Head of Legal

About the role

As Rillet’s first in‑house counsel (Head of Legal), you will build the legal function from the ground up and serve as a strategic business partner as the company scales domestically and internationally. You will work closely with leadership and cross‑functional teams, own legal decisions requiring judgment and speed, and thrive in a lean, systems‑oriented environment that automates aggressively. The role is based in commutable distance of NYC or San Francisco (or willing to relocate).

Responsibilities

• Build the legal function from the ground up — determine Rillet’s overall legal strategy, priorities, and operating model as the company scales domestically and internationally
• Advise the executive team and Board on strategic, legal, and risk considerations across the business — assessing risk and clearly articulating trade‑offs so leaders can make fast, informed decisions
• Build scalable frameworks, workflows, and playbooks — including adopting AI tooling to automate contract review, research, and beyond
• Review and negotiate commercial deals — MSAs, order forms, DPAs, SOWs, partner contracts, and more — partnering with the revenue team to structure and close deals efficiently, balancing legal protection with the speed the business needs
• Partner with Engineering, Product, and Design throughout the product development lifecycle, advising on legal and compliance considerations before they become blockers
• Guide the business on privacy, data protection, and the evolving AI regulatory landscape, translating a fast‑moving legal environment into practical guidance for the team
• Stay ahead of changing legal, regulatory, and compliance guidance relevant to Rillet's business, and proactively flag emerging risks and opportunities
• Own corporate governance — equity administration, financing rounds, and Board of Directors matters — keeping the company clean and audit‑ready as it scales
• Partner with the People team on employment matters, including hiring, policies, and workplace issues, providing pragmatic legal guidance that supports the business

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience, operating both as in‑house counsel and within top‑tier law firms
• Operated in high‑growth environments and scaled businesses through the 150–500 range
• Generalist background: able to understand the business, flag and prioritize any gaps and/or exposure areas
• Experience supporting corporate governance, equity, and employment‑related matters
• Experience negotiating commercial contracts, and pushing back where necessary
• Operating knowledge of privacy, data protection, AI