Opportunity at
CanonicalGeneral Counsel
Canonical seeks a General Counsel to direct its global legal and compliance department while reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer. Operating as a profitable and…
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About This Role
Canonical seeks a General Counsel to direct its global legal and compliance department while reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer. Operating as a profitable and expanding software enterprise preparing for a public market listing, the organization requires an experienced, commercial-minded attorney to steer its regulatory, governance, and commercial contracting frameworks. The incumbent will oversee a distributed staff spanning the Americas and EMEA regions, collaborating closely with product development, engineering,…
Job Description
Canonical seeks a General Counsel to direct its global legal and compliance department while reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer. Operating as a profitable and expanding software enterprise preparing for a public market listing, the organization requires an experienced, commercial-minded attorney to steer its regulatory, governance, and commercial contracting frameworks. The incumbent will oversee a distributed staff spanning the Americas and EMEA regions, collaborating closely with product development, engineering, and information security departments while advising the Board of Directors.
The position suits an intellectual and decisive practitioner possessing strong academic credentials, an active license to practice law in an eligible jurisdiction, and comprehensive in-house tenure within the global technology sector. Core duties involve establishing operational cadences, managing intellectual property and open source licensing strategies, maintaining privacy and trade compliance frameworks, and navigating corporate disputes. Additionally, the role includes international travel up to four times annually for company gatherings lasting up to two weeks.
Responsibilities
- Lead the global legal and compliance division by establishing structural standards and operational priorities across the Americas and EMEA
- Hire, mentor, and evaluate regional managers while directly addressing performance issues
- Establish workflow intake processes, internal client service benchmarks, and risk reporting protocols for executive leadership
- Partner with finance to manage public-market readiness including corporate governance, entity structure, authority delegations, and disclosure records
- Advise the executive team and board members during official committee and board meetings
- Oversee the commercial contracting framework including standard agreement templates, negotiation stances, and escalation procedures
- Direct intellectual property and open source licensing strategies encompassing copyleft rules and trademark distribution terms for Ubuntu and associated products
- Manage the global compliance program covering data privacy, trade controls, anti-corruption policies, competition rules, and AI regulations
- Oversee external counsel panels, associated budgets, and the management of regulatory engagements or litigation
- Provide legal counsel regarding corporate mergers and acquisitions, strategic alliances, financing activities, and business partnerships
Requirements
- Active license to practice law within an EMEA or Americas jurisdiction
- Substantial senior in-house legal experience in a global technology or software environment
- Proven background in leading distributed legal professionals and managing regional managers
- Experience in building or restructuring an in-house legal department
- Demonstrated ability to negotiate enterprise software agreements, subscriptions, cloud services, and channel partnerships
- Familiarity with open source licensing principles and community operations
- Demonstrated readiness or experience regarding public company governance and listing preparations
- Depth of knowledge in at least two specialized areas including data protection, intellectual property, export controls, competition, or disputes
- Professional English proficiency with advanced drafting and presentation capabilities
Qualifications
- Exceptional academic record from secondary school and university
- Degree in law or equivalent legal qualification
- Experience guiding an enterprise through an initial public offering or working as counsel in a publicly traded firm
- Technical or engineering background with an understanding of software development life cycles
- Familiarity with subscription and recurring revenue business operational models
- Dual or multi-jurisdictional legal qualifications
Core Skills
Benefits
- Competitive compensation adjusted for geographical location, experience, and performance, reviewed annually
- Performance-driven annual bonus or commission structure
- Tailored local benefits programs designed to ensure global fairness
- Personal learning and development budget of USD 2,000 annually
- Company recognition awards and bi-annual compensation reviews
- Forty days of annual leave inclusive of public holidays and company holiday periods
- Maternity and paternity leave provisions
- Team Member Assistance Program and wellness platform access
- Priority Pass lounge access and opportunities to travel internationally to meet colleagues during bi-annual team sprints
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers are based only on the employer’s listing; where it doesn’t say, neither do we.
What are the remote work arrangements for this role?
The posting specifies that this role is based remotely 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 position?
The role requires international travel two to four times a year for company events that can last up to two weeks long.
Is salary information disclosed in the posting?
The posting does not specify the exact salary, noting only that compensation is shaped by geographical location, experience, and performance.
Sample Interview Questions
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