General Counsel

AE Studio • Los Angeles, CA

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

AE Studio is seeking its first in-house lawyer to manage the increasing legal demands of its rapidly growing applied AI company. The role involves shaping deal terms for outcome-based commercial work, managing major research grants for AI Alignment, structuring partnerships with government agencies, research labs, and universities, and handling expanding government contracts. The position also encompasses intellectual property management, and standard in-house legal workstreams such as NDAs, vendor agreements, employment, and corporate governance. This is a key opportunity to build and scale the legal function during a significant growth phase for the company.

Requirements

• JD from an accredited law school.
• Active, good-standing membership in the California bar (or exceptional out-of-state candidates considered).
• Real strength in commercial transactions.
• Real strength in technology/AI work.
• Substantial in-house time and/or strong firm training.
• Complete integrity and discretion with sensitive matters.
• Comfort in a fast, ambiguous, high-ownership environment.
• Strong business sense, with the ability to read the gap between strict interpretation and what's sensible.
• Ability to see where the real risk sits and give practical guidance.
• Negotiation skills, with flexibility but a focus on protecting the company.
• Ability to translate complex business dynamics into plain strategy.
• Ability to translate business goals into the right legal structure.
• No-job-too-small instincts; handling tasks like one-page NDAs and government contracting strategies without ego.
• Technical background, or deep experience with technology and technical people; comfort around AI.
• Proficiency in using the latest AI tools in legal practice for speed and depth, with care for confidentiality, accuracy, and privilege.
• Strong organizational and process skills and a systems mind.
• Ownership mentality for building legal functions.
• Creativity and hunger to find the best answer, including unconventional approaches.
• Ability to partner effectively with outside counsel.

Nice To Haves

• Experience across IP.
• Experience with nonprofits.
• Experience with grants.
• Experience with government contracting.

Responsibilities

• Shape deal terms for outcome-based and productized commercial work.
• Manage major research grants for foundational AI Alignment work.
• Structure and manage partnerships with government agencies, research labs, and universities.
• Oversee expanding government contracts and programs.
• Manage intellectual property ownership, licensing, protection, and publication.
• Handle NDAs and vendor agreements.
• Address employment law matters.
• Manage corporate governance.
• Develop and implement legal processes to support scaling.

Benefits

• Good-faith base salary range ($225,000 - $300,000 for full-time).
• Variable compensation.
• Equity participation.
• Mutually agreed rate or retainer for initial fractional engagement.
• Health insurance.
• Free lunches at the office.
• Weekly knowledge-sharing talks.
• Annual team retreat.
• Regular performance-based raises.
• Diversified employee equity program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior