Lead Counsel, Corporate

Join the team redefining how the world experiences design. We offer flexibility in how and where you work, trusting our team to choose the balance that empowers them and their team to achieve their goals. Our flagship office is in Sydney, Australia, with a hub in San Francisco for US operations.

About the role

As Canva scales, change continues to be part of our DNA. This role will evolve, but here’s the flavor of what you’ll be working on:

As Managing Counsel, Corporate, you will be a seasoned, trusted adviser and leader within our Corporate Legal Team. You’ll take end-to-end ownership of our most complex, novel, and high-stakes matters, lead company-wide initiatives, shape how the Legal function operates, and mentor and develop attorneys across the team.

Responsibilities

• Lead the most complex corporate securities matters, including secondary sales and tender offers
• Own and lead our most strategic mergers and acquisitions, end-to-end
• Shape and drive global expansion strategy, partnering with our global entities team and local counsel to grow our business worldwide
• Advise the board and leadership on corporate governance matters, including board and stockholder actions and communications
• Oversee company capitalization matters, including the execution of share transfers
• Lead employee equity and executive compensation programs, working with our equity ops, employment legal, and total rewards teams
• Advise on matters relating to the operation and governance of the Canva Foundation
• Design and redefine the processes, agreements, frameworks, and AI-enabled ways of working the broader team and business rely on for transactional and governance matters
• Oversee the company's corporate insurance program
• Manage external counsel and mentor and develop attorneys across the team

Requirements

• 8+ years of corporate legal experience, ideally trained at a law firm specializing in venture-backed or high-growth technology companies, with deep in-house experience
• Extensive experience leading corporate transactions, including venture financings, secondary transactions, and acquisitions; deep cross-border experience is a plus
• Fluent in equity and cap table management, with the ability to spot issues before they arise
• Sought out for your technical and regional expertise, guiding colleagues on Canva context and market practice
• Lead significant, company-wide initiatives that redefine how we work, aligning legal strategy with Canva’s long-term vision
• Passionate about AI, leveraging tools like Claude, ChatGPT, and Glean to automate and streamline workflows
• Ability to jump into chaos, add structure, and maintain meticulous records across multiple jurisdictions
• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school and active membership in at least one U.S. state bar
• Apply the law commercially and pragmatically, weighing business impact and exercising sound judgment on risk appetite
• Create a culture of mentoring and development, sharing knowledge and modeling two-way feedback
• Highly collaborative with a positive attitude, humor, humility, and a desire to build and lead
• Fearless, resourceful, and self-motivated with exceptional time management and organizational skills
• Comfortable working in an international company with headquarters in Sydney, AU, occasionally shifting your schedule for stakeholder overlap
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, influencing confidently at the most senior levels
• Self-starter and quick learner, able to operate independently and prioritize multiple projects under deadline pressure
• Proficient in G Suite, Slack, Microsoft Word, Excel; experience with board portals and subsidiary management databases is a plus

About the team

Our Legal team collaborates globally to bring big ideas to life. The Corporate Legal Team works closely with Canva’s leadership, Finance, Tax, People, and Total Rewards teams to empower Canva’s ambitious goals. From financings and acquisitions to board advisement and employee equity, we strive to be creative, strategic partners.

Benefits

• Equity packages to share in our success
• Health benefits plans to support you and your wellbeing
• 401(k) retirement plan with company contribution
• Inclusive parental leave policy supporting all parents & carers
• Annual Vibe & Thrive allowance for wellbeing, social connection, and office setup
• Flexible leave options to recharge and pursue personal goals

Pay

The target salary range for this position is $228,000 - $345,000, based on market data and candidates' skills and experience.