Legal Counsel

Legal Counsel

Full-Time 36000 - 60000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Be the first in-house lawyer, supporting fundraising and governance in a fast-growing tech company.
  • Company: Join Nivoda, a dynamic marketplace revolutionising the jewellery industry with tech and innovation.
  • Benefits: Enjoy flexible hours, remote work, private health insurance, unlimited holiday, and growth opportunities.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in a high-growth environment and pave your way to becoming a General Counsel.
  • Qualifications: 5-7 years PQE with experience in corporate law and advising startups or scale-ups.
  • Other info: Embrace a culture of empowerment and continuous learning while contributing to a global transformation.

The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.

Location: Remote (UK/EU)

Reporting to: Director of Risk

Nivoda: Where Innovation and Gemstones Meet

At Nivoda, we’re reimagining how the world buys and sells jewellery. Our global marketplace connects retailers and suppliers across diamonds, gemstones, and finished jewellery, already powering over $300M in annual transactions and scaling fast toward our billion-dollar vision. We’re bringing tech, data, and automation to a $350B industry that’s barely scratched the surface of digital transformation. The result? Explosive growth and massive opportunity — powered by a team that makes it happen.

As we scale, legal is becoming increasingly central to how we fund, govern, and operate the business. This role exists to help us do that thoughtfully, pragmatically, and at speed.

Our Mission 💎

The idea of Nivoda was inspired by the ongoing inefficiency of diamond trading. We set out to develop the solution to help businesses, regardless of their size or location, increase their sales and margins, whilst removing the operational burden of sourcing diamonds.

About the role ⭐️

We are looking for a Legal Counsel to be our first in-house lawyer - a strong generalist with a clear track record supporting equity fundraising and investor diligence who wants to grow into a senior legal leader in a high-growth tech environment. This role will cover a broad remit across corporate governance, debt and equity funding, equity programmes, commercial contracts, and employment matters - with exposure to the board and senior leadership from day one. We’re looking for someone who has spent time in private practice supporting startups or scale-ups and is now excited by the idea of owning the legal function, professionalising our legal foundations, and building toward IPO-grade readiness.

What would you be doing? 🤔

  • Corporate, Finance & Fundraising

Support the company’s capital and ownership structure:

  • Support debt and equity financings, working closely with external counsel, investors, and leadership.
  • Assist with cap table management, option schemes, and equity programme administration.
  • Provide pragmatic advice on corporate structuring and shareholder matters.
  • Build and maintain Nivoda’s investor due diligence packs.

Your impact: Funding processes run smoothly, compliantly, and without unnecessary friction.

  • Governance & Board Support

Help run best-in-class governance:

  • Act as Company Secretary, supporting board and committee meetings.
  • Prepare agendas, attend board meetings, and take accurate minutes.
  • Ensure statutory filings, resolutions, and governance obligations are met across entities.
  • Strengthen governance documentation to build toward IPO-ready governance standards.

Your impact: Strong governance that supports growth, and ensures adherence to our shareholder agreements.

  • Commercial & Contractual Matters

Support day-to-day commercial activity:

  • Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements.
  • Partner with Sales, Partnerships, and Operations to unblock deals pragmatically.
  • Help create and maintain contract templates and playbooks.
  • Drive contract standardisation and control environment improvements to support diligence and audit-readiness.

Your impact: Commercial teams move fast with appropriate legal protection.

  • Employment & People Matters

Provide support across people-related legal topics:

  • Advise on employment and labour law matters in partnership with People and external counsel.
  • Support with offer letters, contracts, and employee equity participation.
  • Support equity and incentive programmes (EMI/CSOP where relevant, option documentation, governance and employee comms).

Your impact: People decisions are compliant, fair, and scalable.

  • Build the In-House Legal Function

Help shape how legal operates at Nivoda:

  • Decide what to own in-house vs outsource to external counsel.
  • Create a “legal readiness roadmap” for IPO-grade maturity.
  • Improve legal processes, documentation, and standardization across the business.
  • Act as a trusted advisor to leadership on legal and risk-related questions.

Your impact: Legal becomes a proactive enabler of growth, not a bottleneck.

What do we need from you? 😎

  • 5-7 years PQE, trained at a reputable law firm with a corporate and/or finance background.
  • Experience advising startups or scale-ups (either directly or via outsourced firm work).
  • Hands-on experience supporting equity fundraises, including diligence and closing processes.
  • Strong grounding in corporate law, financing transactions, and governance.
  • Commercially minded - able to balance risk with speed and pragmatism.
  • Comfortable working autonomously across a broad and evolving remit.
  • Motivated by the opportunity to grow into a General Counsel role over time.

