Lead Counsel, Commercial @ Chainguard

About this role

CHAINGUARD: SECURING THE FUTURE OF OPEN SOURCE

TRUSTED SOLUTIONS FOR MODERN SOFTWARE SUPPLY CHAINS

Chainguard is seeking a Lead Counsel, Commercial to lead its US commercial legal team. Reporting to the Director of Commercial Legal, this role is responsible for managing a team of legal professionals while remaining directly involved in complex enterprise negotiations. The Lead Counsel will ensure the US commercial legal function operates at a high level, supporting Chainguard’s mission to deliver secure, production-ready open source software to Fortune 500 enterprises and industry leaders.

This position requires a seasoned commercial attorney with proven experience in legal team management and hands-on deal execution. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in commercial contracting, open source licensing, and US privacy and data security frameworks. Experience negotiating with highly regulated customers across sectors such as financial services, healthcare, defense, and insurance is essential.

Key responsibilities include leading and developing the US commercial legal team, managing a portfolio of enterprise deals, drafting and negotiating a wide range of commercial agreements, and aligning US practices with global legal strategy. The Lead Counsel will also partner closely with cross-functional teams to ensure legal guidance supports business and technical objectives, and provide practical, risk-calibrated advice to senior leadership.

Candidates should have at least 10 years of commercial legal experience, active bar membership, and a track record of developing legal talent in high-growth technology environments. Familiarity with open source compliance and experience in cybersecurity or cloud infrastructure is strongly preferred.

This is an opportunity to shape the commercial legal function at a fast-growing company at the forefront of cybersecurity and open source innovation.

Company Website: https://chainguard.dev

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