Head of Commercial Counsel

Nuro Nuro · Robotics · CA · Legal

This role is for a Head of Commercial Counsel at Nuro, a self-driving technology company. The primary responsibilities include structuring, drafting, and negotiating commercial agreements related to vehicle systems, IP, partnerships, software licenses, and more. The role requires strong legal judgment, experience in fast-paced tech environments, and the ability to manage complex transactions. While Nuro is an AI company, this specific role focuses on the legal and commercial aspects of the business, not the direct development or application of AI/ML technologies.

What you'd actually do

  1. Own the contracting process from inception to post-closure. Partner with business and technical teams to lead, negotiate with counterparties and finalize commercial agreements. Concisely explain legal terms, identify related risks and set and execute tactics to achieve the most favorable, risk-mitigated results aligned with company objectives and standards.
  2. Increase our clients’ legal expertise. Train the company’s diverse teams on the legal requirements and best practices for commercial agreements.
  3. Continuously improve the contracting process. Actively streamline the contracting process by, among other things, preparing and implementing negotiation playbooks and refining and automating contract management workflows.
  4. Be a utility player. As needed, take on opportunities and add value in practice areas beyond commercial transactions such as intellectual property, privacy, marketing, real estate, product/customer-facing transactions, and others.

Skills

Required

  • 8+ years of experience as a lawyer in a fast-growing, technology-focused organization
  • Deep commercial contracting expertise
  • Familiarity with IP terms
  • Self-direction
  • Confidence and ability to manage a range of agreements
  • Impeccable attention to detail and follow-through
  • Ability to help clients evaluate options when it comes to an acceptable risk
  • Accountability for calls made based on sound legal and business judgment
  • Ability to thrive in fast-paced environments
  • Ability to juggle multiple tasks and competing priorities
  • Ability to drive long-term and complex projects from start to finish
  • Ability to review agreements on a moment's notice
  • Self-starter
  • Ability to drive process and find solutions
  • Mastery of legal research
  • Creative and collaborative decision-making
  • Ability to engage with teams and their leaders
  • Ability to help other team leaders deliver on their priorities
  • Fast and precise writing skills
  • Ability to take first pen on legal documents
  • Ability to tailor writing to audiences
  • Ability to produce polished written product
  • Passion for making a significant impact
  • Admission to at least one state bar

Nice to have

  • Automotive experience
  • Hardware experience
  • Transportation experience
  • Member of the California Bar
  • Admission in other jurisdictions

What the JD emphasized

  • deep commercial contracting expertise
  • proven combination of great legal instincts and business acumen
  • thrive in fast-paced environments, expertly juggling multiple tasks and competing priorities
  • driving long-term and complex projects from start to finish
  • reviewing agreements on a moment’s notice
  • driving process and your ability to follow through and find solutions to get results
  • master of legal research
  • creative and collaborative decision-maker
  • best right answer among competing demands
  • diverse, collaborative teams
  • integral and integrated part of the company's mission
  • helping others separate the important or problematic from the merely urgent
  • fast and precise writer
  • taking first pen on legal documents
  • tailor your writing to audiences
  • quickly produce written product that is polished and ready for management and external consumption
  • care deeply about impact
  • making a significant impact on the lives of millions of people
  • admitted to at least one state bar and ideally a member of the California Bar