Nice to have:

  • Prior in-house experience at a high-tech-led company.
  • Experience acting as or supporting a Company Secretary.
  • Exposure to equity incentive schemes and cap table management.
  • Familiarity with international or multi-entity corporate structures.
  • Exposure to IPO readiness frameworks, internal controls, or public-company style governance.

Our culture and what we offer 😉

At Nivoda, we believe that employees today want to evolve in a collaborative, high-growth environment where they can demonstrate their abilities and thrive both professionally and personally. We are convinced that employees need to find alignment between their inner values and their company's culture and mission to unlock their full potential. We work to create a culture of empowerment, continuous learning and growth where everyone can bring expertise, own projects and easily measure their impact.

Be the first in-house lawyer at a fast-scaling, global tech company.

Board-level exposure and close partnership with the CEO, CFO, and leadership team.

A genuine pathway to becoming a General Counsel in the next 4–5 years.

High autonomy, broad scope, and meaningful ownership.

Join a hyper-growth company transforming a global industry.

Our current benefits 🕰️

  • Flexible working hours and a vibrant company culture.
  • Remote work (Spain/Portugal/UK).
  • Private health insurance to keep you at your peak.
  • Plenty of opportunities for growth and learning.
  • Flexible compensation card for meals, transport and childcare.
  • Unlimited holiday allowance.
  • Chance to join and contribute to a company during its exponential expansion phase.

Nivoda is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace dedicated to promoting diversity. We don't discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status. Even if it seems you don't meet 100% of our musts don't let it stop you, we are all about finding the best talent out there! Skills can be learned, and embracing diversity is invaluable.

Please note: Our Talent Acquisition Team is international coming from across the world. We kindly ask you to please submit your CV and application in English so that it can be reviewed correctly. If after reading this job description you believe this is not the best fit for you, we’d encourage you to join our Talent Pool so we can keep you in mind as new roles open up. This ensures you’re among the first to hear about openings aligned with your skills and interests.

Legal Counsel employer: Nivoda

Nivoda is an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of empowerment and continuous learning, making it an ideal place for professionals seeking to thrive in a high-growth environment. As the first in-house Legal Counsel, you will enjoy significant autonomy, board-level exposure, and a clear pathway to becoming a General Counsel within a few years, all while working remotely from the UK or EU. With benefits like flexible working hours, unlimited holiday allowance, and private health insurance, Nivoda is committed to supporting your professional and personal growth as we transform the jewellery industry together.
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Contact Detail:

Nivoda Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Legal Counsel

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to connections in the legal field, especially those who have experience with startups or tech companies. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings that aren’t even advertised yet.

Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by researching Nivoda and its mission. Understand how your legal expertise can help them scale and innovate in the jewellery industry. Tailor your answers to show you’re not just a fit for the role, but for their culture too!

Tip Number 3

Don’t underestimate the power of follow-ups! After an interview, send a quick thank-you email. It shows your enthusiasm and keeps you on their radar. Plus, it’s a great chance to reiterate why you’re the perfect fit for their team.

Tip Number 4

Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the Nivoda journey. Let’s make it happen together!

We think you need these skills to ace Legal Counsel

Corporate Law
Finance Transactions
Governance
Equity Fundraising
Investor Diligence
Commercial Contracts
Employment Law
Company Secretary
Contract Negotiation
Legal Documentation
Risk Management
IPO Readiness
Autonomy in Legal Operations
Stakeholder Communication
Problem-Solving

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Legal Counsel role. Highlight your experience in corporate law, fundraising, and governance. We want to see how your background aligns with our mission at Nivoda!

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Share why you’re excited about joining Nivoda and how you can contribute to our growth. Be genuine and let your personality come through.

Showcase Relevant Experience: When detailing your experience, focus on your work with startups or scale-ups. We’re keen to see examples of how you’ve supported equity fundraises and navigated legal complexities in fast-paced environments.

Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures it gets into the right hands. We can’t wait to hear from you!

How to prepare for a job interview at Nivoda

Know Your Stuff

Make sure you brush up on corporate law, financing transactions, and governance. Nivoda is looking for someone who can hit the ground running, so be prepared to discuss your experience with equity fundraising and investor diligence in detail.

Show Your Pragmatic Side

Nivoda values a commercially minded approach, so think about how you can balance risk with speed. Be ready to share examples of how you've navigated complex legal situations while keeping business goals in mind.

Demonstrate Your Leadership Potential

As the first in-house lawyer, you'll need to show that you're ready to take ownership of the legal function. Talk about your vision for building a legal team and how you plan to professionalise their legal foundations as they scale.

Engage with Their Mission

Nivoda is all about transforming the jewellery industry through tech and data. Show genuine enthusiasm for their mission and be prepared to discuss how your legal expertise can support their growth and IPO readiness.

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