At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead commercial legal functions and manage complex negotiations in AI SaaS licensing.
- Company: Join an innovative AI lab with a talented team from top tech companies.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible work environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Play a key role in expanding into new EMEA markets with strategic legal guidance.
- 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, apply to join 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 employer: Windsurf Inc.
Cognition is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where innovation meets 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, all while being supported by a culture that values talent and encourages professional growth. With a focus on cutting-edge AI technology and a commitment to diversity and inclusion, we provide our employees with the opportunity to tackle meaningful challenges in a fast-paced, supportive atmosphere.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Commercial Counsel - Europe
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks 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 products. Understand their mission and how your skills can contribute to their goals. This shows you're genuinely interested and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! As a Commercial Counsel, you'll need to balance risk and reward. Role-play with a friend or mentor to get comfortable discussing terms and closing deals effectively.
✨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 keen on joining our team and contributing to our exciting projects.
We think you need these skills to ace Commercial Counsel - Europe
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Legal Savvy:Make sure to highlight your experience with GDPR, the EU AI Act, and other relevant regulations. We want to see that you can navigate the legal landscape like a pro!
Tailor Your Application:Don’t just send a generic CV and cover letter. We love it when candidates customise their applications to reflect how their skills align with our needs. Show us why you're the perfect fit for this role!
Be Clear and Concise:When drafting your application, keep it straightforward. We appreciate clarity, especially in legal contexts. Make your points succinctly and avoid unnecessary jargon.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you’re genuinely interested in joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Windsurf Inc.
✨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 and negotiate effectively in a fast-paced environment.
✨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 collaboratively across teams to launch new markets in EMEA. Prepare to discuss how you’ve successfully worked with technical and operational teams in the past, as this role requires strong communication skills and the ability to bridge gaps between legal and non-legal teams.
