Remote opportunity at
CanonicalGeneral Counsel (remote)
Canonical seeks an experienced professional for a remote General Counsel position reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer. This leadership role oversees the worldwide Legal and…
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About This Role
Canonical seeks an experienced professional for a remote General Counsel position reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer. This leadership role oversees the worldwide Legal and Compliance organization for a profitable, private technology enterprise preparing for a public exchange listing. The incoming lawyer will direct a distributed staff across the Americas and EMEA, establishing operational frameworks, public-market readiness, and governance protocols. The position suits a commercial senior lawyer with deep…
Job Description
Canonical seeks an experienced professional for a remote General Counsel position reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer. This leadership role oversees the worldwide Legal and Compliance organization for a profitable, private technology enterprise preparing for a public exchange listing. The incoming lawyer will direct a distributed staff across the Americas and EMEA, establishing operational frameworks, public-market readiness, and governance protocols.
The position suits a commercial senior lawyer with deep expertise in the software sector and open source licensing dynamics. Responsibilities include guiding intellectual property strategy, shaping commercial contracting standards, managing regulatory engagement, and advising the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and the Board of Directors. The environment demands hands-on execution, rigorous operational standards, and the ability to build management infrastructure across regions.
Canonical is a founder-led tech enterprise driving global open source adoption and producing the Ubuntu platform used in enterprise cloud, data science, artificial intelligence, and Internet of Things initiatives. Operating with a distributed workforce and no central headquarters, the company expects high performance and discipline from its personnel while offering unique international collaboration opportunities.
Responsibilities
- Lead the global Legal and Compliance function across the Americas and EMEA regions
- Build and manage a leadership team by hiring managers, setting objectives, and monitoring performance
- Establish operational cadences for workload intake, prioritization, and leadership reporting
- Drive public-market readiness regarding corporate governance, group structure, and disclosure controls in partnership with Finance
- Advise executive leadership and the Board of Directors, providing support during board meetings
- Oversee the commercial contracting framework, including standard templates and escalation processes
- Direct intellectual property and open source licensing strategies concerning Ubuntu and other products
- Manage the global compliance program covering data privacy, trade compliance, anti-bribery, and artificial intelligence regulation
- Direct litigation, regulatory engagement, and external counsel budgets
- Advise on corporate mergers, acquisitions, strategic alliances, and financing activities
Requirements
- Active license to practice law in an Americas or EMEA jurisdiction
- Substantial senior in-house experience within a global software or technology enterprise
- Proven background leading distributed legal teams and managing managers across time zones
- Experience building or restructuring an in-house legal department
- Demonstrated expertise negotiating commercial technology contracts such as enterprise software and cloud agreements
- Familiarity with open source licensing and community operations
- Readiness for public company governance and listing preparation
- Professional written and spoken English proficiency with strong drafting skills
Qualifications
- Exceptional academic background from high school and university
- Law degree or equivalent qualification
- Experience taking an enterprise through an initial public offering or working inside a publicly listed company
- Technical or engineering background with fluency in software development
- Background in subscription or recurring-revenue business models
- Qualifications in multiple jurisdictions
Core Skills
Benefits
- Distributed work environment with twice-yearly in-person team sprints
- Annual personal learning and development budget of USD 2,000
- Performance-driven annual bonus or commission
- Bi-annual compensation reviews
- Company recognition rewards
- 40 days of annual leave including public holidays and company holiday periods
- Maternity and paternity leave
- Team Member Assistance Program and Wellness Platform
- Priority Pass lounge access for international travel
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this position remote?
Yes, this role is remote and based in EMEA time zones.
Who does the General Counsel report to?
The General Counsel reports directly to the Chief Operating Officer.
What travel is required for this role?
The position entails international travel two to four times per year for company events lasting up to two weeks each.
What is the salary for this position?
The salary is not stated in the job posting.
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