Senior Counsel – Technology Transaction Attorney
UL Solutions · Northbrook, IL · 1 wk ago
HybridLegal$180k–$200k/yrFull-time
About the role
UL Solutions is seeking a practical, business-minded Senior Counsel to support the company’s technology procurement and sourcing efforts. This attorney will partner closely with Sourcing, IT, Cybersecurity, Privacy, and other stakeholders to lead and execute inbound technology transactions, including managed services, outsourced services, software (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS), data, AI tools, and other technology solutions.
Responsibilities
- Lead the legal review, drafting, and negotiation of inbound technology agreements, including software licensing, SaaS/PaaS/IaaS, cloud hosting, professional services, data licensing, AI tools, and other technology acquisitions.
- Structure and negotiate complex managed services and outsourcing arrangements, including master agreements, statements of work, governance schedules, and related project documentation.
- Negotiate and operationalize key outsourcing constructs such as service levels and credits, governance models, audit rights, subcontractor controls, transition and exit obligations, disaster recovery, and risk allocation.
- Advise on pricing mechanics, benchmarking, change control, renewal structures, and termination rights that impact operational resiliency and long-term cost.
- Partner with Procurement, IT, Cybersecurity, and Privacy teams to conduct vendor risk evaluations and develop risk-based contracting strategies.
- Negotiate data protection, information security, incident response, audit, and subcontractor provisions, including data processing and security addenda.
- Stay current on global legal developments relating to privacy, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence and incorporate those developments into templates, playbooks, and negotiation positions.
- Support vendor diligence relating to cybersecurity frameworks, as needed for transaction risk assessment.
- Draft and negotiate service level agreements (SLAs) that establish measurable performance standards, escalation paths, and remedies aligned to business impact.
- Advisory technology buyers on best practices for developing statements of work, including concepts such as clearly defining scope of work, operational responsibilities, and governance structures to reduce ambiguity and disputes.
- Advisory business stakeholders on the effective use of SLAs and governance mechanisms over the life of vendor relationships.
- Draft, maintain, and continuously improve procurement-side templates, including master IT supplier agreements, managed services agreements, outsourcing frameworks, and negotiation playbooks.
- Partner with Procurement to implement contracting policies, standard positions, and escalation guidelines that improve efficiency while managing risk.
- Support adoption and effective use of contract workflow and lifecycle management tools (e.g., CLM platforms).
- Cross-functional partnership & leadership: Serve as a trusted legal advisor to Sourcing and IT leaders, providing practical, business-focused counseling. Independently manage multiple complex matters, prioritize effectively, and drive transactions to completion. Manage outside counsel where appropriate and support training of Procurement and IT stakeholders on recurring contracting topics.
Qualifications
- Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school and active state bar membership in good standing.
- Significant experience advising on inbound technology procurement or technology transactions, either in-house or at a major law firm.
- Strong experience negotiating technology agreements involving SaaS, cloud services, AI tools, data licensing, and IT services.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate cross-functionally with Procurement, IT, Cybersecurity, and Privacy teams.
- Excellent judgment, communication skills, and ability to manage complex priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Preferred
- Experience negotiating managed services or outsourcing agreements, including complex SOW and governance structures.
- Experience supporting vendor risk management initiatives and contracting for security and privacy requirements.
- Familiarity with cybersecurity frameworks, such as SOC 2 and ISO 27001.
- Experience developing templates, playbooks, or scalable contracting processes; familiarity with CLM tools such as Ironclad is a plus.
- Privacy credentials (e.g., IAPP certifications).