Legal Counsel (API)

We support the dynamic nature of Vonage’s business across the full spectrum of our global operations. We provide, manage and coordinate business-focused, high-quality legal counsel and services. Our aim is to minimize legal risks and costs, reduce litigation exposure and ensure compliance with all local laws both in the US and internationally. Our legal team is a business partner, contributing to strategy development, operational planning, people management, financial management and the full range of internal and external alliances and interactions.

Vonage’s Legal Department is looking for a talented Commercial Legal Counsel to support our fast-growing and dynamic API communications division. The Commercial Counsel will support complex and strategic transactions with our customers, partners, and suppliers worldwide; act as an escalation point for other commercial deals; and be a trusted advisor to the business on a range of commercial, compliance, data protection, and legal issues in connection with the product and sales cycle. The Commercial Counsel will also be critical to the identification and implementation of continuous improvements in the efficiency and efficacy of our processes.

You will be responsible for overseeing a pipeline of commercial deals, managing existing customers and contracts, and providing legal advice and support to the global team.

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What you will do:

Strategic Responsibilities:

• Manage legal and financial risk exposure in all contact negotiations
• Create streamlined processes for contract negotiations
• Create streamlined and simplified processes for the provision of support to all other areas of the company
• Assist Legal Counsel in conducting legal research, providing legal advice and act as deputy during his/her absence with a view to assuming responsibility for the global in-house legal team and global legal requirements

Operational Responsibilities:

• Experience reviewing, negotiating creating and managing contracts with customers, partners, resellers, etc, for a global publicly traded business to protect the interest and risk of the company and to ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations
• Proven track record and ability to work in a high-pressure sales driven revenue generation environment with prompt and accurate responses to questions and production of work product
• Advise on and facilitate the implementation of current regulatory compliance requirements for the company – having particular focus on compliance with data protection laws and regulations
• Support the sales teams in reviewing RFPs and customer questionnaires
• Work collaboratively with the in-house legal team to ensure that it is delivering a prompt and proactive service to the company enabling and facilitating continuing global expansion
• Support the development of new products and services from the legal perspective
• Liaise closely with other business functions, particularly Sales, Operations and Finance, to support them on legal matters
• Develop and constantly improve the legal framework, especially with regards to standardisation of contract templates, processes and procedures that serve a global purpose and provide the ability to cross-sell all of the company’s services
• Coordinate and liaise with any external counsel in relation to various transactions and company activities 

People Responsibilities:

• Assist and advise other team members on legal matters
• Ensure that the company strategies are embedded within the culture of the team
• Ensure ‘sense of urgency’ ‘results driven’ and ‘accountability’ are key behaviours that are displayed by team members 
• Identify training needs of team members and facilitate training delivery
• Define objectives for team members based on the department’s goals in sync with company strategies
• Conduct timely performance reviews of team members, share feedback, and support to ensure delivery as agreed
• Support hiring process of new team members

What’s required for application:

• Solicitor or barrister qualified to practice in the US (ideally West Coast US) or UK (5-7yrs minimum + PQE) or similar in-house experience
• Strong transactional experience in the technology and cloud computing/SaaS areas
• Strong experience with European data protection law
• General knowledge/experience with data privacy and data privacy laws (including GDPR)
• Proven practical and proactive problem-solver who possesses strong business acumen
• Experience in drafting, reviewing and negotiating commercial contracts (sales, channel/agent, reseller, etc.) for a global public technology company
• Experience working in-house in a SaaS company (specifically with sales and account management departments)
• Excellent attention to detail
• Strong team player and self-motivating Track record of employing diplomacy and gravitas to drive consensus and results
• Proactive and self-motivated; track record of challenging and improving on the status quo
• Sound, practical, and independent judgment; committed to the highest ethical standards

Desired Skills:

• Able to work in a fast-paced environment with high pressure periods and deadlines
• Able to self-manage
• Practical knowledge and experience of data protection issues
• Ability to utilise various communication methods to drive efficiency in working and be comfortable with direct communications with internal clients and stakeholders, and externally with 3rd party lawyers, companies including prospective customers, customers, partners and resellers.

What is in it for you:

In addition to providing exciting work, career advancement opportunities, and a collaborative work environment, Vonage provides competitive pay and benefits including unlimited discretionary time off and tuition reimbursement.

Note: The purpose of this profile is to provide a general summary of essential responsibilities for the position and is not meant as an exhaustive list. Assignments may differ for individuals within the same role based on business conditions, departmental need or geographic location.

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