Commercial Counsel, Canto

• JD and active bar membership in good standing
• 5–8 years of legal experience in SaaS or technology, in-house or a mix of law firm and in-house
• Strong experience negotiating commercial SaaS agreements, including MSAs, subscription agreements, DPAs, and NDAs
• Working knowledge of data privacy frameworks, including GDPR, CCPA, and related regulations
• Demonstrated ability to operate independently, build processes from scratch, and establish legal infrastructure in a scaling environment
• Experience partnering with Sales and go-to-market teams in a high-velocity commercial environment
• Clear interest in legal technology and AI-driven workflows, with a commitment to building a modern, tech-enabled legal function
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex legal concepts into clear, actionable guidance for non-legal stakeholders
• Commercial judgment and pragmatism — able to balance legal risk with business velocity and act as a trusted partner, not a gatekeeper
• Comfort with ambiguity and a builder's mindset; able to create structure, systems, and process where none exist
• Ability to leverage AI tools for contract review, workflow automation, and legal operations — and a proactive approach to identifying new efficiencies through technology
• Cross-functional collaboration skills and a track record of building trust with Sales, Finance, and executive stakeholders

Desirable

• Canto is hiring its first in-house legal leader to build and scale a modern legal function from the ground up
• This role is focused on commercial contracting as a strategic driver of growth — not just risk mitigation
• Reporting to the CFO, you will design and operate an AI-enabled contracting function that accelerates deal velocity, reduces friction, and enables the business to scale efficiently and effectively
• Within your first six months, you will own our end-to-end contracting operations, implement foundational systems and playbooks, and establish yourself as the primary legal partner across Sales, Finance, and the executive team
• If you thrive in a builder environment and want to define what great legal looks like at a scaling SaaS company, this role is for you
• Own negotiation and execution of commercial SaaS agreements — including MSAs, subscription agreements, DPAs, and NDAs — while enabling the business to move quickly within defined guardrails
• Enforce company positions on non-standard terms and manage escalation paths, improving time-to-signature without increasing legal or commercial risk
• Train and enable Sales to handle routine negotiations independently, reducing legal bottlenecks at scale
• Lead the end-to-end contracting function for all customer and vendor agreements, building a scalable, AI-enabled operation that reduces manual work and accelerates deal cycles
• Implement and manage a Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) system, including templates, negotiation playbooks, approval workflows, and delegation of authority controls
• Leverage AI-driven legal tools for contract review, risk flagging, and workflow automation — actively identifying opportunities to reduce outside counsel reliance over time
• Own vendor contracting and procurement legal processes, maintaining a contract repository with proactive tracking of key terms and obligations
• Lead legal aspects of data privacy — including DPA negotiation and regulatory alignment with GDPR, CCPA, and related frameworks — and monitor evolving requirements across Canto's operating and customer geographies
• Partner with Security, Product, and Executive Leadership on emerging legal and regulatory requirements related to AI, data governance, automated decision-making, IP, and responsible AI practices
• Serve as the primary legal advisor across commercial and operational matters, managing outside counsel relationships across the US and Europe with a focus on cost efficiency and minimizing routine escalations
• Handle disputes and pre-litigation matters with a pragmatic, resolution-oriented approach, and advise on Canto's corporate entity compliance program
• Partner with Security during privacy and security events, coordinating on notification obligations, contractual commitments, regulatory requirements, and privilege preservation