About The Position:
This is a hands-on legal leadership role built around commercial contracts and AI-powered legal operations. As VP, Legal, you’ll own the end-to-end commercial contracting function, negotiating customer MSAs, enterprise deals, partnerships, and vendor agreements, while leveraging AI tools and CLM platforms to drive speed, consistency, and scale. Reporting to the CFO, you’ll serve as a key advisor to the executive team, partnering closely with Sales, Product, and leadership to help the business move quickly and make smart, risk-based decisions. For specialized matters such as debt financing, equity transactions, and complex corporate work, you’ll manage relationships with external law firms.
You’ll work cross-functionally with Product, Engineering, Sales, Security, Finance, and People Operations, playing a critical role in building an AI-first legal function. One that uses modern legal technology, automation, and AI-assisted workflows to punch well above its weight. This is a role for someone who sees legal tech and AI tools not as nice-to-haves, but as force multipliers that allow a lean team to operate at the speed and scale of a much larger organization.
What You’ll Work On:
Commercial & Product Legal
- Own and negotiate the full commercial contract lifecycle (customer MSAs, enterprise deals, partnerships, vendors), leveraging AI-powered contract review and CLM tools to accelerate turnaround
- Partner closely with Sales on deal structuring, playbook development, and scaling contracting processes through automation and self-serve workflows
- Advise Product and Engineering on product launches, AI features, data licensing, and go-to-market risk
Building the Function
- Establish scalable legal processes, templates, and playbooks, powered by AI tools and contract lifecycle management (CLM) platforms
- Manage outside counsel efficiently, leveraging external firms for debt, equity, M&A, and other specialized legal matters
- Champion an AI-first approach to legal operations. Evaluate, implement, and optimize AI-assisted contract review, legal research, and workflow tools to maximize efficiency and over time, help build and lead the legal function as the company grows
Company & Strategic Counsel
- Serve as a key advisor to the executive leadership team on legal, regulatory, and risk matters
- Help guide company strategy with a practical, business-first legal mindset
- Support board matters and corporate governance as needed, partnering with external counsel on complex corporate items
Privacy, Security & AI
- Lead privacy and data protection efforts (GDPR, CCPA, international compliance)
- Partner with Security on customer trust, compliance frameworks, and audits
- Help shape Crisp’s approach to AI governance, responsible AI, and emerging regulation
Corporate & Employment (Lighter Touch; External Counsel for Specialized Work)
- Coordinate with external firms on employment law matters, equity plans, and people-related legal issues
- Coordinate with external firms on fundraising, debt, equity transactions, and investor diligence
M&A & Corporate Transactions (Supporting Role; External Counsel-Led)
- Support acquisitions as internal legal point of contact, coordinating with external counsel from LOI through close
- Coordinate legal diligence across IP, product, data/privacy, security, commercial, and employment workstreams
- Review and provide input on key deal documents (LOIs, purchase agreements, disclosure schedules, TSAs) prepared by external counsel
- Partner with Finance, Corporate Development, and leadership to evaluate risk and support deal decisions
- Support post-close integration workstreams (contracts, IP, entities, compliance) alongside external counsel
Who You Are:
You are a pragmatic, tech-forward legal leader who thrives in fast-moving, product-driven environments. You’re excited to build an AI-first legal function from the ground up; one where commercial contracts are the core, and AI tools and automation are how you scale.
- 8–12+ years of legal experience, ideally including SaaS and/or technology companies
- Prior in-house experience at a growth-stage or scaling company strongly preferred
- You posess a J.D. from an accredited law school and active membership in at least one U.S. state bar, in good standing
- Deep experience with commercial contracts and technology transactions
- Strong understanding of privacy, data protection, and modern SaaS risk profiles
- Comfortable operating in ambiguity and making sound, risk-based decisions without a large legal team
- Practical, collaborative, and solutions-oriented, with a strong sense of ownership
- Enthusiastic adopter of AI and legal technology. You actively use AI tools for contract review, legal research, and workflow automation, and see them as essential to a modern legal function
Bonus But Not Required:
- Hands-on experience with M&A transactions (due diligence, deal documents, post-close integration)
- International experience, including EU/US cross-border operations
- Prior experience as a first or early legal hire
- Expertise in privacy and compliance, including CIPP/US or CIPP/E certification
- Experience leading GDPR and/or SOC 2 programs
- Background in AI governance, regulatory readiness, or experience with AI-driven products
What Makes a Great Fit at Crisp:
- Collaboration: You believe the best results come from working together. You share ideas, pitch in, and elevate those around you.
- Grit: You’re curious, self-driven, and unafraid to roll up your sleeves. You get the job done even when the path isn’t clear and adapt quickly when things change.
- People: You stay close to those we serve. Listening, learning, and building what matters most.
- Feedback: You see it as fuel. You give it with care, take it with humility, and use it to level up.
- Ingenuity: You solve problems with creativity and speed. You look for ways to streamline, automate, or improve without being asked.
We are committed to transparency, diversity, and meritocracy, fostering an environment where every team member is empowered to make an impact, grow personally, and advance in their career. We invite you to join us – not just to take on a role, but to help shape a company you’re proud to be part of.
Compensation & Eligibility
Compensation for this role is determined based on a variety of factors, including individual qualifications, professional experience, skill set, and geographic location. Crisp is committed to providing fair and competitive pay. Specific compensation details will be discussed with candidates throughout the hiring process.
Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States. At this time, Crisp is unable to sponsor or assume sponsorship of employment visas.
Background Verification
In accordance with company policy, Crisp conducts background checks that may include verification of identity, education, and criminal history. Any falsification or misrepresentation in an application will result in disqualification from consideration.