Commercial Counsel

Role description:

We are looking for an experienced, service-oriented and practical Commercial Counsel to join our growing legal team. This role will focus on software licensing and the candidate should have a track-record of supporting sales and channel/partner teams in the software/SaaS business. Candidates should be ready to dive and manage all aspects of commercial activity – negotiating and closing complex customer, channel, and business development agreements.  Our legal team works across Customer Contracting, Vendor Contracting, Data Privacy, Investor relations, Corporate law, and Employment law, touching every corner of our business. This role will also help support all legal functions within a fast paced and rapidly growing technology company. Due to Fonoa's continued success and growth, we are now looking to hire a savvy Commercial Counsel who is a keen negotiator and can help guide us on this next leg of growth. The commercial counsel will report directly to Fonoa’s General Counsel and work alongside our commercial teams, whose customers are predominantly enterprise-level technology organisations. 

What you will do: 

• Draft and negotiate a wide variety of commercial contracts, such as SaaS or other software licensing contracts with our enterprise customers, reseller agreements with our distribution partners, managed service provider (MSP) agreements and distribution agreements.
• Provide risk assessment of contract terms and issues and offer alternative approaches to mitigate risk, including alternative contractual language.
• Support with vendor security/privacy questionnaires and vendor contracts.
• Build close cross-functional relationships with team members, especially Fonoa’s sales team, and obtain and maintain solid knowledge of the business.
• Support on wider legal team initiatives that arise as a result of being in a fast-paced, rapidly growing tech organisation.
• Advise customer-facing teams and the relevant business unit leaders of the key legal risks of the proposed project and contract, including what legal and regulatory issues need to be addressed early in the process and requirements for the company in meeting obligations associated with contracts and agreements.
• Provide advice based on the appropriate balance of risk mitigation and business interests on a real-time basis.
• Coordinate with outside counsel as needed. 

This role will be a great fit if you:  

• Possess 4+ years of experience in drafting and negotiating a wide variety of commercial contracts, including SaaS or other software licensing, reseller agreements, managed service provider (MSP) agreements, and distribution agreements.
• Have strong drafting and negotiation skills complemented by excellent business judgment and critical thinking.
• Are outstanding in both written and verbal communication.
• A strong penchant and ability for collaboration with both legal and non-legal colleagues.
• Exhibit excellent problem-solving and organizational skills.
• Show a keen interest in learning about new and emerging technologies.
• Are capable of explaining complex legal concepts (e.g., liability, indemnity, warranties, etc.) to those without a legal background.
• Are able to prioritize effectively, multitask, and drive commercial deals to closure.
• Are skilled in advocating for a position while remaining open to different perspectives.
• Hold a law degree and qualification in the UK, US, or Ireland, with 4+ years of post-qualification experience.
• Are comfortable with data privacy and security issues, experienced in drafting and negotiating data privacy and data security terms.
• Are experienced within the enterprise SaaS industry.