Head of Legal and Company Secretariat

About Outlier Ventures

Outlier Ventures is the world’s largest Web 3 accelerator (founded in 2014) that works with startups at various stages of their lifecycle from pre-seed / seed (via Basecamp) to later stage about to launch (or live) token networks specializing in a New Data Economy, NFTs, and DeFi bringing together a network of 1,000 of the world’s leading web 3 founders, protocols, VCs to mentor, and invest.

About the role

The Head of Legal and Company Secretary at OV provides strategic legal advice of the highest possible standard for the Board, the CEO, and the Leadership Team. The Head of Legal provides strategic legal advice on all aspects including operational issues, covering governance, corporate and institutional legal matters.

The Head of Legal ensures efficient and effective management of the Legal team. S/he works closely with other senior executives to ensure effective communication and information flow that facilitates smooth and predictable decision-making and enables OV to deliver to its Mission. This is a demanding and complex task and will require an experienced commercial leader. It will be important to develop strong partnerships with other members of the Leadership Team and OV Partners.

Your Key Responsibilities:

• Advise the Board and CEO on the OV’s overall legal, commercial and regulatory strategy
• Lead the firm’s legal department
• Attend all board meetings and as Company Secretary is responsible for the efficient administration of a company, particularly with regard to ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements and for ensuring that decisions of the board of directors are implemented.
• Provide the necessary legal input on all transaction and contractual negotiations, responsible for protecting the OV’s interests in the documentation and ensuring that a proper due diligence exercise is undertaken
• Assist with structuring the firm’s various accelerator programmes, including structuring and launching new ecosystem partnership programmes
• Work directly with accelerator projects on an ad-hoc basis providing workshops, support and guidance on legal, regulatory and structuring issues
• Promote a culture of effective management of governance and that preparatory papers, minutes, action lists and the like are in good order
• Ensure effective processes and systems for the execution of contracts and other legal documents by authorized signatories and that complete and accurate copies of contract documentation are kept and are accessible
• Develop and manage relationships with external law firms and ensure that any external legal resource is appropriate for the advice sought and cost effective
• Horizon-scan to define the regulatory landscape in which the OV operates;
• Establish effective and best practice governance processes for the Boards and their Committees (e.g. putting in place appropriate terms of reference)
• Overseeing the contract management process for the firm’s various accelerator programmes
• Monitoring relevant legal and regulatory changes, and providing thought leadership both internally and externally
• Protect and enhance the OV’s endeavors, objectives and reputation by providing timely and appropriate legal and governance services
• Ensuring relevant legal and regulatory developments are reflected in the firm’s practices and processes
• Develop a corporate legal strategy that promotes and protects organizational interests
• Reports to: CEO, Head up the firm’s legal department (of 3 lawyers currently)

We are looking for someone who:

• 7+PQE* solicitor or barrister (ideally UK qualified but other jurisdictions also considered);
• Well-rounded experience across corporate and commercial law, venture practice and legal/regulatory issues around cryptocurrency, gained either in private practice or in an in-house role
• Provides authoritative, risk-based advice yet understands the commercial needs of the complex evolution of this space
• Previous experience of leading negotiations and managing complex, high value transactions
• Previous experience of advising on equity and token fundraising
• Sound commercial judgment and an entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to communicate risk vs reward in a fast moving environment
• A working knowledge of or strong interest in developing an expertise in blockchains and decentralized technology
• Have demonstrated a diverse set of areas of expertise and being able to apply your existing knowledge to new questions
• Have the ability to manage multiple stakeholders (i.e. suppliers, partners and clients), prioritizing requirements to ensure the best outcome for both the partner and OV
• The ability to build rapport and establish strong working relationships
• Proven to have a high level of planning and attention to detail and solution oriented mindset.