Commercial Counsel

Canto

Commercial Counsel at Canto responsible for building and operating modern legal function. Focusing on commercial contracts to drive growth and efficiency in a rapidly scaling SaaS company.

Posted 7/17/2026full-timeRemote • Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin • 🇺🇸 United StatesMid-LevelSeniorWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in negotiating and executing commercial SaaS agreements, including MSAs, DPAs, and NDAs, while implementing and managing a Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) system. Possesses strong knowledge of data privacy regulations such as GDPR and CCPA, and leverages AI-driven legal tools to enhance operational efficiency.

Highest-signal resume keywords

JD And Active Bar MembershipNegotiating Commercial SaaS AgreementsData Privacy Frameworks KnowledgeExperience With CLM SystemsLegal Technology And AI-Driven Workflows

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

NegotiationContract Lifecycle ManagementData Privacy ComplianceSaaS AgreementsLegal Infrastructure DevelopmentRisk ManagementVendor ContractingDispute ResolutionRegulatory AlignmentContract Review

Soft Skills

Independent OperationProcess BuildingCollaborationResolution-Oriented ApproachCommunication

Tools & Technologies

AI-Driven Legal ToolsContract Management SoftwareWorkflow Automation ToolsLegal Review ToolsNegotiation Playbooks

Certifications & Qualifications

JDActive Bar Membership

Industry Keywords

SaaSTechnologyGDPRCCPAData GovernanceCommercial AgreementsIn-House LegalMulti-JurisdictionVendor Contracting ModelsLegal Operations

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Own negotiation and execution of commercial SaaS agreements — including MSAs, subscription agreements, DPAs, and NDAs — while enabling the business to move quickly within defined guardrails.
Enforce company positions on non-standard terms and manage escalation paths, improving time-to-signature without increasing legal or commercial risk.
Train and enable Sales to handle routine negotiations independently, reducing legal bottlenecks at scale.
Lead the end-to-end contracting function for all customer and vendor agreements, building a scalable, AI-enabled operation that reduces manual work and accelerates deal cycles.
Implement and manage a Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) system, including templates, negotiation playbooks, approval workflows, and delegation of authority controls.
Leverage AI-driven legal tools for contract review, risk flagging, and workflow automation — actively identifying opportunities to reduce outside counsel reliance over time.
Own vendor contracting and procurement legal processes, maintaining a contract repository with proactive tracking of key terms and obligations.
Lead legal aspects of data privacy — including DPA negotiation and regulatory alignment with GDPR, CCPA, and related frameworks — and monitor evolving requirements across Canto's operating and customer geographies.
Partner with Security, Product, and Executive Leadership on emerging legal and regulatory requirements related to AI, data governance, automated decision-making, IP, and responsible AI practices.
Serve as the primary legal advisor across commercial and operational matters, managing outside counsel relationships across the US and Europe with a focus on cost efficiency and minimizing routine escalations.
Handle disputes and pre-litigation matters with a pragmatic, resolution-oriented approach, and advise on Canto's corporate entity compliance program.
Partner with Security during privacy and security events, coordinating on notification obligations, contractual commitments, regulatory requirements, and privilege preservation.

Requirements

What you’ll need

JD and active bar membership in good standing.
5–8 years of legal experience in SaaS or technology, in-house or a mix of law firm and in-house.
Strong experience negotiating commercial SaaS agreements, including MSAs, subscription agreements, DPAs, and NDAs.
Working knowledge of data privacy frameworks, including GDPR, CCPA, and related regulations.
Demonstrated ability to operate independently, build processes from scratch, and establish legal infrastructure in a scaling environment.
Experience partnering with Sales and go-to-market teams in a high-velocity commercial environment.
Clear interest in legal technology and AI-driven workflows, with a commitment to building a modern, tech-enabled legal function.
Hands-on experience with CLM systems and AI-enabled legal review or drafting tools (preferred).
Background in multi-entity, multi-jurisdiction SaaS businesses with US and EU exposure (preferred).
Prior experience as an early or first in-house legal hire (preferred).
Familiarity with vendor, partner, or channel contracting models (preferred).

Benefits

Comp & perks

Start-Up Spirit: Embrace the excitement and flexibility of a growing company.
Hands-On Impact: Your work directly contributes to our success.
Learning by Doing: Our growth plans provide real-time learning.
Close-Knit Team: Enjoy a tight-knit, supportive work environment.
Open Communication: We value transparency and open dialogue.
Problem-Solver's Paradise: Apply creativity to real-world challenges.
Work-Life Harmony: We respect the balance between personal and professional life.
Growth Opportunities: As we grow, so do opportunities for our team.
Cultural Exchange: Learn from diverse colleagues in a global setting.