Fractional General Counsel (Contract to Permanent; Hybrid in Palo Alto)

Our client, a leading AI technology company specializing in providing cutting-edge solutions and services to defense and government sectors, is seeking a dynamic and innovative Fractional General Counsel to work with the company on an engagement basis, with the potential to convert to a permanent full-time position based on performance and business needs. Reporting to the CEO, the Fractional General Counsel plays a pivotal role in facilitating the future growth of the company. This role is responsible for ensuring legal compliance, managing risks, and providing strategic legal guidance in support of the company’s expansion initiatives. By navigating complex regulatory landscape, negotiating agreements, and mitigating legal challenges, the Fractional General Counsel contributes directly to the company’s ability to pursue new opportunities enter new markets and sustain long-term growth.

Important: You must be able to work on a hybrid basis for 2-3 days a week in our client's Palo Alto office and have 8-15 years of relevant experience. 

In this role, you will:

• Ensure the company's compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
• Monitor and assess the impact of regulatory changes on the company's operations, providing timely guidance on compliance issues affecting the company to internal stakeholders.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures to ensure legal compliance and mitigate risk across the company.
• Prepare and submit regulatory filings and other required documents.
• Develop and implement the company's overall legal strategy in alignment with its business objectives.
• Provide legal advice and support to executive management on corporate governance matters, including corporate policies and compliance issues.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a variety of commercial contracts.
• Manage and oversee all aspects of corporate transactions.
• Advise on intellectual property matters and ensure the protection of company assets.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to assess and mitigate legal risks associated with business initiatives and strategic partnerships.
• Handle disputes, litigation, and other legal proceedings, including managing outside counsel when necessary.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements for the Fractional General Counsel (Contract to Permanent):

• Have 8-15 years of progressively responsible transactional commercial legal experience, with a minimum of 5 years counseling on deals to government, acquired with a prominent national law firm and in-house legal department (gained ideally at a SaaS or other high growth technology company).
• Extensive experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex commercial and SaaS sales and partner agreements with public sector customers, including a working knowledge of EAR, ITAR, FAR, DFAR, state procurement rules and statutes, and other regulatory certifications and attestations.
• Experience interfacing with appropriate US government departments and agencies with regard to US export compliance and trade compliance; prepare, review and/or file all requests, applications and disclosures relating to US export and trade compliance, including, without limitation, license applications, technical assistance agreements, and voluntary disclosure reports.

Competencies and Skills

• JD from a top US law school and active bar membership in good standing.
• Extensive experience in legal roles within the technology industry.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills.
• Strong understanding of contract law, corporate law, and relevant regulatory frameworks, with the ability to apply legal principles to real-world business scenarios.
• Excellent drafting and editing skills, with meticulous attention to detail and the ability to communicate complex legal concepts clearly and effectively.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build rapport and collaborate effectively with colleagues at all levels of the organization.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams and provide strategic guidance to senior management.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced technology-centric environment.

Position Details of the Fractional General Counsel (Contract to Permanent):

• Type of role: Engagement
• Schedule: Part-Time or Full-Time
• Willingness to transition to a permanent full-time role based on performance.
• Location: Hybrid (client's Palo Alto 2-3 times a week)

Compensation
The annualized compensation for this position ranges from $225,000 to $300,000 or more. Pay is based on numerous factors including but not limited to work experience, qualifications, credentials and location. In addition to salary, Latitude Engaged Professionals are W2 employees of Latitude and are eligible for full benefits when working in roles for 20 hours per week, including a Qualified 401k plan. Benefits-eligible Latitude employees receive complimentary Group Life, LTD and AD&D and professional liability insurance. Latitude Attorneys also receive a CLE and Professional Expense stipend.

Confidentiality
Latitude will not disclose your identity or propose you to prospective clients without your prior consent. Candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Only qualified applicants should apply.

About Latitude
Latitude is a full-service national legal services company that specializes in providing high-end, flexible contract engagements and permanent positions to outstanding attorneys, paralegals, compliance officers and legal operations professionals. We work closely with our candidates to understand their career goals and match them with the substantive engagements they want with our clients, who range from Fortune 500 corporations to small companies and Global 50 law firms to boutiques. With offices coast-to-coast, we employ legal professionals across the country. Latitude’s client service leaders and recruiters are all former practicing attorneys and understand the demands faced by those we serve. 

Latitude Engagements
Great attorneys and other legal professionals who are seeking contract engagements or consulting roles choose to work with Latitude because of our competitive compensation and benefits, sophisticated and engaging work, a chance to work with great clients and peers, and a refreshing blend of freedom with self-designed boundaries. Our own experience as practicing attorneys and our client relationships enables us to effectively tailor our candidate proposals to the specific practice strengths and interpersonal attributes that matter most to our clients and to match our candidates with the opportunities that will be most fulfilling to them. 

Latitude engaged professionals have the level of skill, experience, and judgment as would be expected of a permanent member of our client’s corporate legal department or law firm and the versatility to step into challenging environments and hit the ground running.

If you have the right skills, personality and experience, Latitude helps you do what you are good at in a more rewarding way. Latitude engaged professionals serve on a full- or part-time engagement basis and work remotely or on-site at the client’s office.

While we are able to work only with a select few of the most outstanding candidates, our customized approach results in a high success rate for those candidates we recommend.

For more information about Latitude, please visit us at https://latitudelegal.com.
Latitude is an Equal Opportunity Employer
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