Senior Commercial Counsel

Senior Commercial Counsel The Senior Commercial Counsel role at Crunchbase is a key legal partner to Sales, Revenue, Product, Marketing, and Security teams. This role is responsible for managing a broad range of commercial transactions and legal matters, with a primary focus on SaaS and data licensing agreements. The Senior Commercial Counsel exercises strong judgment in balancing legal risk with business objectives, negotiates directly with sophisticated counterparties, and drives scalable legal processes that enable company growth. This role also supports responsible AI adoption across the business and within the Legal function, advising on AI-related contractual risk, regulatory compliance, and governance frameworks while leveraging AI-enabled tools to enhance contract lifecycle management and operational efficiency. What You'll Do: Commercial Contracting & Revenue Support Independently review, draft, and negotiate a high volume of complex commercial agreements, including: SaaS (outbound and inbound) Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) Enterprise and strategic customer agreements Cloud, reseller, and partnership agreements Vendor and professional services agreements Marketing and advertising agreements Partner closely with Sales and Revenue leadership to structure deals that align with company's risk tolerance and strategic priorities. Advise internal stakeholders on legal, financial, and operational risk in commercial transactions and clearly communicate trade-offs. Support RFPs and customer due diligence processes, including negotiation of security and compliance terms. Data Privacy, Security & Regulatory Compliance Provide guidance on privacy and data protection laws (e.g., GDPR, CCPA/CPRA and evolving U.S. state privacy laws) as they relate to product features, customer agreements, and marketing initiatives. Partner with Security and Product teams to support customer responses to data protection and information security questionnaires. Assist in the development, implementation, and maintenance of internal compliance policies and processes. AI Governance & Emerging Technology Advise on legal and regulatory considerations related to AI-enabled products and internal AI use, including: Data usage rights and training data considerations IP ownership and licensing issues Transparency and disclosure requirements Contractual allocation of AI-related risk Draft and negotiate AI-specific contractual provisions (e.g., model usage, output ownership, indemnification, acceptable use, and compliance representations). Support the development of internal AI governance policies, including acceptable use, vendor evaluation, and risk assessment frameworks. Partner cross-functionally to evaluate AI vendors and embedded AI technologies from a contractual and compliance perspective. Leverage AI-enabled tools within Legal to improve contract intake, template population, redline comparison, issue spotting, clause extraction, research, and knowledge management—while ensuring responsible and secure use. Legal Operations & Process Improvement Contribute to the continuous improvement of legal templates, playbooks, and clause libraries to enhance scalability and consistency. Identify recurring negotiation themes and recommend process or policy adjustments to reduce friction and accelerate deal cycles. Support implementation and optimization of contract lifecycle management (CLM) and other legal technology tools. Develop practical guidance and training materials for Sales and other internal stakeholders on contracting best practices. Cross-Functional Advisory Provide practical legal advice to Product, Marketing, Finance, and People teams on commercial and operational matters. Collaborate with outside counsel as needed on specialized or escalated matters. Support claims, disputes, and general corporate matters as assigned What We're Looking For: Strong business judgment and ability to balance legal risk with commercial objectives. Exceptional contract drafting and negotiation skills, particularly in SaaS and data transactions. Ability to operate independently in a fast-paced, high-growth technology environment. Clear and concise communicator capable of translating complex legal concepts into practical business guidance. Experience advising on data privacy, information security, and compliance matters relevant to SaaS companies. Working knowledge of AI-related legal considerations, including data rights, intellectual property, regulatory trends, and risk allocation. Proficiency with contract management systems and legal technology tools; comfort adopting and optimizing AI-enabled legal solutions. Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to prioritize competing demands. Collaborative mindset with a strong service orientation toward internal stakeholders. Education and Experience Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school. Active membership in at least one U.S. state bar. 6+ years of relevant legal experience, preferably with: A technology company (SaaS and/or data-focused), and/or A law firm representing technology clients. Experience negotiating SaaS, data licensing, and enterprise commercial agreements required. Exposure to AI-related contracting or governance frameworks preferred. What Crunchbase Offers: Competitive compensation and equity — rewarding you for your contributions and ownership mindset Remote-first flexibility — work primarily from home within our list of approved states, with opportunities for in-person collaboration Comprehensive health benefits for you and your family, including medical, dental, and vision coverage (PPO, HDHP, and HMO options) Continuous learning support through generous reimbursement for professional development and skills growth 401(k) and Roth plans with an annual financial adviser check-in to help you plan your future Wellness resources — including a monthly stipend to support physical and mental health Work-from-home enablement — internet stipend and home office setup allowance Charitable giving match through our Town Hall awards and community impact initiatives A mission-driven, transparent team of creative thinkers and builders passionate about helping companies connect and grow At Crunchbase, we value team members who are passionate and enthusiastic about what we're building here. We believe there is no "perfect" candidate, and want to encourage applying even if all the requirements listed aren't met. If you're passionate about Crunchbase and looking to learn and grow, then we look forward to reviewing your application! Crunchbase does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, height, weight, veteran status, military obligations, or marital status. We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Every day our team is honored to work with entrepreneurs and innovators from every corner of the globe, and we aim to build a team that reflects the diversity of our customers. Each individual at Crunchbase brings their own perspectives, work experiences, lifestyles, and cultures with them, and we believe that a more diverse team creates more innovative products, provides a better service to its customers, and helps us all grow and learn as individuals. Expected salary range: $140,000 - $165,000 per year.