Brighton Jones

Senior Director of Legal and Compliance

Brighton Jones$200K — $250K *
Legal & Accounting
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Juris Doctor (JD) and active bar membership in Washington state.
  • 10+ years of legal experience, preferably in financial services or a regulated industry.
  • Proven expertise in commercial law, litigation, privacy and data protection, and corporate governance.
  • Strong grasp of data privacy and regulatory frameworks.
  • Familiarity with ERISA and securities regulations is a plus.

Responsibilities

  • Manage and support litigation, arbitration, and regulatory inquiries with outside counsel.
  • Oversee document preservation and discovery strategies for disputes.
  • Lead formation and maintenance of legal entities and strategic transactions.
  • Enhance the firm's compliance function across all business lines.
  • Draft and negotiate complex commercial agreements independently.
  • Advance the firm's privacy and data protection program, including AI governance.
  • Support growth initiatives and translate complex legal risks for stakeholders.

Benefits

  • Fully paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees.
  • 401(k) with 100% match up to 3% of annual compensation.
  • Equity ownership opportunities for every employee.
  • Minimum 3 weeks PTO starting Day 1, plus paid holidays and flex-days.
  • 100% reimbursement for required training and personal career development.
  • Paid parental leave of 13 weeks for birthing parents and 6 weeks for non-birthing parents.
Full Job Description
The Legal team at Brighton Jones plays a crucial role in ensuring the firm operates with the highest ethical and legal standards. This role offers broad exposure across varying legal domains and provides legal and strategic guidance across all aspects of the business, including regulatory compliance, intellectual property, privacy, employment matters, commercial contracting, and corporate governance. We are a collaborative and supportive team that values proactive and aligned legal support.

We are seeking an experienced attorney to scale our legal and compliance function at a pivotal moment in our history and growth. This is an in-office position based in our Seattle headquarters.

Take our Values in Action Self-Assessment to see how our values align!

What You'll Do:

Litigation and Investigations Support

  • Manage and support litigation, arbitration, and regulatory inquiries, including coordination with outside counsel.
  • Oversee document preservation, discovery strategy, and internal fact development in connection with disputes or investigations.
  • Provide strategic input on dispute resolution, settlement considerations, and risk exposure to leadership.


Corporate, Risk Management, and Governance
  • Lead the formation, dissolution, and maintenance of legal entities including LLCs and subsidiaries, including organizational documents and state registrations.
  • Assist with potential strategic transactions including debt, equity or other strategic transactions.
  • Responsible for insurance program management and the company's global insurance portfolio, including directors and officers, errors and omissions, cyber liability, employment practices liability, fiduciary liability, general and property liability and other liabilities.

Regulatory Compliance
  • Oversee and continuously enhance the firm's Compliance function across all business lines, with heightened accountability for regulatory compliance, supervisory frameworks, and program design.
  • Proactively assess new and proposed regulations and provide strategic recommendations to executive leadership, including risk prioritization and implementation roadmaps.
  • Lead development and governance of policies, procedures, and controls with a focus on audit readiness and regulatory defensibility.

Contracts and Commercial

  • Serve as a senior legal advisor to business leadership, delivering clear, risk-calibrated guidance across Advisory, People, Finance, Marketing, and Technology functions.
  • Independently structure, draft, and negotiate complex commercial agreements with minimal supervision, including high-risk and high-value arrangements.
  • Drive process improvements (e.g., CLM, intake, templates, playbooks) to increase velocity while maintaining consistency and risk control.


Privacy and Data Protection
  • Lead ongoing evolution of the firm's privacy and data protection program, including AI governance and vendor risk management.
  • Provide executive-level guidance on data use, risk tradeoffs, and incident response strategy.

Operational and Cross-Functional Support

  • Operate as a senior legal leader supporting the firm's growth initiatives, new service lines, and strategic transactions.
  • Translate complex legal and regulatory risks into clear, actionable guidance for stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
  • Independently manage high-priority and sensitive legal matters with executive visibility and accountability.


What You'll Bring:

  • Juris Doctor (JD) and active bar membership in Washington state.
  • 10+ years of legal experience, including demonstrated experience leading a commercial legal function. Experience in financial services or a regulated industry is strongly preferred.
  • Deep experience in commercial law, litigation, privacy and data protection, and corporate governance.
  • Strong understanding of data privacy and regulatory environments.
  • Familiarity with ERISA and securities regulations (a plus).
  • This is a full-time, exempt, in-office position with flexibility.


Compensation:

  • Target Base Salary: $200,000 - $250,000 per year
  • Restricted Equity Units awarded at hire
  • May be eligible for discretionary bonuses


Ownership & Financial Wellbeing
  • Fully paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees
  • 401(k) with 100% match up to 3% of annual compensation
  • Equity ownership opportunities for every employee
  • New Business Incentive Program
  • Generous employee referral bonus
  • Cell phone data reimbursement
  • Financial planning services discount for employees and immediate family members


Time & Flexibility
  • Minimum 3 weeks PTO starting Day 1
  • Winter Break, Summer Friday flex-days, and 10 paid holidays
  • Unlimited Volunteer Time Off plus company grant matching
  • Heavily subsidized transit


Growth & Development
  • 100% reimbursement for required training, certifications, licensing, and dues
  • Personal career development plans
  • Richer Life Business Partner (coaching for all employees)
  • Mindful Emotional & Social Intelligence training
  • Annual professional & personal wellbeing stipend


Connection & Community
  • Quarterly team-building events
  • Regular social events
  • Employee-led book clubs, committees, and affinity groups


Family & Milestones
  • Paid Parental leave (13 weeks for birthing parent and 6 weeks for non-birthing parent)
  • Adoption benefits
  • Anniversary milestone celebrations, including a 3-month paid sabbatical at 10 years


Visa Sponsorship: Please note, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship for the position offered. Accordingly, we are unable to hire individuals who require, or will require, employment visa sponsorship either now or in the future.

About Brighton Jones

Brighton Jones is a wealth management firm that provides financial planning, investment management, and tax planning services to individuals and families. The company was founded in 1999 by Jon Jones and Charles Brighton, and is headquartered in Seattle, Washington. Brighton Jones has over 250 employees and manages over $6 billion in assets. The company has been recognized as one of the top wealth management firms in the country by publications such as Barron's and Forbes.
Learn more about Brighton Jones
Size
250 employees
Industry
Founded
1999

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