Head of Legal - Larson Maddox

Overview

We are working exclusively with a profitable, high-growth AI technology business to appoint its first dedicated Head of Legal in London.

This is a rare opportunity to build the legal function from the ground up and work directly with the founders at the centre of the company's commercial, product, security and corporate decision-making. The business develops LLM-powered workflow technology for sophisticated institutional clients across private markets, consulting and financial services.

If you are a commercially minded, US-qualified lawyer based in London who has helped an AI, SaaS or data-led business scale, please apply in.

Why consider the opportunity?

• Become the first dedicated legal hire in a profitable and growing AI business.
• Work directly with the CEO and founders on strategically important decisions.
• Build the legal, compliance and governance function rather than inherit a fixed structure.
• Take ownership of sophisticated legal work spanning AI, privacy, product, security, commercial contracts and corporate matters.
• Join a business whose technology is already used by leading institutional organisations internationally.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead negotiations on complex enterprise SaaS agreements, including MSAs, data-processing terms, data-licensing arrangements and security schedules with major institutional clients.
• Create contracting playbooks, templates and escalation frameworks that allow commercial teams to move quickly while maintaining appropriate risk controls.
• Own the company's privacy framework across UK, European and US requirements, including UK GDPR, GDPR, CCPA/CPRA, DPAs, records of processing, sub-processors and privacy-by-design.
• Build the company's AI governance and compliance approach, covering model training, data use, recording consent and evolving AI regulation.
• Partner closely with Product and Engineering on the legal and regulatory implications of new products and features.
• Work alongside Security leadership on SOC 2, customer security reviews, DPIAs and related contractual commitments.
• Develop and protect the company's intellectual property strategy across its proprietary technology, data and commercial relationships.
• Advise the founders and leadership team on corporate governance, financing, board and cap-table matters, employment issues and international expansion.

Required Experience

• Qualified and admitted to practise law in the United States. Admission in any US state will be considered. This is a mandatory requirement.
• Currently based in London, or committed to being based in London and working on-site.
• At least eight years of experience gained across private practice and in-house legal roles.
• Meaningful in-house experience within an AI, SaaS, data, fintech or similarly technology-led business.
• Deep, hands-on experience in data privacy, including GDPR, UK GDPR, US privacy requirements, DPAs and sub-processor arrangements.
• Experience creating contracting infrastructure, playbooks and scalable legal processes within a fast-growing business.