In-House Legal Counsel (Commercial,… at Zero To One… · Toronto

Job Title

In-House Legal Counsel (Commercial, Compliance & Growth)

Company

ZeroToOne Strategic
Toronto (Remote/Hybrid)

Experience

3–6 years

About the Role

We’re hiring an in-house legal counsel to operate at the center of the business. This is a high-velocity, execution-focused role supporting sales, financing, and client delivery in real time.

You won’t sit on the sidelines. You’ll be embedded in deal flow, structuring agreements, managing risk, and ensuring we move quickly without exposing the business.

This role is ideal for someone leaving a law firm or early in-house role who wants ownership, speed, and direct impact.

What You’ll Own

Deal Enablement & Commercial Execution

• Draft, review, and negotiate client agreements, financing structures, and partnerships
• Support live deal cycles with fast turnaround (often same-day)
• Create and standardize contract templates and fallback positions
• Work directly with sales and leadership to close deals efficiently

Risk & Collections Strategy

• Structure payment terms tied to CRA timelines, disbursements, and financing
• Manage downside scenarios (delayed refunds, unpaid balances, client risk)
• Support enforcement, collections, and dispute resolution
• Reduce revenue leakage through better contract design

SR&ED & Funding Risk

• Advise on legal exposure tied to SR&ED and grant engagements
• Review positioning and representations for defensibility
• Support audit-readiness from a legal standpoint

Compliance & Internal Systems

• Build and maintain internal policies (privacy, data handling, regulatory compliance)
• Ensure alignment with Canadian regulatory frameworks
• Create scalable legal workflows and approval processes

How You’ll Work

• Partner directly with the Managing Partner on high-stakes decisions
• Operate with high autonomy and ownership
• Balance speed with sound judgment
• Act as a business enabler, not a blocker

Qualifications

• 3–6 years of experience (law firm and/or in-house)
• Strong grounding in Canadian commercial law
• Experience drafting and negotiating contracts independently
• Exposure to financing, security (PPSA), or structured agreements is a strong plus
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and fast-moving environments

What We Care About

• Speed and responsiveness
• Strong commercial instincts
• Ability to simplify legal complexity into clear decisions
• Ownership mindset

Why This Role

• Direct exposure to leadership and deal-making
• High ownership early in your career
• Opportunity to build systems, not just execute tasks
• Work with high-growth companies across tech and innovation