EVP Chief Legal Officer

Sagent

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

Sagent is seeking an experienced Chief Legal Officer to lead the company's legal function across commercial contracting, corporate governance, litigation, and strategic stakeholder relationships. This is a high-visibility role reporting to the President with regular exposure to the Board, private equity sponsor(s), and Sagent's key strategic partners. The ideal candidate combines deep commercial contracts expertise with the judgment and gravitas to represent the company in the boardroom and manage complex, high-stakes relationships.

Requirements

J.D. and active bar membership in good standing
12+ years of legal experience, including significant in-house experience
Prior CLO/GC experience strongly preferred
Demonstrated experience negotiating commercial/SaaS contracts at scale
Direct experience presenting to and advising a Board of Directors
Experience working with or reporting to PE-backed or investor-governed companies
Strong litigation oversight experience, including labor and employment matters
Excellent judgment, communication skills, and executive presence

Nice To Haves

Experience in fintech, lending, mortgage servicing, or related regulated industries a plus

Responsibilities

Own end-to-end contract lifecycle management for new customer agreements, renewals, and upgrade/expansion deals
Negotiate and close commercial agreements including MSAs, SOWs, SaaS/licensing agreements, data processing agreements, and vendor contracts
Partner with Sales, Product, and Customer Success to structure deal terms that balance commercial velocity with risk management
Build and maintain scalable contracting playbooks, templates, and approval workflows as the company grows
Manage contract risk across the existing customer base, including amendments, upgrades, and renegotiations
Select, engage, and manage relationships with outside counsel across litigation, regulatory, IP, and specialized transactional matters
Own outside counsel budget, scope management, and billing oversight to ensure cost-effective, high-quality legal support
Serve as the primary internal point of coordination between outside counsel and business stakeholders
Prepare board materials, legal updates, and risk disclosures for regular Board meetings
Attend Board meetings and serve as the attorney representing Sagent's interests and providing legal counsel directly to the Board
Advise the Board and executive team on corporate governance, fiduciary duties, and material legal/regulatory risks
Support Board committee work (audit, compensation, etc.) as needed
Serve as a trusted legal and strategic point of contact for key stakeholders
Manage the legal dimensions of these relationships, including contract governance, escalations, and strategic alignment
Build durable, trust-based relationships that support Sagent's broader commercial and strategic objectives with these parties
Lead and scale the legal, compliance, and risk management function as the company grows
Advise executive leadership on corporate strategy, M&A, financing, and regulatory matters
Oversee corporate governance, entity management, and compliance programs
Manage IP strategy and protection
Own enterprise risk management and legal policy development
Build and mentor an internal legal team as scale requires
Represent Sagent in litigation matters, coordinating with outside counsel as needed
Oversee labor and employment matters, including disputes, claims, and compliance with employment law
Partner with HR/People teams to manage employment risk, policies, and investigations
Develop litigation strategy and manage case outcomes in the company's best interest