Legal Counsel

Workstream•San Francisco, CA

3d•Remote

About The Position

Workstream is seeking an experienced in-house legal counsel to support its rapid growth. This role will handle day-to-day legal needs, including contracts, compliance, product counsel, governance, and employment matters, while partnering with external counsel for specialized issues. The legal counsel will act as a trusted business partner to various departments, balancing legal requirements with the fast-paced nature of a startup. A key responsibility will be ensuring compliance and managing emerging legal risks, particularly with the integration of AI/ML capabilities.

Requirements

Licensed to practice in at least one US jurisdiction (CA bar preferred).
10+ years of legal experience.
5-7+ years in-house at a SaaS or tech company.
Expertise in commercial contract negotiation (SaaS, MSAs, DPAs, vendor agreements).
Strong knowledge of privacy compliance (GDPR, CCPA, CPRA) and ability to advise on privacy-by-design principles.
Experience advising product and engineering teams on legal/compliance implications of product features.
Familiarity with employment law, IP basics, and board governance.
Excellent communication skills; ability to translate legal concepts for business and product stakeholders.
Comfort with ambiguity and fast-paced environments.
Proficiency with contract management tools (DocuSign, Ironclad) and document platforms.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with AI/ML legal risks and governance.
M&A or financing experience.

Responsibilities

Draft, review, and negotiate customer MSAs, DPAs, amendments, and vendor agreements.
Identify material risks and maintain contract playbooks and templates.
Advise on privacy compliance (GDPR, CCPA, CPRA) and ensure Privacy Policy and ToS are current.
Partner with Product and Engineering teams to advise on legal implications of new features, AI/ML capabilities, data handling practices, and user consent requirements.
Provide early-stage legal guardrails for product development.
Manage IP matters including trademark registrations and licensing compliance.
Support Board governance, including meeting materials and corporate governance policies.
Review employment agreements, advise on hiring/termination/wage-and-hour compliance, and support HR on employment relations issues.
Partner cross-functionally with Sales, Product, Partnerships, Finance, and People Ops to provide timely legal guidance.
Coordinate with external counsel on complex matters.