Legal Counsel Commercial

Meet DeepL

DeepL is a global communications platform powered by Language AI. Since 2017, we’ve been on a mission to break down language barriers. Our human-sounding translations and intelligent writing suggestions are designed with enterprise security in mind. Today, they enable over 100,000 businesses to transform communications, reach new markets, and improve productivity. And, empower millions of individuals worldwide to make sense of the world and express their ideas.

Our goal is to become the global leader in Language AI, building products that drive better communication, foster connections, and make a real-life impact. To achieve this, we need talented individuals like you to join our exciting journey. If you're ready to work with a dynamic team and build your career in the fast-moving AI space, DeepL is your next destination.

What sets us apart

What sets us apart is our blend of modern technology, competitive benefits, and an open, welcoming work culture that enables our people to thrive. When we share what it's like to work at DeepL, the reactions are overwhelmingly positive. This may be because of our products that have helped countless people worldwide or our shared mission to improve communication for individuals and businesses, bringing cultures closer together. What we know for sure is this: being part of DeepL means joining a team dedicated to innovation and employee well-being. Discover what our teams have to say about life at DeepL on LinkedIn, Instagram and our Blog.

Meet the team behind this journey

DeepL's Legal department is seeking a Legal Counsel to join our Legal Technology team, focusing on commercial, procurement and marketing functions. Our Legal team is at the forefront of AI and innovation, tackling unique legal challenges and helping to shape the future of AI. We value agility, creative thinking and a bias toward action. This is an opportunity to join a team of distinguished lawyers from international jurisdictions and contribute to a growing, visionary company.

Your responsibilities

This role requires a business-focused legal counsel who can serve as a trusted advisor to our Procurement and Marketing teams. We are looking for someone with strong commercial legal experience and a passion for AI technology. Your key responsibilities will include:

• Draft, review, negotiate and close a wide range of commercial and procurement agreements, with a focus on IT procurement (SaaS, software licensing), general services (MSAs and SOWs) and marketing contracts (events, sponsorships, video production, creative services and speaker and logo releases).

• Handle other commercial requests from teams across the company, including Procurement, Marketing, Engineering, Product, Research, Sales and People.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Finance, Privacy, Customer and GtM Legal to facilitate deal closure and provide cohesive legal advice.

• Oversee legal guidance and support processes for NDAs and DPAs with suppliers, mentoring junior legal team members as needed.

• Advise Marketing teams on a wide range of global marketing activities, including promotional and public-facing materials, campaigns, email marketing, events, content production and consent requirements.

• Identify legal and commercial risks and provide clear, practical, business-focused advice to relevant teams to mitigate these risks.

• Stay up-to-date on evolving legal and regulatory developments across multiple jurisdictions and apply this knowledge to contract drafting and risk assessments.

• Support the development, implementation and continuous improvement of contract templates, online terms and conditions, playbooks and legal processes.

• Conduct training sessions for business teams on contract law, marketing, intellectual property and other relevant legal topics.

Qualities we look for

• You are a fully qualified lawyer within your jurisdiction. Admission to practice law in the UK or Germany is preferred.

• A successful candidate should have at least 3+ years of relevant post-qualification legal experience (in-house experience in the areas of technology and content is strongly preferred).

• You have demonstrated expertise in the areas of commercial contracts, SaaS and software licensing, international marketing, content creation (content development, production and distribution), intellectual property and data privacy and protection.

• You have practical experience in advising procurement or purchasing departments.

• You have experience advising on relevant areas of law in several jurisdictions ( preferably the UK, the US, Germany and Japan).

• You have proven experience in an international environment. Experience working in a global tech company is highly desirable.

• You are comfortable working independently, managing competing priorities and collaborating effectively with global stakeholders.

• You have strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with stakeholders at all levels.

• You are willing to work in a highly demanding, fast-changing and fast-paced environment. You bring business oriented thinking and strong problem solving skills.

• You are able to prioritize and organize your workload according to risks and company requirements, especially regarding time-sensitive matters.

• You are fluent in English.

What we offer

• Diverse and internationally distributed team: joining our team means becoming part of a large, global community with people of more than 90 nationalities. We're more than just colleagues; we're a group of professionals with a shared mission to connect diverse cultures. Our global presence is growing–we've doubled in size nearly every year, with our employees based in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, the US, and Japan, and we continue to expand our network.

• Open communication, regular feedback: as a language-focused company, we value the importance of clear, honest communication. We value smooth collaboration, direct and actionable feedback, and believe that leading with empathy and growth mindset makes us better together.

• Hybrid work, flexible hours: we offer a hybrid work schedule, with team members coming into the office twice a week. This allows you to engage directly with your team and experience the unique energy of our workspace, while still enjoying the flexibility and comfort of working from home. With flexible working hours and trust in your productivity, we are in sync with your team’s general locations and time zones to foster effective and seamless collaboration.

• Virtual Shares - An ownership mindset in every role. We believe everyone should share in our success, and that’s why every employee receives Virtual Shares, linking your contribution directly to DeepL’s growth and rewarding you with a stake in our future.

• Regular in-person team events: we bond over vibrant events that are as unique as our team, from local team and business unit gatherings, to new-joiner onboardings, to company-wide events that bring us all together–literally.

• Monthly full-day hacking sessions: every month, we have Hack Fridays, where you can spend your time diving into a project you're passionate about and get the opportunity to work with other teams–we value your initiatives, impact, and creativity.

• 30 days of annual leave: we value your peace of mind. With 30 days off (excluding public holidays) and access to mental health resources, we make sure you're as strong mentally as you are professionally.

• Competitive benefits: just as our team spans the globe, so does our benefits package. We've crafted it to reflect the diversity of our team and tailored it to align with your unique location, to ensure you feel supported every step of the way.

If this role and our mission resonate with you, but you're hesitant because you don't check all the boxes, don't let that hold you back. At DeepL, it's all about the value you bring and the growth we can foster together. Go ahead, apply—let's discover your potential together. We can't wait to meet you!

We are an equal opportunity employer

You are welcome at DeepL for who you are—we appreciate authenticity here. Our product is for everyone, and so is our workplace. The more voices we have represented and amplified in our business, the more we will all succeed, contribute, and think forward! So bring us your personal experience, your perspectives, and your background. It’s in our diversity that we will find the power to break down language barriers in the world.