Commercial Counsel - Europe in London

Commercial Counsel - Europe in London

London Full-Time 80000 - 100000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
Tesla

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead commercial legal functions and manage complex negotiations in AI SaaS licensing.
  • Company: Join a cutting-edge AI lab with a talented team of innovators.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible work environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on regional expansion and compliance.
  • Why this job: Be at the forefront of AI development and make a real impact in the industry.
  • Qualifications: 7+ years in commercial contracts and experience in high-velocity tech environments.

The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.

We are an applied AI lab building end-to-end software agents. We’re the makers of Devin, the first AI software engineer, and Windsurf, the AI‑native IDE. Together, they represent our vision for collaborative AI teammates that enable engineers to focus on more interesting problems and empower teams to strive for more ambitious goals. Our team is small and talent-dense. Among our founding team, we have world‑class competitive programmers, former founders, and leaders from companies at the cutting edge of AI including Scale AI, Palantir, Cursor, Waymo, Tesla, Lunchclub, Modal, Google DeepMind, and Nuro. Building Devin and Windsurf is just the first step—our hardest challenges still lie ahead. If you’re excited to solve some of the world’s biggest problems and build AI that can reason on real-world tasks, we invite you to explore a role with us.

About The Role

As Commercial Counsel for EMEA, you will sit at the centre of a fast‑moving commercial legal function, managing a high‑volume workflow of complex negotiations across AI SaaS licensing, marketing, and partnership agreements. You will be the primary legal voice in enterprise‑level deals, balancing risk and reward with pragmatism and speed, and ensuring closures that are both fair and commercially sound. This role carries real weight. You will serve as the connective tissue between EMEA markets and a US‑based technical and operational team, translating local legal and regulatory requirements into guidance that non‑legal stakeholders can act on. That means deep fluency in GDPR, the EU AI Act, DORA, and the broader compliance landscape across the region, and the confidence to advise clearly under pressure.

Beyond day‑to‑day deal work, you will play a meaningful part in the company’s regional expansion, working cross‑functionally to establish and launch new markets across EMEA. If you want a legal role with genuine strategic scope, this is it.

In This Role You Will

  • Lead responsibility for all GTM deals and contract work out of EU and MENA
  • Manage GDPR compliance and DPAs
  • Manage local regulatory compliance (DORA, EU AI Act, EU Data Act, etc.)
  • Manage a high‑volume workflow, redlining and negotiating key legal documents, including Licensing, SaaS agreements, and NDAs
  • Provide crucial legal guidance, balancing risk/reward, with an understanding of local requirements and parlaying that to a US‑based technical and operational team
  • Engage with enterprise‑level counsel, ensuring swift and fair deal closures
  • Advise on compliance with local regulations, including GDPR, EU AI Act, and DORA
  • Work collaboratively across teams to establish and launch new markets in EMEA, including providing regulatory and compliance guidance for operating in new regions

Ideally You Have

  • 7+ years experience drafting and negotiating commercial contracts, including international trans‑national commercial arrangements
  • Experience with high‑velocity tech company preferred
  • Transnational body of work, including Europe, Middle East, and Asia/South Asia
  • Must have experience working from local market for US‑based company
  • Bonus if experience includes launching new markets in EU/MENA localities

Equal Opportunity

Cognition is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities throughout the hiring process - please let us know if you need any.

Commercial Counsel - Europe in London employer: Tesla

At Cognition, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. As a Commercial Counsel in our EMEA team, you will not only engage in high-stakes negotiations but also play a pivotal role in our regional expansion, with ample opportunities for professional growth and development. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion ensures a supportive environment where every voice is valued, making it an exciting place to contribute to cutting-edge AI solutions.

Tesla

Contact Details:

Tesla Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Commercial Counsel - Europe in London

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, especially those who work at companies you're interested in. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that might just land you an interview.

Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their products and how they fit into the market. This will help you tailor your answers and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of the team.

Tip Number 3

Practice makes perfect! Do mock interviews with friends or use online platforms. The more comfortable you are with your responses, the more confident you'll be when it counts.

Tip Number 4

Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to connect directly with us.

We think you need these skills to ace Commercial Counsel - Europe in London

Commercial Contract Drafting
Negotiation Skills
GDPR Compliance
EU AI Act Knowledge
DORA Compliance
Regulatory Compliance
High-Volume Workflow Management

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Commercial Counsel role. Highlight your experience with GDPR, EU AI Act, and any relevant tech industry work. We want to see how your background aligns with our mission!

Showcase Your Negotiation Skills:In your application, don’t forget to mention specific examples of complex negotiations you've handled. We’re looking for someone who can balance risk and reward, so share those success stories that demonstrate your expertise!

Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward. Use clear language and avoid jargon where possible. We appreciate a well-structured application that gets straight to the point—just like we do in our work!

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team!

How to prepare for a job interview at Tesla

Know Your Legal Stuff

Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of GDPR, the EU AI Act, and DORA. Being able to discuss these regulations confidently will show that you're not just familiar with the legal landscape but can also translate complex legal jargon into actionable advice for non-legal stakeholders.

Showcase Your Negotiation Skills

Prepare examples of past negotiations you've led, especially in high-pressure situations. Highlight how you balanced risk and reward while ensuring fair closures. This will demonstrate your ability to manage a high-volume workflow effectively.

Understand the Company’s Vision

Familiarise yourself with the company’s products like Devin and Windsurf. Understanding their vision for collaborative AI teammates will help you align your answers with their goals and show that you're genuinely interested in contributing to their mission.

Be Ready for Cross-Functional Collaboration

Think about how you can work with technical and operational teams. Prepare to discuss how you would provide legal guidance while collaborating across different functions to launch new markets in EMEA. This will highlight your strategic thinking and teamwork skills.