Commercial Counsel
We are Progress (Nasdaq: PRGS) - a trusted provider of software that enables our customers to develop, deploy and manage responsible, AI powered applications and experiences with agility and ease.
We’re proud to have a diverse, global team where we value the individual and enrich our culture by considering varied perspectives because we believe people power progress. Join us as a Commercial Counsel and help us do what we do best: propelling business forward. Know more about us.
Overview: The successful candidate will play a pivotal role as a legal advisor for our sales and go-to-market teams, offering pragmatic counsel on challenging commercial legal issues, particularly those involving complex customer-facing transactions across the APJ region. Candidates for this position will be qualified lawyers with strong business acumen and experience. In-house legal experience within the technology sector is mandatory, preferably in software and multiplatform environments (on-premises, native SaaS, and hybrid solutions). It is crucial for candidates to be skilled in utilizing AI tools as part of their legal responsibilities. The ideal candidate will have experience with – and will thrive on – working as a self-starter with increased autonomy in an environment that is fast-paced and results-oriented.
In this role, you will:
Strategic Legal Support
- Advise business units and teams on legal risks, compliance, and business strategies for routine and moderately complex matters with minimal guidance.
- Effectively communicate Progress’ position on moderately complex legal concepts and risks to internal stakeholders and advocate on behalf of Progress to external parties.
- Serve as a resource for others at peer or above level.
- Engage in proactive training and enablement for internal business partners on contracting practices and legal topics relevant to customer contract negotiations and risk mitigation.
- Develop and deliver self-help guidance and tools to empower business partners.
Contracting & Risk Management
- Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements (e.g., SaaS, licensing, reseller, partner, professional services, etc.) for a broad product portfolio with multiplatform environments (on-premises, native SaaS, and hybrid solutions).
- Resolve moderately complex legal issues with minimal guidance.
- Monitor and recommend updates to contract templates based on routine customer interactions and industry changes, ensuring alignment with current market standards.
- Assist in developing risk mitigation strategies aligned with business objectives.
- Work closely with business partners to close deals efficiently while managing legal and commercial risk pursuant to contract playbooks with standardized fallbacks.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Drive cross-functional initiatives that improve the efficiency of legal workflows and compliance processes, including through reducing legal touch on low-risk matters.
- Participate in project teams and cross-functional forums as a legal representative.
- Collaborate with stakeholders across the company (e.g., Revenue Operations, IT, Product Managers) to achieve business objectives including revenue and other financial targets.
Your background:
- Law degree from a reputable university, with 5+ years of experience as in-house counsel (law firm experience helpful but not required);
- Experience in the software licensing industry with expertise in various licensing models, products and services, including experience with enterprise-level transactions.
- Working knowledge of data privacy and security requirements.
- In-house experience with a publicly traded company and/or demonstrated knowledge of public company controls, procedures, and matters requiring escalation.
- Working knowledge of revenue recognition rules and ability to ensure agreements conform to applicable revenue recognition rules and company policies.
- Excellent oral and written, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Strong negotiation skills and judgment with a business-oriented approach to contracting.
- Demonstrated ability to clearly and succinctly communicate complex legal issues to non-lawyers and recommend solutions that balance risk mitigation with business objectives.
- Proven ability to balance multiple high-priority deals with competing deadlines and manage legal response times accordingly.
Personal Qualities:
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
- Strong ethical practice and commitment to professional responsibility
- Confident and highly motivated to accept increasing responsibility over time.
- Positive attitude and self-starter.
- Excels in a fast-paced, demanding environment.
- Able to successfully manage competing priorities and work independently on a wide range of issues and projects, while delivering quality work under demanding deadlines.
- A team player, able to learn from and share experiences with other members of the Progress Legal team.
If this sounds like you and fits your experience and career goals, we’d be happy to chat. What we offer in return is the opportunity to experience a great company culture with wonderful colleagues to learn from and collaborate with and also to enjoy:
Compensation
- Competitive remuneration package
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan Enrolment
Vacation, Family, and Health
- 30 days of earned leave
- An extra day off for your birthday
- Various other leaves like marriage leave, casual leave, maternity, and paternity leave
- Premium Group Medical Insurance for employees and five dependents, personal accident insurance coverage, life insurance coverage
- Professional development reimbursement
- Interest subsidy on loans - either vehicle or personal loans
- Health club reimbursement
Apply now!
Together, We Make Progress
Progress is an inclusive workplace where opportunities to succeed are available to everyone. As a multicultural company serving a global community, we encourage a wide range of points of view and celebrate our diverse backgrounds. Our unique combination of perspectives inspires innovation, connects us to our customers and positively affects our communities. It is only by working together and learning from each other that we make Progress. Join us!