Senior Commercial Counsel for Mercor AI

QueensBench is running an exclusive, retained search for this Mercor position. Please apply directly to this job post on LinkedIn only.

Are you a tech trans/commercial lawyer sitting on the sidelines, wishing you were in the beating heart of the AI revolution? Here is a unique opportunity in San Francisco or New York for the chance of a lifetime. This is that transformative role you've been waiting for!

The Company

Our client, Mercor, is a hypergrowth AI startup that has revolutionized the intersection of labor markets and AI research. By partnering with leading AI labs and enterprises to provide the human intelligence essential to AI development, Mercor has created a novel category of work where expertise powers AI advancement. Mercor’s vast talent network trains frontier AI models in the same way teachers teach students: by sharing knowledge, experience, and context that can’t be captured in code alone. Today, more than 30,000 experts in Mercor’s network collectively earn over $1.5 million a day.

Founded in 2023 by Thiel Fellows Brendan Foody , Adarsh Hiremath , and Surya Midha , Mercor is a Series C company valued at $10 billion and backed by top Silicon Valley investors, including Felicis, Benchmark, General Catalyst, Robinhood Ventures, Peter Thiel, Jack Dorsey and Adam D'Angelo. With an impressive roster of customers (including the top AI labs and Fortune 10 companies) and double-digit, month-over-month revenue growth, Mercor is on a meteoric growth trajectory at every level.

The Role

Mercor is seeking an ambitious and agile Commercial Counsel. As the third legal hire at the company (and the first Commercial Counsel), you will be a foundational legal partner tasked with overseeing all aspects of commercial legal, including negotiating high-impact agreements and scaling the commercial legal infrastructure as the company grows. In this role, you will:

• structure, negotiate and close a wide range of commercial agreements, including: customer contracts, vendor agreements, master service agreements and NDAs;
• partner with and provide practical, business-oriented legal advice cross-functionally to ensure alignment on commercial terms and initiatives;
• develop scalable contract templates, playbooks, and processes to support the company’s growth;
• identify and manage legal risks in a manner that promotes creative and scalable growth; and
• support the General Counsel and fellow members of the legal team, and coordinate with outside counsel as needed.

This position will be based full-time in person at the company’s headquarters in Mercor's San Francisco or New York office (opening Summer 2026). The ideal candidate will be a confident, talented and driven lawyer with strong business acumen, who thrives in a fast-paced, fluid tech startup environment. Mercor is a company that is driving hard and fast, which is reflected in their 5-days-per-week in-office work culture.

Requirements:

• Excellent academic credentials. Juris Doctor from an accredited law school and a member in good standing of the California, Illinois or New York Bar.
• A minimum of five (5) years of legal experience, including top tier law firm training, in technology transactions.
• Concise, straightforward communicator who is able to translate complex legal concepts for non-lawyer audiences and tailor advice to enable responsible growth.
• Exceptional project management and time management skills.
• High EQ and integrity; quickly builds strong, positive working relationships with coworkers, customers and other key business partners.
• Intense curiosity in and passion for AI technology.
• Operates with a sense of urgency.
• Positive, enthusiastic and flexible team player with a “doer” attitude who is willing to roll up your sleeves and pitch in where needed.

Compensation:

The starting cash range for this role is $200,000 - $240,000. Please note that this is a target, starting cash range for a candidate who meets the minimum qualifications for this role. The final cash pay for this role will depend on a variety of factors, including a specific candidate’s experience, qualifications, skills, and projected impact. The total compensation package for this role includes equity compensation, discretionary quarterly or annual performance bonuses, benefits such as medical, dental and vision insurance, paid time off, relocation expenses, and more.

Next steps:

QueensBench is running an exclusive, retained search for this position. Please apply directly to this posting.