Deputy General Counsel, Product and IP

About the Company Tools for Humanity (TFH) designs and builds technology behind World. World is building a real human network designed to accelerate people in the age of AI. As bots and autonomous agents reshape the internet, people, institutions, and applications need a trusted way to confirm who is a real human while preserving privacy. The TFH and World tech stacks make this possible: the Orb verifies real, unique people, World ID proves it privately, and World App puts these capabilities, and more, in people’s hands. Together, they add a human layer to an AI-driven internet. World is already running at a global scale. More than 17 million people across 160 countries have verified with World ID, and more than 350,000 new Orb verifications take place each week. World App is already among the most used wallets globally. Developers are integrating World ID to build safer online experiences and create spaces where real people can participate, earn, and be recognized in ways AI simply can’t replicate. Founded in 2019, TFH has more than 400 people across hardware, software, AI, cryptography, mobile engineering, and global operations. Our teams come from OpenAI, Tesla, SpaceX, Apple, Google, Stripe, Meta, Coinbase, Palantir and MIT Media Lab. We’re backed by leading investors, including a16z, Khosla Ventures, Bain Capital Crypto, Blockchain Capital, Variant, Tiger Global, and Coinbase Ventures, as well as prominent operators and founders across fintech and AI. TFH and World have been featured on the cover of TIME Magazine, highlighted in Fast Company’s Next 5 in Fintech, and explored in a Bloomberg deep dive. The New York Times, Bankless and TechCrunch have all recognized our collective progress in identity, cryptography, AI, and global‑scale hardware deployment. Our leadership is also named to the Time AI 100. Learn more about the newest product launches from our Liftoff event. About the Team Our Legal team is dedicated to supporting the World Network by managing Tools for Humanity’s legal affairs globally. We collaborate across the company to advance the blockchain project and enhance our products, including the Orb (our hardware device), World ID, World App, and World Chain. We value creativity, curiosity, a sense of humor, and a shared sense of urgency. Location San Francisco, California (in‑person) About the Opportunity We are seeking a Deputy General Counsel, Product & Intellectual Property to lead and scale Tools for Humanity’s product counseling and intellectual property legal functions globally. This role sits at the center of some of the most novel legal and technological questions emerging today, including digital identity, biometrics, blockchain infrastructure, decentralized finance products, online safety, privacy‑preserving technologies, and the evolving intersection of AI and human verification. You will serve as the senior legal advisor to product, engineering, AI, and security teams across the full product lifecycle, helping the company launch innovative products quickly while thoughtfully managing legal, regulatory, safety, and reputational risk. You will also oversee the company’s global intellectual property strategy, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, licensing, open source, and IP risk management. This role requires exceptional judgment, comfort operating in ambiguity, and the ability to balance legal rigor with practical business execution in a fast‑moving environment. The ideal candidate combines deep product counseling expertise with strong strategic instincts, intellectual curiosity, and the ability to build scalable systems and teams. Key Responsibilities Product Counseling & Emerging Technology Serve as the senior legal partner to product, engineering, hardware, cryptography, and design teams across the development and launch lifecycle of TFH products and infrastructure Advise on complex legal and regulatory issues relating to digital identity systems, biometrics, decentralized finance products, blockchain infrastructure, consumer protection, privacy, online safety, platform governance, financial regulations, and AI‑enabled systems. Partner closely with product and engineering leaders to assess legal and reputational risks associated with new features, products, experiments, and business models Help design practical, scalable approaches for launching products globally across diverse and evolving regulatory environments Translate complex legal and policy considerations into clear, actionable guidance for technical and business stakeholders Intellectual Property Strategy & Innovation Lead the company’s global intellectual property strategy across patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, licensing, and open source matters Advise on IP protection strategies for software, hardware, AI systems, cryptography, identity technologies, and consumer products Manage IP risk assessments, freedom‑to‑operate analyses, licensing matters, infringement claims, and disputes Partner with engineering and research teams to identify and protect strategic innovations and inventions Oversee outside counsel relationships relating to IP Develop scalable internal processes relating to invention capture, open source governance, brand protection, and IP compliance Team & Function Leadership Build and scale a high‑performing global product and IP legal function capable of supporting a rapidly evolving technology platform Develop playbooks, review frameworks, escalation models, and self‑service guidance that increase organizational velocity while maintaining appropriate legal oversight Improve cross‑functional processes, tooling, and operational systems to support efficient product reviews and launches Mentor and develop attorneys and legal professionals across the team Partner effectively across legal specialties, including commercial, privacy, regulatory, employment, litigation, security, and corporate legal functions About You Relevant Experience 10–20+ years of experience as a product, technology, intellectual property, or privacy attorney at a leading law firm and in senior in‑house legal roles supporting consumer technology or highly regulated technology platforms Significant experience advising on complex product counseling issues Strong intellectual property background, including substantial experience with patents, trademarks, copyright, licensing, and open source Experience supporting globally distributed products and navigating multi‑jurisdictional legal and regulatory issues Product & Technical Fluency Ability to engage deeply with technical teams and understand complex systems, architectures, and product tradeoffs Strong business judgment and ability to balance legal risk, user experience, operational realities, and product velocity Comfortable operating in highly ambiguous and rapidly evolving legal environments where clear precedent may not exist Leadership & Collaboration Proven ability to build trusted relationships across engineering, product, research, security, executive leadership, and external stakeholders Excellent communicator capable of translating highly technical or legal concepts into practical, business‑oriented guidance Experience building or scaling legal processes, teams, and operational frameworks in fast‑growing organizations A collaborative, low‑ego working style Credentials Juris Doctor from a top‑tier law school Membership in at least one U.S. state bar In Person Ability to work in‑person from San Francisco, CA What We Offer Collaborative, creative office space in San Francisco Flexible, unlimited PTO Monthly phone reimbursement or company‑provided device 3 meals/day served in house Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and mental health coverage 401(k) plan with employer match Commuter benefits and professional development stipend The reasonably estimated salary for this role at TFH ranges from $319,000 - $375,000, plus a competitive long term incentive package. Actual compensation is based on factors such as the candidate’s skills, qualifications, and experience. In addition, TFH offers a wide range of best‑in‑class, comprehensive, and inclusive employee benefits for this role, including healthcare, dental, vision, 401(k) plan and match, life insurance, flexible time off, commuter benefits, professional development stipend, and much more. By submitting your application, you consent to the processing and internal sharing of your CV within the company, in compliance with the GDPR. #J-18808-Ljbffr