Lead Specialist, Legal Counsel
About the role
Pearson is seeking an experienced Lead Specialist, Legal Counsel to join our legal team and support the Enterprise Sales organisation. This role will serve as a practical, business-minded legal partner, helping to accelerate revenue while managing legal, commercial, intellectual property, AI, data privacy and operational risk. Working closely with Sales, Finance, Product, Security, Privacy, Operations and other cross-functional stakeholders, you will support complex enterprise transactions from initial opportunity through to contract execution and ongoing commercial support.
Responsibilities
- Draft, review, revise and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements, including: Master Services Agreements (MSAs), Subscription Agreements, Order Forms, Amendments and Renewals, Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), Professional Services Agreements, Reseller and Channel Agreements, Strategic Partnership Arrangements
- Support customer negotiations through direct participation in calls and commercial discussions
- Develop negotiation positions and help resolve escalated legal or commercial issues
- Advise on contract risk while balancing commercial objectives
- Legal Advisory
- Advising stakeholders on: Intellectual Property, Warranties, Indemnities, Limitations of Liability, Service Commitments, Payment Terms, Termination Rights, Assignment Provisions, Data Privacy, AI-related contractual considerations, Regulatory and compliance obligations
- Translate complex legal concepts into clear, practical, business-focused guidance
- Process Improvement & Legal Operations
- Develop and maintain contract templates, playbooks, clause libraries and approval matrices
- Improve contracting workflows and processes to increase scalability and efficiency
- Support legal operations initiatives, including automation, intake processes, reporting and knowledge management
- Monitor emerging legal and regulatory developments affecting enterprise sales, SaaS, AI and commercial contracting
Requirements
- Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school and active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar, or equivalent legal qualification
- Significant experience drafting and negotiating: Commercial Technology Agreements, SaaS Agreements, Subscription Agreements, Licensing Agreements, Enterprise Customer Contracts
- Strong understanding of: Enterprise Sales Cycles, Procurement Processes, Commercial Contracting, Complex B2B Negotiations
- Demonstrated ability to balance legal risk with commercial objectives
- Strong commercial judgement and practical problem-solving capability
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to explain legal concepts effectively to non-legal stakeholders
- Ability to manage multiple priorities within a fast-paced environment
- Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills
Qualifications
- Essential: Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school and active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar, or equivalent legal qualification
- Preferred: Previous in-house legal experience supporting: Enterprise Sales, Technology Businesses, SaaS Organisations, Digital Learning Platforms, Commercial Contracting Functions
- Preferred: Experience building or improving: Contract Playbooks, Templates, Legal Workflows, Automation Processes
- Preferred: Experience negotiating with large enterprise customers, strategic partners or public sector organisations
- Preferred: Experience supporting global teams and cross-border commercial activity
Skills
- Commercial Contracting
- Enterprise Sales
- SaaS Agreements
- Technology Contracts
- Licensing Agreements
- Legal Negotiation
- Contract Management
- Commercial Law
- Corporate Counsel
- Intellectual Property
- Data Privacy
- AI Governance
- Risk Management
- Strategic Partnerships
- Legal Operations
- Contract Automation
- Stakeholder Management
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Enterprise Software Transactions
- Legal Playbooks
Benefits
Compensation at Pearson is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, and specific location. As required by the California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York State, New York City, Vermont, Washington State, and Washington DC laws, the pay range for this position is between $120,000 - $160,000. This position is eligible to participate in an annual incentive program, and information on benefits offered is here.
Pay
The minimum full-time salary range is between $120,000 - $160,000.
Schedule
FULL_TIME
Location
REMOTE