Commercial Counsel

New York, United States (Open to SF, Seattle, or Remote US)

J.D. and active state bar membership; 6+ years of experience negotiating complex commercial contracts, with significant experience in a fast-paced late-stage private or mid-sized public B2B SaaS company; experience with strategic IP-heavy partnerships.

Complete Guide: Commercial Counsel at Runway

Runway , a pioneer in generative AI and world models, is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Commercial Counsel to join its growing legal team. As an early legal hire, the successful candidate will play a pivotal role in shaping the legal landscape of generative AI video technology. The role is primarily focused on B2B SaaS customer negotiations and strategic, IP-heavy partnerships.

Key Responsibilities

The Commercial Counsel will act as a strategic partner to Runway's executive, sales, partnerships, and marketing teams. Primary duties include:

• Contract Negotiation: Leading negotiations for B2B SaaS customer contracts, APIs, Data Processing Agreements (DPAs), vendor agreements, and complex partnership agreements.
• Process Optimization: Designing and implementing scalable commercial processes, legal playbooks, templates, and legal technology infrastructure.
• Sales Empowerment: Providing the sales team with the necessary tools, training, and knowledge to accelerate deal closures.
• Product & Industry Alignment: Developing a deep technical understanding of Runway's generative AI products to provide informed, practical business advice, while keeping abreast of global AI policy and legal developments.
• Counsel Management: Managing external counsel on specialized matters as required.

Eligibility & Requirements

To be considered for this role, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Education & Bar Admission: A Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree and active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar.
• Professional Experience: Minimum of 6 years of experience negotiating complex commercial contracts, with substantial experience in-house at a fast-paced, late-stage private or mid-sized public B2B SaaS company.
• Specialized Knowledge: Proven track record with strategic, IP-heavy partnerships. Experience with B2C legal issues and privacy programs (marketing, user data, enterprise compliance) is highly desirable.
• Core Competencies: Strong business acumen, a bias for action, a growth mindset, and experience scaling business processes globally.

Location & Compensation

While Runway has a preference for candidates located in the New York City (Eastern Time Zone) area, they are also open to hiring out of their San Francisco and Seattle offices, or on a remote basis across the United States. Compensation packages are competitive and tailored based on experience, location, and qualifications.