Commercial Counsel

Commercial Counsel

The Commercial Counsel is a key member of People Inc's Legal team, serving as a trusted legal advisor to the business and leading the review, negotiation, and implementation of the company's commercial contracting processes. This role partners closely with Sales, Product, Marketing, Technology, Finance, Procurement, and executive leadership to support strategic initiatives while balancing legal risk with business objectives.

The Commercial Counsel is responsible for negotiating complex commercial agreements, developing scalable contracting processes, and providing practical, business-oriented legal guidance that accelerates deal execution and enables growth. Success in this role requires exceptional legal judgment, commercial acumen, strong negotiation skills, an entrepreneurial mindset and the ability to translate complex legal issues into practical business solutions.

In-office Expectations - NYC Location: This position is hybrid in-office, with the ability to work remotely up to two days per week.

The Legal team partners across the organization to protect the company's brands, intellectual property, employees, customers, and business while enabling growth through practical legal advice and strategic risk management.

The Role's Contributions:

• Draft, review, negotiate, and advise on a broad range of commercial agreements, including customer, vendor, technology, SaaS, software licensing, advertising, partnership, procurement, consulting, confidentiality, data processing, and professional services agreements.
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve scalable contracting processes, templates, negotiation playbooks, training materials, and legal operations to increase efficiency, consistency, and speed.
• Support strategic initiatives, product launches, partnerships, emerging technologies, and new business models by identifying legal risks and recommending practical solutions that balance legal requirements with business objectives.
• Partner with Sales, Product, Marketing, Technology, Procurement, Finance, and other business leaders to provide practical legal guidance that supports revenue growth while appropriately managing legal and commercial risk.
• Monitor legal and regulatory developments affecting commercial transactions, intellectual property, privacy, AI, digital advertising, and technology, and advise internal stakeholders on business implications.

The Role's Minimum Qualifications and Job Requirements:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
• Bachelor's degree.
• Active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar (New York preferred).
• 4+ years of experience practicing commercial, corporate, technology, media, intellectual property, or business law at a nationally recognized law firm and/or in-house legal department.
• Significant experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating sophisticated commercial agreements.
• Demonstrated interest in advising cross-functional business teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated interest in supporting technology, digital media, publishing, advertising, SaaS, or consumer businesses.
• Demonstrated interest in intellectual property transactions, privacy, AI, product counseling, or data licensing.
• Experience developing legal operations, contract management processes, and contracting playbooks.

Specific Knowledge, Skills, Certifications and Abilities:

• Deep knowledge of commercial contracting principles, contract negotiation, and risk allocation.
• Collaborative, entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, matrixed organization and adapt to changing needs.
• Experience negotiating technology, SaaS, licensing, advertising, marketing, procurement, consulting, data processing, and professional services agreements.
• Strong understanding of intellectual property law and commercial transactions.
• Exceptional legal judgment with the ability to provide practical, business-focused advice that balances legal risk with business objectives.
• Strong negotiation, drafting, issue-spotting, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to clearly communicate complex legal concepts or issues to the Law Department as well as non-lawyers and executive leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and build trusted partnerships across Sales, Product, Marketing, Technology, Procurement, Finance, and executive leadership.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and negotiate numerous agreements simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• High ethical standards, sound judgment, attention to detail, and unquestioned integrity.

% Travel Required (Approximate): < 5%

It is the policy of People Inc. to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, the Company will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. Accommodation requests can be made by emailing View email address on click.appcast.io.

The Company participates in the federal E-Verify program to confirm the identity and employment authorization of all newly hired employees.

Salary: New York: $150,000.00 - $180,000.00