IP and Data Privacy Counsel

Surge AI

About The Position

Surge is hiring an in-house IP and Data Privacy Counsel to advise on legal questions involving data collection and handling, ownership of data and content used to build AI systems, and evolving privacy and intellectual property law. The role is an early member of a new legal team and works directly with the General Counsel. It is suited to a lawyer who is interested in working at the frontier of AI, can navigate unsettled law, and wants to build legal programs.

Requirements

5–10 years of experience as a lawyer at a law firm (mid-level associate or higher) or in-house.
Hands-on experience with US and EU/UK privacy laws, including filings, compliance programs, and tracking new legislation.
Strong working knowledge of trademark and copyright law and current case law, especially cases shaping how AI companies use and produce content.
Clear, practical communication skills, including the ability to make recommendations and explain risk in plain language.
Comfort with ambiguity and the ability to structure unanswered legal questions and keep work moving.
Ability to work with engineers, researchers, and business teams moving quickly and find legally sound paths forward.
Genuine curiosity about AI and how models are built and evaluated.
Willingness to handle hands-on work, including drafting and filings, and interest in leading and developing talent as the team grows.

Responsibilities

Advise on data privacy under US and EU/UK law and build and maintain the privacy program, including policies, notices, data processing agreements, and cross-border transfer practices.
Handle privacy filings and registrations, and respond to inquiries from regulators, customers, and contributors.
Advise on copyright, trademark, and other IP questions related to AI data work, including how IP rights flow among Surge, customers, vendors, and contributors.
Monitor litigation, legislation, and regulation concerning AI, data, and IP, and flag issues that could affect the business.
Work with corporate counsel to establish IP and data terms in customer and vendor agreements.
Partner with product, engineering, security, and HR teams on new data flows and features.
Manage outside counsel and determine which matters to handle in-house.
Write practical guidance that employees can use.
Draft documents and handle filings directly while the legal team is small.
Help lead and develop new talent as the team grows.