Senior Legal Counsel

Voted Best Places to Work in Austin, Best Paying Companies, 
and Top Startup Companies by Forbes

SparkCognition looks to bring in the best talent in the world. To accommodate the hiring of our wildly talented teams, SparkCognition sponsors visa opportunities when appropriate.

Who are we and why this opportunity? 
Drive change and create a footprint. SparkCognition invests in our employees and fosters collaboration throughout the organization. Our employees have the ability to work 
globally with award-winning artificial intelligence (AI) technology within multiple industries. 

What are the benefits and perks at SparkCognition? 
Our full-time employees and their loved ones will be supported with a competitive and comprehensive benefits package.

Below are some highlights - we’d love to connect and share more! 

• Fast-paced evolving culture with the opportunity to drive new ideas and technology.
• Hybrid Work Environment - 4 days per week in office
• Stock Option Grants
• Generous Time Off Programs
• Medical Coverage, and Parental Leave Plans 
• 401k with Employer Match
• Monthly Technology Allowance 
• Large 2022 renovated office space centrally located near the Arboretum in Austin, TX- including fully stocked beverage and snack areas!

What would I be doing?

As Senior Legal Counsel, you will report to SparkCognition’s General Counsel and be a part of the SparkCognition in-house Legal Department.  Every day, the Legal Department collaborates with others at the company to ensure that the company reaches its business goals in a legal and compliant manner.  Though headquartered in Austin, SparkCognition is an ambitious global enterprise with presences the UK, India, South America, and the Middle East.  Joining our team will offer you the opportunity to participate in a remarkably wide array of legal projects.  The Legal Department is responsible for all legal matters involving the company, and in just in the last couple of years, this includes negotiating commercial agreements with some of the largest industrial companies in the world, leading a fundraising round resulting in a unicorn valuation of over $1 Billion, completing four domestic and cross-border acquisitions, establishing IP protections around SparkCognition’s industry-leading technology portfolio, handling employment matters, advising on corporate governance matters, and spearheading public company readiness initiatives.

Key Capabilities:

• Advising on dispute resolution, including but not limited to arbitration and litigation, both domestic and international
• Managing employment matters and potential disputes in conjunction with the SparkCognition HR team and outside counsel when appropriate
• Monitoring emerging legal requirements and implementing policies and procedures for compliance with evolving legal best practices in areas like data privacy (including GDPR), biometrics, AI training sets, and IP
• Providing input and guidance on commercial and legal elements of transactions
• Reviewing, analyzing, and negotiating commercial agreements, including RFPs, sales proposals, and statements of work that involve SparkCognition software, hardware, and services, including protection of trade secrets and other IP
• Training non-legal staff on compliance policies and procedures
• Interacting effectively with senior management
• Collaborating with services, sales, operations, delivery, and finance to ensure protection SparkCognition's interests and effective management of contracts and legal obligations
• Reviewing general legal questions in an in-house environment, including those related to compliance, information security, governance and general corporate matters
• Building a culture of excellence, professionalism and collegiality

Requirements:

• Active license to practice law in at least one state
• Minimum of 7 years legal experience, preferably with experience at a substantial law firm as well as in-house at a technology company
• Substantial knowledge of the software industry and SaaS offerings (AI and data privacy knowledge preferred)
• Experience seeing commercial and employment disputes to completion, including in court and arbitration settings
• Experience at a public company or at a private company during its transition to a public company will be looked upon favorably
• Ability to work in a dynamic and fast-paced environment as a self-starter, with demonstrated track record of building peer and executive cross-functional relationships
• A friendly, team-focused attitude that fosters a positive, collegial work environment inside and outside the legal department

 

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