Senior Legal Counsel

Senior Legal Counsel Role Summary: We are seeking an experienced and commercially focused Senior Legal Counsel to lead the legal function across Patsnap's Western region, supporting our operations across the UK, North America and Canada. Reporting to senior leadership, you will be responsible for providing strategic legal counsel across corporate transactions, commercial contracting, governance, legal risk and international business operations. As a trusted advisor to the executive team, you will play a key role in supporting business growth, enabling strategic decision-making and ensuring legal considerations align with commercial objectives. This is a broad, high-impact leadership role with responsibility for leading complex M&A activity, supporting international expansion, partnering with stakeholders across Finance, Sales, Product and People, and working closely with colleagues across APAC to ensure a globally aligned legal function. We're looking for a commercially astute legal leader with strong technical expertise, sound judgement and the ability to balance legal risk with business opportunity. Someone who builds trusted relationships, influences at senior levels and sees legal as a strategic partner to the business. Who are we? PatSnap is a global, pre-IPO company helping organisations make better decisions across Intellectual Property and Research & Development. Our platform supports IP, legal, innovation and R&D teams throughout the innovation lifecycle, using domain-specific AI to help them work faster and make more confident decisions. With over 12,000 customers worldwide, including some of the biggest names in innovation, PatSnap is at the forefront of AI-powered IP and innovation intelligence. Our $300M Series E funding round brought our valuation to $1 billion unicorn status, and we still have a remarkable amount of growth ahead. We have a vibrant and diverse team with offices in Singapore, Toronto, London and Shanghai, alongside remote teams in the US. Our growth is powered by our people, and we are proud of our shared ambition, work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit. Why Join Patsnap? Help shape Legal at a company being transformed by AI. AI isn’t only part of what we sell — it’s becoming embedded in how Patsnap operates internally. You’ll have the opportunity to rethink how Legal works too, using AI and automation to improve workflows, increase leverage and build a function that can scale with the business. Operate as a senior commercial partner, not a legal gatekeeper. You’ll be trusted to get close to the business, understand what teams are trying to achieve and find pragmatic ways forward. You’ll advise senior stakeholders on complex commercial and strategic matters where judgement matters as much as technical legal expertise. Work at the heart of a genuinely global technology business. Patsnap operates across major international markets, giving you exposure to the legal and commercial challenges that come with scaling technology across different customers, jurisdictions and regulatory environments. Build for the next stage, rather than inherit the finished playbook. There’s real scope to improve how we contract, manage risk, use technology and partner with the wider business. You won’t simply maintain established processes — you’ll help decide what better looks like and put it into practice. Join at an exciting point in our growth. As Patsnap continues to expand globally, the breadth and complexity of our legal needs are growing too. That gives you the chance to make a visible impact today while helping build the legal foundations we’ll need for the next stage of the company. What You'll Be Doing: Strategic Transactions & Corporate Lead complex M&A activity across the Western region, managing transactions from due diligence and deal structuring through to negotiation and post-acquisition integration. Support strategic investments, partnerships and joint ventures, while negotiating high-value commercial agreements and enterprise contracts. Partner with Finance and executive leadership on corporate governance and strategic business initiatives. Legal Risk & Governance Provide commercially focused legal advice that enables business growth while effectively managing legal, regulatory and operational risk. Develop and enhance legal governance frameworks, policies and processes that support a scaling international business. Monitor legal and regulatory developments across the Western region and advise leadership on their business impact. Disputes, Litigation & Intellectual Property Lead litigation and dispute resolution across the Western region, managing external counsel to achieve pragmatic and commercially balanced outcomes. Oversee intellectual property matters, advising on patents, trademarks, licensing and IP considerations within commercial transactions and product development. Cross-Regional Collaboration & Strategic Leadership Act as the key legal partner between the Western business and APAC teams, supporting cross-border transactions and ensuring legal alignment across regions. Serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership, partnering with Finance, Sales, Product and People teams to provide practical, business-focused legal counsel. Identify opportunities to improve legal operations, streamline processes and help shape the future of Patsnap's Western legal function. What We'd Love From You: 7+ years of combined legal experience, with significant time spent in-house at a high-growth technology or SaaS company. Mandarin proficiency Proven experience leading or playing a central role in M&A transactions — from due diligence through to completion. Strong background in corporate law, commercial transactions, and legal risk management. Demonstrated ability to manage litigation and disputes, including experience engaging and directing external counsel cost-effectively. Qualified solicitor; comfortable navigating multi-jurisdictional legal environments. Commercially astute with the ability to balance legal risk with business pragmatism and budget awareness. Exceptional negotiation skills and a track record of delivering favourable outcomes on complex deals. Strong communicator — able to distil complex legal matters into clear, concise guidance for non-legal stakeholders. Nice to Have Experience with IP law, data privacy (GDPR, PIPEDA, CCPA), or regulatory compliance in a SaaS/technology context. Exposure to cross-border transactions bridging Western and Asian markets. Prior experience working with investment firms, private equity, or venture-backed companies. Familiarity with both UK, US and Canadian corporate law. Benefits & Perks: A genuinely strong culture we’re really proud of. High-performing but low ego, collaborative, social, and dynamic. It’s a team that supports each other, shares best practice, raises standards, and celebrates wins properly together. Alongside a great product, it’s one of the best parts of working here. Additional benefits 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays Two paid volunteering days Private healthcare with AXA Pension with Scottish Widows Enhanced parental leave policies Work from home stipend Cycle to Work scheme Life assurance Payroll giving options Eyecare vouchers PatSnap is proud to be an equal opportunity employer (EOE) that champions diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, or marital, veteran/military, or disability status, or any other protected status in accordance with federal, provincial/state or local laws. Even if you don’t meet 100% of the above qualifications, we encourage you to apply and tell us why you’d be a great fit for this role! If you require any accommodations during the interview process, please email us at [email protected] so we can best support you.