Legal Counsel

YCHARTS INC•Chicago, IL

11d•$130,000 - $185,000•Hybrid

About The Position

We’re seeking an experienced, business-minded Legal Counsel to establish and lead YCharts’ legal function out of our Chicago office. This is a foundational hire—our first in-house legal expert—who will build the legal framework that supports a fast-growing SaaS business. Reporting directly to the COO/CFO, you’ll serve as both advisor and hands-on counsel, guiding leadership through complex commercial, employment, regulatory, and corporate matters. You’ll handle everything from negotiating enterprise contracts to designing scalable legal processes that position YCharts for long-term success. The ideal candidate is comfortable rolling up their sleeves as an individual contributor and has the vision, judgment, and experience to utilize AI tools to accelerate and scale the function.

Requirements

J.D. from an accredited law school; active bar membership in good standing (Illinois preferred).
6+ years of legal experience, including in-house counsel experience within SaaS, technology, or fintech businesses.
Proven success operating as both strategic advisor and hands-on legal practitioner.
Deep expertise in commercial contracting, employment law, and data/privacy compliance for software or data businesses.
Demonstrated ability to design scalable legal frameworks and build organizational process maturity.
Strong cross-functional collaboration skills, with an ability to translate complex legal concepts into practical, business-oriented guidance.
Exceptional written and verbal communication, negotiation, and executive presence.
Entrepreneurial mindset—comfortable operating autonomously in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.

Responsibilities

Establish YCharts’ in-house legal function from the ground up, creating the foundation for scalable, efficient, and business-enabling legal operations.
Serve as principal legal advisor to the CEO, COO/CFO, and leadership team on all corporate, commercial, regulatory, and employment matters.
Draft, review, and negotiate a wide variety of contracts—including customer MSAs, data processing addenda, NDAs, vendor and licensing agreements, privacy and information security requirements and employment documentation.
Partner with HR on employment law, equity documentation, and multi-state compliance issues, ensuring policies remain up to date and compliant.
Design and implement standardized playbooks, templates, and approval workflows to streamline deal velocity while managing risk.
Collaborate with Information Security, Operations, and Product teams to align regulatory and data privacy programs (SOC 2, CCPA, DORA, etc.) with business strategy.
Advise on corporate governance and Board matters, including consents, minutes, and entity management.
Manage and strategically deploy outside counsel as needed; serve as the primary point of contact for all external legal partners.
Support strategic transactions such as M&A, partnerships, and capital events.
Stay ahead of emerging legal and regulatory trends affecting SaaS, data, and fintech businesses; proactively recommend changes that balance innovation and compliance.
Heavily utilize AI to streamline and scale the function for the long term.

Benefits

100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance.
401(k) match to support your financial future.
Opportunities for internal mobility and cross-functional collaboration.
Flexible time off, vacation days, sick days, and a celebration day.
Paid parental leave to support work-life balance.
Professional development stipend to help you grow in your career.
Hybrid work schedule with flexibility to work both in-office and remotely.
Summer hours so you can enjoy more sunshine.
Recognition programs to celebrate contributions and milestones.
Modern, centrally located offices stocked with premium snacks, coffee, beverages and weekly lunch credits to fuel your day.
Regular team events, celebrations, and company-wide gatherings that keep our culture connected and collaborative.