Director of Commercial Legal

What you will do

As Director of Commercial Legal at Karat, you will navigate a mix of Services and Software agreements alongside dynamic, usage-based / consumption pricing, where legal plays a key role in defining the partnership terms and agreements.

• Counsel on the risks and opportunities of proposed commercial actions; translate complex legal considerations into practical, solution-oriented guidance that meets cross-organizational business objectives while protecting core legal interests.
• Own all legal aspects of deal processes and engagements with customers, leveraging insights across Commercial Law, Product & Pricing Strategy, and Data Ownership.
• Define and maintain AI governance frameworks for commercial legal matters; partner with external counsel to ensure AI-related contract terms, risk postures, and data ownership provisions are legally sound and aligned with evolving regulatory requirements.
• Partner with go-to-market leaders and finance teams to negotiate enterprise-level customer agreements that support Karat's sales cycles and capacity.
• Manage relationships with external counsel across commercial and product matters; evaluate outside counsel performance, coordinate engagement scope, and ensure legal strategy stays aligned with business priorities.
• Contribute to an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives drive better outcomes; champion Karat's mission to provide efficient, effective, and equitable interview experiences.

The experience you will bring

• J.D. degree from an accredited law school and active bar admission in at least one U.S. state
• 10+ years of legal experience, with significant in-house experience; focus on product law, data privacy, or technology law strongly preferred
• Background in technology, talent assessment platforms, or professional services/workforce solutions strongly preferred
• Experience improving and operationalizing legal processes in a high-growth environment, with a track record of partnering effectively with cross-functional teams
• Excellent business judgment and ability to balance risk-reward, providing pragmatic, solution-oriented advice that protects core legal interests while enabling business growth
• Demonstrated experience defining AI governance frameworks and navigating emerging technology legal considerations, including data ownership, AI-related contract terms, and evolving regulatory requirements