Head of Legal

Head of Legal

Full-Time 99000 - 121000 £ / year (est.) Hybrid
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead and build the legal function from scratch in a fast-growing AI company.
  • Company: Join a Y Combinator-backed company revolutionising consumer research with AI.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, equity options, private health coverage, and regular team socials.
  • Other info: Hybrid work model with exciting off-site events and career growth opportunities.
  • Why this job: Shape the future of a dynamic company while working closely with leadership.
  • Qualifications: 10+ years legal experience, ideally in SaaS, with strong commercial acumen.

The predicted salary is between 99000 - 121000 £ per year.

Build the company's legal function from the ground up, and be the partner our leadership team relies on as we scale.

the company is a Y Combinator-backed company in an active growth period.

We started this year as a team of ~20 and are on track to reach ~125 people by year end.

The people who join now have an outsized chance to shape how this company is built.

We raised a $50M Series A led by DST Global, Balderton, and Visionaries, giving us the fuel to move even faster.

We're investing in our product, growing an exceptional team, and taking on bigger challenges as we enter our next stage of growth.

What We're Building Conveo is the AI research platform enabling fast, affordable, and high-quality consumer and B2B research.

Global brands like Unilever, Google, and Orange use our AI video interviewer to generate insights across marketing and product teams.

Traditional research is slow, expensive, and superficial.

Running it well requires expertise most teams don't have.

That gap affects how well companies understand their customers and how well they can serve them.

We're closing it.

The Role As our first Head of Legal, you'll build the company's legal function from the ground up.

Strategically critical commercial agreements with enterprise clients and reseller partners are coming in, and they require sharp commercial and legal review to protect our revenue lines.

You will advise on a broad array of legal topics across commercial, product, IP, employment and corporate matters, with the support of external advisors and tools where appropriate.

This is a partnership role.

You'll report to our CFO and work hand in hand with them, with a strong dotted line to our CEO.

You'll have full strategic and operational visibility across the organisation and help strike the balance between risk and opportunity. the company operates across Europe and the US, so you'll also support our New York team and work across jurisdictions.

You'll lead our legal associate directly and manage our external lawyers.

Legal here is both sword and shield for our commercial team.

You'll be commercially pragmatic: working with the business, you'll make proportionate risk calls on the deal as a whole, not clause by clause, and you'll be prepared to work at pace.

You know that speed and clarity matter, and that sometimes legal rigour is what saves us down the road.

This role is based in our London office, in a hybrid setup (3 days a week in the office expected).

What You'll Do

  • Own our commercial contracts
  • Review and negotiate our most important client and reseller agreements: MSAs, DPAs, SLAs and order forms, often against enterprise procurement and legal teams
  • Own supplier contract reviews
  • Set fallback positions so deals don't stall, and tell the business clearly when to say no
  • Build templates and playbooks so sales can close standard deals without you
  • Build the legal function
  • Set up intake, templates, playbooks and a central contract repository
  • Decide what is handled in-house and what goes to external counsel, and keep spend in check
  • Select, brief and manage outside firms across jurisdictions
  • Lead and develop our legal associate, and grow the team as the company scales
  • Own corporate, people and IP matters
  • Keep corporate housekeeping in order across our entities
  • Work closely with the CFO and corporate counsel on any debt or equity fundraises.
  • Partner with our People team on employment and equity matters across the UK, Belgium, the US, and any new market we enter
  • Protect our IP and work with external counsel to protect our brand
  • Get the company ready for Series B and due diligence
  • Own the legal side of data privacy and AI
  • Have a say in how we build and use AI in our product, advising product and engineering to remain compliant with the changing landscape of AI regulation.
  • Create and own the data protection and AI terms in our client and supplier contracts, including DPAs and subprocessor terms
  • Develop and help manage our AI Governance across the company.
  • What Success Looks Like After 3 months
  • You fully own the legal function
  • You've completed a deep-dive risk review of our contracts and processes, covering commercial, employment and terms and conditions, so we know what is in place and what is not
  • You've put a process in place to step into commercial agreements when needed
  • You have a handle on every open external counsel matter, and you're leading on our longer-standing legal issues
  • You've set up a working framework with our People team
  • You're shaping how legal acts as both sword and shield for our commercial team
  • Depending on when you join, you've started preparing the company for Series B and due diligence
  • After 6 months
  • We contract with clients in a fundamentally better way, through a new contracting process
  • There's a clear legal intake process across HR, corporate, IP and commercial
  • You have strong working relationships with sales, product, engineering, finance and People, and everyone knows legal is the place to go for any agreement
  • Our legal associate works independently and is growing as a legal professional
  • Our external counsel spend is planned and predictable, with outside advice focused where it adds the most value
  • What You'll Bring
  • 10+ years qualified in any UK or EU jurisdiction, with private practice followed by in-house experience
  • Experience leading an in-house legal function, ideally as head of legal or GC at a Saa S company, with the creativity and drive to build things from scratch
  • Deep commercial experience, including IP and liability: MSAs, DPAs, order forms, and negotiating with enterprise procurement and legal teams
  • A track record of building legal process from scratch: templates, playbooks, intake, a contract repository
  • Experience running external counsel across several jurisdictions and keeping spend in check
  • Working knowledge of employment, equity and corporate matters across multi-entity groups, with exposure to the UK, US and Belgium.
  • Comfort making risk calls and closing imperfect contracts, and giving clear, usable advice to non-lawyers and board-level readers
  • Nice to Have
  • Fundraising experience on the fund or company side
  • US legal experience
  • Experience with data privacy (GDPR) and AI regulation, such as the EU AI Act
  • Experience with cross-border data transfers between the UK, EU and US
  • Hands-on experience with contract lifecycle tools and AI-assisted contract review

