Senior Counsel, Litigation & Regulatory

OpenAI•San Francisco, CA

5d•$330,000 - $366,000•Hybrid

About The Position

OpenAI is seeking an experienced Senior Counsel to join its growing Litigation and Regulatory team. This role will focus on leading high-stakes regulatory investigations, enforcement matters, and related litigation involving AI. The successful candidate will own matters from initial inquiry through resolution, develop strategies for novel and technically complex issues, and provide clear advice based on evolving factual records. This position requires close collaboration with various internal teams including Legal, Product, Research, Safety, Security, Communications, Global Affairs, and executive stakeholders. The role is based in San Francisco, CA, with a hybrid work model requiring 3 days in the office per week.

Requirements

10+ years of regulatory investigations and/or litigation experience, including substantial experience at technology companies and law firms.
Experience setting strategy and leading complex matters from initial inquiry through resolution, including direct engagement with regulators and opposing counsel.
Ability to communicate complex legal and technical issues clearly, distinguish established facts from uncertainty, and make practical recommendations under pressure.
Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams, legal operations, outside counsel, and senior stakeholders while managing multiple urgent matters.
Intellectual curiosity, sound judgment, a strong sense of ownership, and a willingness to challenge assumptions respectfully and learn from feedback.
A JD and a license or qualification to practice in California.

Responsibilities

Lead regulatory inquiries, investigations, and enforcement matters in the United States and internationally, including matters involving federal agencies, state attorneys general, and international regulatory bodies.
Develop strategy for contested enforcement proceedings and related litigation, including challenges to investigative demands and coordination across parallel matters.
Partner with litigation and subject-matter counsel on related civil disputes, including privacy, consumer protection, class actions, cybersecurity, competition, copyright, trademark, and other IP issues.
Manage subpoenas, civil investigative demands, requests for information from regulators and related entities, and discovery.
Prepare employees and executives for interviews, testimony, depositions, trial, and other appearances before regulators.
Negotiate resolutions to demands, complaints, and enforcement matters, and assess the practical implications of proposed remedies and commitments.
Select and manage outside counsel, set strategy and budgets, and maintain clear accountability for quality, timing, and outcomes.
Develop proactive and, where appropriate, affirmative legal strategies to address regulatory risk and protect the company’s ability to develop and deploy AI responsibly.
Partner with Global Affairs and Communications on regulator engagement and sensitive external communications, keeping legal strategy and factual representations aligned.
Assess emerging legal and regulatory developments affecting AI and provide clear, actionable advice to leadership about risks, options, and recommended next steps.