About the RoleWe are seeking a Corporate Counsel Lead to build and lead DeployCo's legal function from inception through scale. This leader will establish the legal infrastructure required to operate a global services organization closely aligned with OpenAI, while staying close enough to the work to unblock commercial execution in real time.
Initially, this role will operate as a player-coach, partnering with OpenAI Legal to support commercial contracting, corporate governance, and regulatory frameworks. Over time, you will build an independent legal organization capable of supporting global operations, M&A, and investor requirements without becoming a bottleneck.
You will serve as a strategic advisor to DeployCo's executive team, ensuring legal risk is managed while enabling rapid commercial execution and growth.
Your day-to-day will include negotiating customer agreements, drafting practical policies, managing outside counsel, cleaning up contracting processes, advising executives, and doing the detailed legal work required to keep a new company moving.
Success in this role will look like a legal function that protects DeployCo, earns trust with OpenAI and investors, and helps teams move faster because the rules are clear and usable.
In this role, you will:- Build and lead DeployCo's legal function across commercial, corporate, employment, and regulatory matters.
- Draft and negotiate complex enterprise customer and partner agreements.
- Establish governance structures, policies, and compliance frameworks that are rigorous, usable, and built for speed.
- Support corporate structuring, financing, and investor-related matters.
- Lead legal diligence and integration efforts for M&A transactions.
- Manage intercompany agreements and shared services with OpenAI.
- Develop scalable contracting processes and risk management frameworks.
- Manage outside counsel relationships globally.
- Advise executives on legal risk and strategic decision-making.
You may thrive in this role if you:- Have 12-15+ years of legal experience in technology, professional services, or corporate environments.
- Bring strong experience in commercial contracting and corporate governance.
- Have experience supporting high-growth or PE-backed companies.
- Are comfortable operating as the first legal leader in a new organization.
- Thrive in fast-paced, ambiguous environments.
- Balance pragmatic risk management with business enablement, and are willing to draft, negotiate, document, and chase details yourself.
