Counsel: Technology, AI, Commercial Legal

Grant Thornton•Chicago, IL

23d•Hybrid

About The Position

Grant Thornton is seeking a Counsel: Technology, AI, Commercial Legal to join the team in Chicago, IL. Risk, Regulatory and Legal Affairs (RRLA) Counsel: Technology, AI, Commercial Legal Grant Thornton is seeking a business-savvy attorney to advise our leaders, client-facing teams, and internal development teams on the firm’s innovation and digital transformation initiatives, including the use of artificial intelligence and our intellectual property strategy. The ideal candidate blends strong legal acumen with practical judgment, helping the business innovate confidently while managing regulatory, contractual, and reputational risk. You’ll partner closely with Product, Technology, Risk, Privacy, Security, and Commercial teams to design guardrails for AI adoption, protect our IP, and support our go to market initiatives across a multinational, fast-moving professional services environment.

Requirements

J.D. from an accredited law school; admitted to practice in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
5 to 8+ years of relevant experience in-house or at a law firm advising on a mix of: technology transactions, IP/licensing, and/or AI/ML use.
Solid grounding in copyright/trademark and trade secret protection.
Demonstrated ability to translate complex legal risk into practical, business-friendly guidance and contract language.
Experience reviewing, editing and negotiating professional services agreements; master service agreements; technology and software agreements; and vendor contracts is especially desirable.
Ability to effectively advise on risk mitigation and provide legal solutions that meet business objectives
Ability to quickly adapt to shifting priorities or unanticipated events

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with AI governance concepts and leading frameworks and experience counseling on AI governance programs and exposure to global AI regulatory trends and relevant standards preferred.
Prior experience in professional services or B2B enterprise technology environments is a plus.

Responsibilities

Advise on the lawful and ethical use of AI/ML tools, including risk assessments, governance, data and privacy, testing/monitoring, human-in-the-loop controls, and transparency requirements.
Draft and negotiate AI-related contract terms across a multinational platform.
Monitor multinational AI regulatory developments and translate them into actionable policies, playbooks, and training for business stakeholders.
Help design and operationalize AI and data governance committees and workflows.
Build and operationalize concise guidance, templates, training, and checklists for non-lawyers.
Counsel on a multinational IP strategy for services, content, software, and data assets (copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets; light experience with patents is a plus).
Structure licensing and SaaS arrangements.
Support brand protection, content usage, and clearance, including by supporting our marketing and communications groups
Provide practical product counseling from ideation through launch.
Review and negotiation of MSAs, SOWs, licensing and professional services agreements with AI, data, and IP elements.
Coordinate with outside counsel and internal SMEs; contribute to playbooks and internal knowledge bases.

Benefits

Whether it’s your work location, weekly schedule, or flex time off, we empower you with the options to work in the way that best serves your clients and your life.
Here, you are supported to prioritize your overall well-being through work-life integration options that work best for you and those in your household.
We understand that your needs, responsibilities and experiences are different — and we think that’s a good thing. That’s why we support you with personalized and comprehensive benefits that recognize and empower all the identities, roles and aspirations that make you, well, you.
Grant Thornton interns are eligible to participate in the firm’s medical, dental and vision insurance programs and the firm’s employee assistance program.
Interns also receive a minimum of 72 hours of paid sick leave and are paid for firm holidays that fall within their internship period.
Grant Thornton seasonal employees are eligible to participate in the firm’s medical, dental and vision insurance programs and the firm’s employee assistance program.
Seasonal employees may also be eligible to participate in the firm’s 401(k) savings plan and employee retirement plan in accordance with applicable plan terms and eligibility requirements.
Seasonal employees receive a minimum of 72 hours of paid sick leave.
Grant Thornton employees may be eligible for a discretionary, annual bonus based on individual and firm performance, subject to the terms, conditions and eligibility criteria of the applicable bonus plan or program.
Interns and seasonal employees are not eligible for bonus compensation.