Senior Legal Counsel

Senior Legal Counsel

Reports to: Michael Vroobel

Department: Legal & Compliance (Operations)

💼 About the role

PQShield is at the cutting edge of cryptographic IP development.  We develop new algorithms, design software and hardware IP solutions, and licence those to blue chip customers (such as semiconductor companies) around the world.

Following the recent standardisation of the post-quantum cryptographic algorithms by NIST, we are seeing strong growth across the business.  We are therefore looking for a high calibre legal counsel to join us and lead all things legal at PQShield.

Primarily, this will involve working closely with our Commercial Team and our customers to manage the legal negotiations on our licence agreements and support the closing of deals.

Additionally, at PQShield, we are passionate about innovation.  As an IP company developing post quantum cryptography hardware IP and software, we are uniquely positioned to invent and bring groundbreaking inventions to market with immediate use cases across the world.  Despite being only six years old, PQShield already has a broad patent portfolio.

We are therefore looking for someone who has a significant amount of experience working with technology licence agreements (software and/or hardware IP), and managing a company’s IP protection strategy.

As the leading legal mind in the company, you will also advise the Management Team on other legal matters, such as fundraising, M&A and day-to-day HR matters.  We already work with a network of specialist firms who you would manage and consult with when needed.

This is a highly impactful and pivotal role for an entrepreneurial and ambitious lawyer.

⚒️ What you’ll be doing

Client contracting:

• Supporting the Commercial Team and actively negotiating with our customers on legal points related to our client contracts.
• Managing and continually developing our agreement templates (including our technology licence agreements, partner agreements and NDAs).
• Managing and maintaining a robust contract management system.

Owning our IP strategy:

• Working closely with our Engineering and Product Teams and specialist external counsel to understand our innovation streams, in order to decide which concepts are suitable to patent.
• Managing our portfolio of patents and other IP (such as trademarks) and the reporting process.
• Advising on and implementing measures to protect IP that is not patented, such as our trade secrets, as well as any enforcement actions.
• Working with external counsel to manage other aspects of our IP, such as trademarks.
• Oversight on any legal matters relating to grant funded projects and consortium-based research.

Legal leadership:

• Advising the company and wider on general day-to-day legal issues.
• Leading or supporting on strategic areas, such future fundraises, corporate restructures, M&A and the share options scheme.
• Sharing knowledge within the company and providing training on relevant legal topics.
• Working closely with other departments (such as the Product, Compliance and  Finance Teams) to provide legal support and ensure alignment with company goals.
• Managing our network of specialist external firms
• Managing day-to-day requests such as reviewing NDAs or supplier contracts.

Supporting risk management

• Identifying and assessing legal risks and developing strategies to mitigate them (such as export control).
• Providing input and guidance on risk management policies and procedures.

🎯 Required Skills And Qualifications

• Minimum education:
• UK legally qualified.
• (Also qualified in a US state would be an advantage).
• Experience:
• Significant experience at a firm and in-house.
• Experience working at a technology company which produces complex IP.
• Soft Skills:
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.

🏆Some of the perks of working with us:

• A competitive compensation package.
• Share options.
• A remote first company. You will work from home most of the time, but will need to join us in the office for planning sessions and key meetings as required.
• Travel for customer meetings and marketing events as needed. 
• Health insurance.
• Generous PTO and holiday package.
• Company contributions towards 401K.
• …and other great benefits.

If you enjoy working as part of a technology company, value the security of our daily digital lives, and love solving hard problems - then we’d love to hear from you.