operating autonomously in a fast-paced, high-growth environment. Also a team player who can build strong, trusted partnerships with leadership and cross-functional teams with a customer-service oriented mindset.
- Exceptional Communicator: Outstanding written and verbal communication skills. You can advocate for a position without legalese, maintaining a collaborative and open-minded approach.
- Organized and Detail-Oriented: Highly organized, reliable, and diligent, with the ability to manage multiple issues simultaneously and set appropriate priorities.
- Growth Mindset: You embrace change and practice with kindness, humility, integrity, and humor. You are also intellectually curious and proactively seek ways for the legal team to positively impact the business.
Company Benefits - EMEA
- Competitive total rewards package
- Fertility healthcare and family-forming benefits
- Four months of fully paid parental leave
- Home office stipend
- Mental health benefits + wellness stipend
- Learning and development reimbursement
- 25 days vacation days + public holidays
- Company-wide Winter holiday shutdown
- Sabbaticals for 5-year and 10-year anniversaries
- Remote perks including travel to hubs
- In-office perks (Zurich Only - In Office)
- Commuter benefits (Zurich Only - In Office)
Benchling welcomes everyone. We believe diversity enriches our team so we hire people with a wide range of identities, backgrounds, and experiences. We are an equal opportunity employer. That means we don’t discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We also consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law, including but not limited to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.
Please be aware that Benchling will never request personal information, payment, or sensitive details outside of Greenhouse or via email. All official communications will come from an @benchling.com email address or from an approved vendor alias. If you are contacted by someone claiming to represent Benchling and are unsure of their legitimacy, please reach out to us at recruiting-fraud-alert@benchling.com to verify the communication.
Senior Counsel, Commercial & Employment (EMEA) in London employer: Benchling
Contact Detail:
Benchling Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Counsel, Commercial & Employment (EMEA) in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the biotech and legal fields. Attend industry events or webinars, and don’t be shy about introducing yourself. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Benchling and its mission. Understand their products and how they impact the biotech industry. This will help you tailor your answers and show that you’re genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! As a Senior Counsel, you’ll need to demonstrate your ability to navigate complex legal issues. Role-play with a friend or mentor to get comfortable discussing terms and conditions, and remember to keep it collaborative.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining Benchling and contributing to their mission in the biotech space.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Counsel, Commercial & Employment (EMEA) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Senior Counsel role. Highlight your experience in commercial transactions and employment law, as well as any relevant work in biotech or SaaS. We want to see how your skills align with our mission!
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since this role requires exceptional written communication, ensure your application is clear and concise. Avoid legal jargon where possible and demonstrate your ability to convey complex ideas simply. Remember, we value clarity just as much as expertise!
Highlight Your Collaborative Spirit: We’re looking for someone who can work well with cross-functional teams. In your application, share examples of how you’ve successfully partnered with others in previous roles. Show us that you can be both a trusted advisor and a team player!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our official website! This ensures it gets to the right people quickly. Plus, it’s the best way to stay updated on your application status. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Benchling
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of commercial transactions, especially SaaS agreements. Familiarise yourself with the specific legal frameworks and compliance issues relevant to the biotech industry in Europe. This will show that you're not just a legal expert but also understand the business side of things.
✨Show Your Collaborative Spirit
Since this role involves working closely with various teams, be prepared to discuss how you've successfully collaborated in the past. Share examples of how you've partnered with sales or HR to navigate complex legal issues. This will highlight your ability to work autonomously while still being a team player.
✨Communicate Clearly
Practice explaining complex legal concepts in simple terms. The interviewers will appreciate your ability to communicate effectively without using too much legal jargon. Think about how you can convey your ideas clearly and concisely, especially when discussing risk mitigation strategies.
✨Embrace the Growth Mindset
Benchling values a growth mindset, so be ready to talk about how you've adapted to change in your previous roles. Share instances where you've embraced new challenges or learned from setbacks. This will demonstrate your resilience and willingness to contribute positively to the team.
