Sphera is a leading global provider of enterprise software and services that enables companies to manage and optimize their environmental, health, safety and sustainability. Our mission is to create a safer, more sustainable and productive world.
Sphera is a portfolio company of Blackstone, a U.S.-based alternative asset investment company that focuses on private equity, technology and innovation, and more. Blackstone businesses succeed through strong partnerships, a personalized approach and a commitment to exceptional performance with uncompromising integrity. Sphera and Blackstone are leaders in the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) space.
We are guided by our core values of Customer Centricity, Accountability, Bias to Action, Innovation, and Collaboration. These values help us recruit the right talent to join our rapidly expanding team of around the globe. It is important to us that each and every Spherion is not only eager to challenge themselves and knows how to get work done but is an awesome addition to our company culture.
The Associate General Counsel will play a key role in supporting Sphera's global legal function during a period of continued growth and international expansion. Reporting to the General Counsel, this position serves as a trusted legal advisor to business leaders across the organization, providing practical, commercially focused legal counsel that enables business objectives while appropriately managing legal risk.
The Associate General Counsel will have broad responsibility for complex legal matters across Sphera's global operations, with a primary focus on commercial contracting, technology transactions, corporate governance, data privacy, intellectual property, compliance, and other strategic legal initiatives. Working closely with the General Counsel, this individual will support the legal needs of a fast-paced, global SaaS business and collaborate with stakeholders across Sales, Finance, Human Resources, Product, Engineering, Services, IT, Procurement, and other corporate functions.
This role requires a commercially minded legal leader who thrives in a dynamic, multinational environment and is comfortable managing sophisticated legal matters across multiple jurisdictions. The successful candidate will partner closely with business leaders to negotiate complex commercial agreements, support strategic corporate initiatives, coordinate external counsel, and contribute to the continued development of scalable legal processes and operational excellence within the Legal department.
As a senior member of the Legal team, the Associate General Counsel will help drive collaboration across regions, identify opportunities to improve legal operations and leverage emerging technologies, including AI-enabled legal solutions, to enhance efficiency and support Sphera's continued global growth.
Responsibilities:
- Partner closely with the General Counsel to support the legal and commercial needs of Sphera's global business, serving as a trusted legal advisor to business leaders across multiple functions and geographies.
- Develop a deep understanding of Sphera's business, products, customers, and strategic priorities to provide practical, commercially focused legal advice that enables business growth while appropriately managing risk.
- Provide day-to-day legal counsel to leaders across Sales, Product, Engineering, Services, Human Resources, Finance, IT, Marketing, Procurement, and other corporate functions on a broad range of legal matters.
- Draft, review, negotiate, and advise on complex commercial agreements, including SaaS and software licensing, professional services, consulting, vendor, procurement, channel partner, reseller, data processing, and other commercial arrangements across multiple jurisdictions.
- Advise on legal matters relating to data privacy, intellectual property, employment, compliance, corporate governance, dispute resolution, and other commercial issues affecting a global technology business.
- Manage complex legal matters and disputes, partnering with external counsel where appropriate to achieve commercially sound outcomes.
- Coordinate and oversee external legal counsel across Europe and other international jurisdictions, ensuring high-quality advice and cost-effective legal support.
- Support strategic corporate initiatives, including acquisitions, post-acquisition integration, corporate governance, subsidiary management, and other cross-functional projects.
- Partner with the Deputy General Counsel to improve legal operations, contract management processes, legal technology, and governance frameworks that enhance the efficiency and scalability of the legal function.
- Collaborate closely with the broader Legal team to promote knowledge sharing, consistency of legal advice, and best practices across the organization.
Experience:
- Qualified solicitor in England & Wales (or another common law jurisdiction with the ability to practice in the UK) and in good standing.
- Approximately 8–12+ years of post-qualification legal experience, including substantial experience within a multinational in-house legal department and prior experience at a leading law firm.
- Significant experience negotiating and advising on complex commercial transactions, preferably within the SaaS, enterprise software, or technology sector.
- Experience supporting international business operations and advising on cross-border commercial matters across multiple jurisdictions.
- Strong understanding of commercial contracting, technology transactions, intellectual property, data privacy, cybersecurity, and corporate governance.
- Experience partnering directly with senior business leaders and providing practical, risk-based legal advice in a fast-paced commercial environment.
- Experience managing outside counsel and coordinating legal support across multiple jurisdictions.
- Demonstrated ability to independently manage multiple complex legal matters while balancing competing priorities and business objectives.
Preferred Experience:
- Experience supporting a private equity-backed, high-growth, or publicly listed global technology company.
- Experience advising on GDPR, UK data protection law, international privacy regulations, and global compliance frameworks.
- Exposure to mergers and acquisitions, post-acquisition integration, subsidiary management, employment law, and international commercial operations.
- Experience implementing legal operations improvements, contract lifecycle management tools, or legal technology solutions.
- Experience supporting global sales organizations and negotiating enterprise SaaS agreements with multinational customers.
Leadership Competencies:
- Commercially minded with strong business judgment and a pragmatic, solutions-oriented approach.
- Excellent negotiation, drafting, and communication skills with the ability to simplify complex legal issues for non-legal stakeholders.
- Collaborative and relationship-focused, with the ability to build trust across business functions and cultures.
- Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic global environment.
- Self-motivated and proactive, with the ability to work independently while partnering effectively with the Deputy General Counsel and broader Legal team.
- Strong project management skills and a continuous improvement mindset, with a focus on enhancing legal processes and operational efficiency.
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Sphera is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all colleagues.
This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the job and the general nature and level of work performed by job holders within this job. This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of qualifications, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities or working conditions associated with the position.
