About Firsthand

Firsthand is building the industry's first AI-powered Brand Agent platform that transforms how advertisers and publishers engage with consumers, anywhere online. Through Brand Agents, Firsthand leverages a company's knowledge to support consumers at any point in their journey – answering questions, solving problems, and guiding decisions – while keeping the company in control of their brand experience.

Firsthand's founding team brings unparalleled expertise in building transformative adtech platforms. Co-CEOs Jon Heller and Michael Rubenstein previously created ventures that now power the advertising businesses of today's tech giants: DoubleClick Ad Exchange became the foundation of Google's $200B+ advertising business, AppNexus evolved into Microsoft Advertising's global platform, and FreeWheel (acquired by Comcast) transformed streaming TV advertising. This track record of creating industry-defining companies uniquely positions Firsthand to pioneer the next evolution in consumer engagement.

Built with a focus on control and security, Firsthand's platform safeguards a company's data, voice, and customer relationships. At its core, Lakebed™ – our AI-first data and knowledge rights management solution – powers custom Brand Agents that transform protected company information into dynamic, personalized consumer engagements, seamlessly integrated into the user's online experience.

Firsthand is headquartered in NYC. Most team members come to the office to work together three days a week.

The Role

Firsthand is looking to hire a Commercial Counsel that will be responsible for drafting and editing Firsthand’s commercial agreements with partners.  As the first legal hire, you will also assist with vendor negotiation & vetting, privacy law and corporate development.  Additionally, since we are a small team, you will get exposure to corporate transactions, human resources and compliance as we grow.   

In this role, you will have the opportunity to negotiate with both newer startups as well as some of the world’s largest marketing organizations.  You’ll be responsible for developing processes to review and return contracts with feedback from internal and external stakeholders.  You’ll have the opportunity to deploy prior industry expertise while being on the cutting edge of artificial intelligence advancements.  The ideal candidate will be located in the New York metropolitan area.

Key Responsibilities:

• Own complex agreements end-to-end.  Structure, draft, and negotiate complex customer, vendor, and third-party agreements covering a broad range of products and services

• Provide risk-weighted advice to business partners that balances commercial upside against corresponding legal, financial, operational and reputational risk

• Seek to understand the context of the positions of Firsthand’s customers and the requests from internal clients, and strive to solve problems and address issues from their perspective

• Develop and scale efficient contract workflow for Firsthand, including coordination of relevant internal stakeholders and external providers

• Engage in customer-facing legal negotiations with both other startups and global organizations

• Develop and maintain templates and inventories of contracts, terms of services, notices, and confidentiality agreements for Firsthand’s products, services, and distribution channels

• As the first member of the Legal team, you'll also support processes related to privacy law, human resources, compliance and corporate transactions

Qualifications:

• 5+ years of in-house experience is required, adtech, media platform or advertising experience is required

• JD from an accredited law school and admission to the bar in the relevant jurisdiction

• Knowledge of key US advertising regulations, including but not limited to FTC guidelines on advertising content and methods and industry self-regulatory programs

• Ability to structure, draft and negotiate a high volume and broad range of contracts, including commercial agreements, professional services agreement, partner agreements and NDAs

• Strong “business-friendly” style that comes with an understanding that the legal team’s primary purpose is to support the growth and success of the business

• Knowledge of data privacy and experienced handling and dealing with data privacy related questions when negotiating Data Processing Agreements is preferred

• Proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced, start-up environment with a high level of autonomy and accountability

How to Apply

If you are ready to embark on an exhilarating journey at the forefront of AI, seize this incredible opportunity and apply here. We eagerly anticipate hearing from you!

Note: Compensation and equity will be market-competitive for well-capitalized, early stage startups and will be discussed during the interview process.