{"schemaVersion":"jobsearcher.job.v1","id":"00a8d189a4ee2818dbd0c033","url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/00a8d189a4ee2818dbd0c033","canonicalUrl":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/00a8d189a4ee2818dbd0c033","title":"Founding Counsel","description":"Founding CounselLocation: San FranciscoTeam: LegalReports To: Leadership TeamAbout the CompanyCappo Search is partnering with a rapidly growing, venture-backed AI company that is transforming how investment decisions are made.The company has developed an AI-native platform that automates large parts of the due diligence process for investors, strategy teams, and advisors. By combining proprietary workflows with advanced AI agents, the platform gathers, analyses, and synthesises fragmented information into actionable insights, helping customers make faster and more informed decisions.Customers include:Leading Private Equity and Venture Capital firmsHedge Funds and investment organisationsGlobal consulting firmsCorporate Strategy, M&A, and Business Development teams within Fortune 500 companiesFollowing strong customer adoption and successful Series A funding, the company is entering its next phase of growth and is looking to make its first dedicated legal hire.The OpportunityThis is a unique opportunity to join as the company's first legal hire and build the legal and compliance function from the ground up.The company's customers include leading private equity firms, consulting businesses, and enterprise organisations that conduct extensive legal, privacy, security, and compliance reviews before purchasing software. Strengthening the company's compliance posture and accelerating enterprise procurement has become a strategic priority as the business scales.Working closely with the founders, product, engineering, and go-to-market teams, you will own customer-facing legal and compliance initiatives, helping the company establish the trust, governance, and risk frameworks required to win and expandKey ResponsibilitiesBuild and own the company's legal and compliance frameworkLead customer-facing privacy, security, compliance, and procurement reviewsAdvise on AI governance, data privacy, and emerging regulatory requirementsPartner with product, engineering, and security teams to strengthen the company's compliance postureNegotiate and manage commercial customer, vendor, and partnership agreementsDevelop scalable legal processes, policies, and contracting frameworksAdvise founders and leadership on legal, regulatory, and operational riskManage external counsel and specialist advisors where requiredMust-Have QualificationsJ.D. and active membership in at least one U.S. state bar2–6 years of legal experience across commercial, technology, privacy, compliance, or regulatory mattersExperience supporting SaaS, AI, data, or enterprise software businessesStrong understanding of enterprise procurement, privacy, security, and compliance requirementsExcellent drafting, negotiation, and stakeholder management skillsAbility to operate independently in a fast-paced startup environmentNice-to-HaveBackground at Gunderson Dettmer, Cooley, Wilson Sonsini, Fenwick, Orrick, Goodwin, Morrison Foerster, or a similar technology-focused law firmExperience advising venture-backed technology companiesFamiliarity with SOC 2, GDPR, AI governance, security reviews, and enterprise customer compliance processesPrior in-house experience at a startup or high-growth technology companyInterest in artificial intelligence, investing, and enterprise technologyLocation & Work EnvironmentSan Francisco-basedCollaborative, high-energy, in-office culture (3–4 days per week)CompensationBase salary: $130k - $185k (depending on experience)Meaningful equity participationWhy Join?Become the first legal hire at a high-growth AI companyHelp shape legal, compliance, and governance strategy from an early stageWork directly alongside experienced founders and operatorsPlay a critical role in helping the company win and expand enterprise customersSignificant opportunity to grow into a senior legal leadership position as the business scalesPlease note: Unfortunately, visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Applicants must have existing U.S. work authorisation.","company":"Cappo Search","rawCompany":"cappo search","city":"Millbrae","state":"CA","isRemote":false,"isActive":false,"createdAt":"2026-06-20T07:55:06.999Z","occupations":[{"code":"23-1011.00","title":"Lawyers","slug":"lawyers"},{"code":"23-2011.00","title":"Paralegals and Legal Assistants","slug":"paralegals-and-legal-assistants"},{"code":"23-2099.00","title":"Legal Support Workers, All Other","slug":"legal-support-workers-all-other"}],"industries":[{"code":"513210","title":"Software Publishers","slug":"software-publishers"},{"code":"541511","title":"Custom