Why Join Us?

  • Build the legal function at a hyper-growth, YC-backed AI company
  • A true partnership role, working directly with our CFO and CEO
  • Meaningful equity. We want you to own a piece of what we're building.
  • Offices in London, Antwerp, and New York. We work best together, so 3 days a week in the office is required.
  • Regular socials: rooftop drinks, team dinners, run clubs, and more
  • Twice-yearly off-sites to places worth travelling to: Austria, Las Vegas, and Portugal
  • Private health coverage with Vitality (incl. dental, vision)
  • Enhanced employer pension contribution (5% employer, 3% employee contribution)
  • Refer someone great and earn up to £5,000
  • Find more English Speaking Jobs in United Kingdom on Arbeitnow

Head of Legal employer: Conveo

Conveo is an excellent employer that fosters a dynamic and innovative work culture, perfect for those looking to make a significant impact in the sales enablement space. With a strong focus on employee growth and development, we provide ample opportunities for professional advancement while leveraging cutting-edge AI tools to enhance your creative contributions. Join us in our vibrant location, where collaboration and creativity thrive, and be part of a team dedicated to elevating enterprise offerings to new heights.

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Contact Details:

Conveo Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Head of Legal

✨Get Involved in Law Societies

Join local law societies and attend their events – they're often a goldmine for networking and job opportunities in the legal field. Plus, it’s a great way to meet other budding lawyers and experienced solicitors who could provide vital insights and connections.

✨Tap into Online Legal Communities

Don’t underestimate the power of online platforms like LinkedIn and specific legal forums. Get active in discussions or share your thoughts on recent legal developments – this not only builds your visibility but also showcases your passion and knowledge in law.

✨Attend Career Fairs and Workshops

Look out for career fairs and workshops specifically focused on law. Many law firms, including Conveo, will be scouting for fresh talent, so bring your A-game and don’t shy away from making a memorable impression.

✨Leverage Your University’s Career Services

If you’re still in university or have recently graduated, latch onto your career services! They often have connections with law firms looking for graduates and can guide you through the application process tailored for the legal sector.

We think you need these skills to ace Head of Legal

Communication Skills
Problem-Solving Skills
Adaptability
Flexibility
Compassion
Teamwork
Organizational Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Highlight Your Legal Knowledge:When applying for a full-time role in legal services at Conveo, make sure to demonstrate your understanding of key legal principles and areas of law relevant to the position. Include any specific coursework, modules, or certifications, like LPC or BPTC qualifications, that showcase your legal expertise directly on your CV.

Showcase Your Research Skills:In the legal field, strong research skills are crucial. Use your application to illustrate how you've utilised these skills in past studies or work experiences – whether that's through past internships or significant projects. Mention any legal databases or tools you’re proficient in, as this can give you an edge.

Tailor That Cover Letter!:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Make it personal by expressing your genuine interest in Conveo and the specific role of Head of Legal. Talk about why you want to be part of their team, how your unique experiences align with their values, and why you’re passionate about the legal sector.

Stay Formal but Friendly:While we all know the legal world can be pretty formal, don’t be afraid to let a bit of personality shine through in your written application. Use a respectful tone, but feel free to inject a little warmth; this approach can help you stand out and show you're a great fit for Conveo’s culture!

How to prepare for a job interview at Conveo

✨Know Your Legal Principles

Brush up on foundational legal principles relevant to the specific area of law you’re applying for, whether it’s corporate, criminal, or family law. We might get asked situational questions to test your knowledge, so being articulate about key concepts will make you stand out.

✨Be Ready for Case Studies

Full-time legal roles often involve case studies during interviews. Prepare to analyse a hypothetical case and discuss your approach to it. Practising this with a peer or mentor can help us refine our reasoning and articulate a solid legal argument.

✨Show Off Your Research Skills

As legal professionals, strong research skills are a must. Have examples ready of how you've effectively used legal databases or conducted thorough legal research in your past experiences. It's a great way to demonstrate your readiness for the role at Conveo.

✨Exude Professionalism and Confidence

In the legal field, professionalism is key. During the interview, we should maintain good eye contact and communicate clearly to show that we’re not just knowledgeable, but also confident. This can make a positive impression on your potential colleagues at Conveo.