Senior Director of Legal and Compliance

Brighton Jones • Seattle, WA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Legal team at Brighton Jones plays a crucial role in ensuring the firm operates with the highest ethical and legal standards. This role offers broad exposure across varying legal domains and provides legal and strategic guidance across all aspects of the business, including regulatory compliance, intellectual property, privacy, employment matters, commercial contracting, and corporate governance. We are a collaborative and supportive team that values proactive and aligned legal support. We are seeking an experienced attorney to scale our legal and compliance function at a pivotal moment in our history and growth. This is an in-office position based in our Seattle headquarters.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (JD) and active bar membership in Washington state.
• 10+ years of legal experience, including demonstrated experience leading a commercial legal function.
• Deep experience in commercial law, litigation, privacy and data protection, and corporate governance.
• Strong understanding of data privacy and regulatory environments.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in financial services or a regulated industry is strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with ERISA and securities regulations (a plus).

Responsibilities

• Manage and support litigation, arbitration, and regulatory inquiries, including coordination with outside counsel.
• Oversee document preservation, discovery strategy, and internal fact development in connection with disputes or investigations.
• Provide strategic input on dispute resolution, settlement considerations, and risk exposure to leadership.
• Lead the formation, dissolution, and maintenance of legal entities including LLCs and subsidiaries, including organizational documents and state registrations.
• Assist with potential strategic transactions including debt, equity or other strategic transactions.
• Responsible for insurance program management and the company’s global insurance portfolio, including directors and officers, errors and omissions, cyber liability, employment practices liability, fiduciary liability, general and property liability and other liabilities.
• Oversee and continuously enhance the firm’s Compliance function across all business lines, with heightened accountability for regulatory compliance, supervisory frameworks, and program design.
• Proactively assess new and proposed regulations and provide strategic recommendations to executive leadership, including risk prioritization and implementation roadmaps.
• Lead development and governance of policies, procedures, and controls with a focus on audit readiness and regulatory defensibility.
• Serve as a senior legal advisor to business leadership, delivering clear, risk-calibrated guidance across Advisory, People, Finance, Marketing, and Technology functions.
• Independently structure, draft, and negotiate complex commercial agreements with minimal supervision, including high-risk and high-value arrangements.
• Drive process improvements (e.g., CLM, intake, templates, playbooks) to increase velocity while maintaining consistency and risk control.
• Lead ongoing evolution of the firm’s privacy and data protection program, including AI governance and vendor risk management.
• Provide executive-level guidance on data use, risk tradeoffs, and incident response strategy.
• Operate as a senior legal leader supporting the firm’s growth initiatives, new service lines, and strategic transactions.
• Translate complex legal and regulatory risks into clear, actionable guidance for stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Independently manage high-priority and sensitive legal matters with executive visibility and accountability.

Benefits

• Fully paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees
• 401(k) with 100% match up to 3% of annual compensation
• Equity ownership opportunities for every employee
• New Business Incentive Program
• Generous employee referral bonus
• Cell phone data reimbursement
• Financial planning services discount for employees and immediate family members
• Minimum 3 weeks PTO starting Day 1
• Winter Break
• Summer Friday flex-days
• 10 paid holidays
• Unlimited Volunteer Time Off plus company grant matching
• Heavily subsidized transit
• 100% reimbursement for required training, certifications, licensing, and dues
• Personal career development plans
• Richer Life Business Partner (coaching for all employees)
• Mindful Emotional & Social Intelligence training
• Annual professional & personal wellbeing stipend
• Quarterly team-building events
• Regular social events
• Employee-led book clubs, committees, and affinity groups
• Paid Parental leave (13 weeks for birthing parent and 6 weeks for non-birthing parent)
• Adoption benefits
• Anniversary milestone celebrations, including a 3-month paid sabbatical at 10 years

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree