Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Head of Legal and Compliance

🎯 Role Definition

The Head of Legal and Compliance is a pivotal leadership role, acting as the principal legal advisor to the executive team and the board of directors. This individual is the ultimate guardian of the company's legal and ethical integrity, responsible for building and leading a high-performing team that can proactively manage risk while enabling ambitious business growth. More than just a legal expert, this leader is a strategic business partner, translating complex legal and regulatory requirements into actionable, commercial advice. You'll be at the heart of our strategic decision-making, ensuring that as we scale and innovate, we do so on a foundation of sound governance and unwavering compliance. This role requires a blend of deep legal expertise, strong business acumen, and the executive presence to influence at the highest levels.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Deputy General Counsel or Associate General Counsel in a larger organization
Senior Legal Counsel with significant management experience
Director of Compliance or Head of a specific legal practice area (e.g., Corporate, Commercial)

Advancement To:

Chief Legal Officer (CLO)
Chief Operating Officer (COO) or Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)
Board of Directors membership or advisory roles

Lateral Moves:

Head of Legal and Compliance at a larger, more complex organization
Chief Risk Officer or Chief Privacy Officer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Strategic Legal Counsel: Serve as the primary legal advisor to the CEO, executive leadership, and Board of Directors on all legal, compliance, and corporate governance matters, providing pragmatic and commercially-focused advice to guide strategic decision-making.
Corporate Governance and Secretarial Duties: Oversee all corporate governance activities, including managing board and committee meetings, preparing minutes and resolutions, maintaining corporate records, and ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements for all corporate entities.
Commercial Contract Management: Lead the drafting, review, and negotiation of a wide array of complex commercial agreements, including major client contracts, SaaS agreements, partnership deals, vendor contracts, and NDAs, ensuring favorable terms that mitigate risk and align with business goals.
Regulatory Compliance Framework: Design, implement, and continuously improve a global compliance program that effectively addresses key regulatory risks, including anti-bribery and corruption (FCPA, UK Bribery Act), data privacy (GDPR, CCPA), and industry-specific regulations.
Litigation and Dispute Resolution: Manage and direct all aspects of litigation, pre-litigation disputes, and government investigations, developing case strategy and overseeing external counsel to achieve optimal outcomes while minimizing business disruption and financial exposure.
Team Leadership and Development: Build, mentor, and lead a world-class legal and compliance team, fostering a culture of collaboration, professional growth, and proactive business partnership. Set clear objectives and manage performance to ensure the team operates efficiently and effectively.
Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) Leadership: Provide end-to-end legal leadership on all M&A activities, from structuring deals and conducting due diligence to negotiating transaction documents and managing post-closing integration.
Intellectual Property Strategy: Develop and execute a comprehensive global strategy for protecting the company's intellectual property assets, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets, and manage any related enforcement or defense actions.
Employment Law Advisory: Partner closely with the People & Culture (HR) team to provide expert counsel on a full range of employment law issues, including recruitment, performance management, employee relations, compensation and benefits, and terminations.
Risk Management Integration: Develop and embed a proactive legal risk management framework across the organization, identifying, assessing, and mitigating potential legal and regulatory risks before they materialize.
Budget and External Counsel Management: Develop and manage the annual budget for the legal department, and strategically select, manage, and evaluate all external law firms to ensure high-quality, cost-effective legal services.
Data Privacy and Security Governance: Act as a key stakeholder in the company's data governance strategy, overseeing the data privacy program and partnering with the CISO to ensure compliance with global privacy laws and manage data breach incident response.
Product and Marketing Counsel: Collaborate with product and marketing teams from the ideation stage to launch, providing guidance on legal and compliance requirements to ensure new products, features, and campaigns are compliant by design.
Policy Development and Training: Oversee the development and implementation of critical company policies (e.g., Code of Conduct, Whistleblower Policy) and deliver engaging, practical training to employees at all levels to foster a strong culture of compliance.
Legislative and Regulatory Monitoring: Proactively monitor, interpret, and advise the business on relevant changes in laws and regulations across all jurisdictions of operation, translating legal developments into practical business impact.
International Expansion: Provide comprehensive legal support for the company's international growth, advising on entity formation, local compliance requirements, cross-border transactions, and employment matters in new markets.
Financing and Securities Law: Advise on corporate finance activities, including debt and equity financing, and ensure compliance with all applicable securities laws and stock exchange regulations, particularly for public or late-stage private companies.
Ethics and Investigations: Oversee the company's ethics hotline and lead or supervise sensitive internal investigations into allegations of misconduct, ensuring a fair, thorough, and confidential process.
Executive Compensation and Equity: Partner with HR and the Compensation Committee to advise on the design and implementation of executive compensation programs, equity plans, and related public disclosures.
Real Estate Portfolio Management: Manage all legal aspects of the company’s corporate real estate portfolio, including lease negotiation, renewals, and related property matters.

Secondary Functions

Act as a company spokesperson and representative within legal industry groups, policy forums, and regulatory bodies.
Partner with corporate development and finance to advise on the company's Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy and reporting.
Provide legal oversight for the company's global insurance programs, ensuring adequate coverage for key business risks.
Support the company’s philanthropic and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives from a legal and governance perspective.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Expertise in Corporate and Commercial Law: Deep, practical knowledge of corporate law, governance, and the ability to structure, draft, and negotiate complex commercial transactions.
Regulatory Framework Knowledge: Mastery of key regulatory landscapes relevant to the business, such as data privacy (GDPR/CCPA), anti-corruption (FCPA), and securities law (if applicable).
Litigation and Dispute Management: Proven ability to manage complex litigation and disputes, including developing case strategy and effectively managing external counsel and budgets.
M&A and Corporate Finance: Demonstrable experience leading the legal aspects of mergers, acquisitions, and corporate financing rounds from start to finish.
Intellectual Property Management: A strong understanding of IP law and strategy, including trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets, particularly within a technology or innovation-driven environment.
Corporate Governance Proficiency: Expertise in managing board functions, entity management, and ensuring compliance with corporate formalities and secretarial duties.

Soft Skills

Executive Presence and Communication: The ability to communicate complex legal issues clearly, concisely, and persuasively to executives, board members, and non-legal stakeholders.
Strategic and Commercial Acumen: A strong business-oriented mindset with the ability to understand business objectives and provide practical, risk-balanced legal advice that enables growth.
Leadership and Team Development: Proven experience in building, leading, and mentoring a high-performing team, fostering a culture of excellence and business partnership.
Unwavering Ethics and Integrity: The highest level of personal integrity and professional ethics, with the ability to act as the company's conscience and make difficult decisions under pressure.
Problem-Solving and Judgment: Exceptional analytical skills and sound judgment to navigate ambiguity, assess risk, and find creative, practical solutions to complex challenges.
Negotiation and Influence: Superior negotiation skills and the ability to influence outcomes and build consensus with both internal and external stakeholders.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Juris Doctor (J.D.), LL.B., or equivalent law degree from an accredited institution.
Admitted to the bar and in good standing in at least one relevant jurisdiction.

Preferred Education:

LL.M. in a relevant specialization (e.g., Corporate Law, Intellectual Property).
An M.B.A. is considered a strong asset, highlighting business acumen.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Law
Business Administration

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 15+ years of progressive legal experience.

Preferred:

A combination of experience at a top-tier law firm followed by significant time in an in-house leadership role.
Proven track record of building and scaling a legal and/or compliance function in a high-growth environment.
Direct experience within the company's specific industry (e.g., Technology/SaaS, Fintech, Healthcare, Manufacturing).
Experience managing legal matters for a global or publicly-traded company is highly desirable.