Computer Programming Services","slug":"custom-computer-programming-services"},{"code":"541110","title":"Offices of Lawyers","slug":"offices-of-lawyers"}],"jobPosting":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"JobPosting","title":"Founding Counsel","description":"Founding CounselLocation: San FranciscoTeam: LegalReports To: Leadership TeamAbout the CompanyCappo Search is partnering with a rapidly growing, venture-backed AI company that is transforming how investment decisions are made.The company has developed an AI-native platform that automates large parts of the due diligence process for investors, strategy teams, and advisors. By combining proprietary workflows with advanced AI agents, the platform gathers, analyses, and synthesises fragmented information into actionable insights, helping customers make faster and more informed decisions.Customers include:Leading Private Equity and Venture Capital firmsHedge Funds and investment organisationsGlobal consulting firmsCorporate Strategy, M&A, and Business Development teams within Fortune 500 companiesFollowing strong customer adoption and successful Series A funding, the company is entering its next phase of growth and is looking to make its first dedicated legal hire.The OpportunityThis is a unique opportunity to join as the company's first legal hire and build the legal and compliance function from the ground up.The company's customers include leading private equity firms, consulting businesses, and enterprise organisations that conduct extensive legal, privacy, security, and compliance reviews before purchasing software. Strengthening the company's compliance posture and accelerating enterprise procurement has become a strategic priority as the business scales.Working closely with the founders, product, engineering, and go-to-market teams, you will own customer-facing legal and compliance initiatives, helping the company establish the trust, governance, and risk frameworks required to win and expandKey ResponsibilitiesBuild and own the company's legal and compliance frameworkLead customer-facing privacy, security, compliance, and procurement reviewsAdvise on AI governance, data privacy, and emerging regulatory requirementsPartner with product, engineering, and security teams to strengthen the company's compliance postureNegotiate and manage commercial customer, vendor, and partnership agreementsDevelop scalable legal processes, policies, and contracting frameworksAdvise founders and leadership on legal, regulatory, and operational riskManage external counsel and specialist advisors where requiredMust-Have QualificationsJ.D. and active membership in at least one U.S. state bar2–6 years of legal experience across commercial, technology, privacy, compliance, or regulatory mattersExperience supporting SaaS, AI, data, or enterprise software businessesStrong understanding of enterprise procurement, privacy, security, and compliance requirementsExcellent drafting, negotiation, and stakeholder management skillsAbility to operate independently in a fast-paced startup environmentNice-to-HaveBackground at Gunderson Dettmer, Cooley, Wilson Sonsini, Fenwick, Orrick, Goodwin, Morrison Foerster, or a similar technology-focused law firmExperience advising venture-backed technology companiesFamiliarity with SOC 2, GDPR, AI governance, security reviews, and enterprise customer compliance processesPrior in-house experience at a startup or high-growth technology companyInterest in artificial intelligence, investing, and enterprise technologyLocation & Work EnvironmentSan Francisco-basedCollaborative, high-energy, in-office culture (3–4 days per week)CompensationBase salary: $130k - $185k (depending on experience)Meaningful equity participationWhy Join?Become the first legal hire at a high-growth AI companyHelp shape legal, compliance, and governance strategy from an early stageWork directly alongside experienced founders and operatorsPlay a critical role in helping the company win and expand enterprise customersSignificant opportunity to grow into a senior legal leadership position as the business scalesPlease note: Unfortunately, visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Applicants must have existing U.S. work authorisation.","datePosted":"2026-06-20T07:55:06.999Z","dateModified":"2026-06-20T07:55:06.999Z","hiringOrganization":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Cappo Search","sameAs":"https://jobsearcher.com"},"jobLocation":{"@type":"Place","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressLocality":"Millbrae","addressRegion":"CA","addressCountry":"US"}},"identifier":{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"JobSearcher","value":"00a8d189a4ee2818dbd0c033"},"url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/00a8d189a4ee2818dbd0c033"}}