General Counsel / Head of Legal

About the Role

We are seeking a seasoned General Counsel / Head of Legal to lead the global legal and compliance function for a rapidly growing technology company operating in regulated industries. This is a senior leadership role responsible for building and managing the legal strategy, ensuring compliance across multiple jurisdictions, and acting as a trusted advisor to the executive team and Board of Directors.

The ideal candidate will bring strong experience in SaaS, RegTech, FinTech, cybersecurity, or compliance-driven industries, and a proven ability to navigate complex regulatory landscapes across Americas, EMEA, and APAC. This role requires a mix of strategic thinking, hands-on legal expertise, and commercial acumen, with the ability to proactively identify risks and enable business growth at scale.

Key Responsibilities

Legal Strategy & Governance

• Develop and implement the company’s global legal and compliance strategy aligned with business growth objectives.
• Advise the Board and executive leadership on legal, regulatory, and governance matters.
• Ensure strong corporate governance frameworks and policies across global entities.

Commercial & Contract Management

• Lead negotiations for enterprise SaaS contracts, licensing agreements, and strategic partnerships.
• Draft, review, and approve contracts with customers, vendors, and partners to minimize risks and maximize business value.
• Standardize contract frameworks and streamline deal-closing processes for scalability.

Regulatory Compliance

• Oversee compliance with AML, KYC, data privacy (GDPR, CCPA, PDPA, etc.), cybersecurity, and financial regulations across multiple jurisdictions.
• Act as the primary contact for regulators, auditors, and external counsel globally.
• Monitor legal and regulatory developments that may impact business operations and proactively implement changes.

Risk Management & Disputes

• Identify, evaluate, and mitigate legal and commercial risks.
• Manage litigation, disputes, and investigations in collaboration with external counsel.
• Implement effective risk management and compliance training programs across the organisation.

Team Leadership

• Build, mentor, and lead an internal legal and compliance team with global coverage.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Sales, Product, Finance, and HR to provide proactive legal support.
• Foster a culture of accountability, compliance, and ethical business practices.

Key Requirements

• Experience: 12+ years of progressive legal experience, with at least 5 years in a General Counsel / Head of Legal role within SaaS, FinTech, RegTech, or other compliance-driven industries.
• Regulatory Expertise: Strong knowledge of AML, KYC, data protection, and financial regulations across Americas, EMEA, and APAC.
• Contracts & Commercial: Demonstrated experience leading enterprise SaaS contracts, licensing, and cross-border negotiations.
• Leadership: Proven ability to build and scale a global legal function, including hiring and mentoring legal and compliance professionals.
• Commercial Acumen: Strong business orientation, able to balance legal risk with strategic and commercial objectives.
• Education: Law degree (JD, LLB, or equivalent) from a top-tier institution; admission to practice in a major jurisdiction.
• Personality: Strategic, pragmatic, and solutions-driven, with excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

What We Offer

• Opportunity to lead the legal and compliance function at a fast-growing global technology company.
• High-impact leadership role with visibility at Board and executive levels.
• Competitive executive compensation, including performance-based incentives.
• Dynamic, collaborative, and innovation-driven culture.