At Hive, we're building the defining physical AI platform of the next decade.Industrial labor is one of the most acute bottlenecks in the global economy. Operators are expensive, hard to retain, and working in environments that are increasingly unsafe. The shortage is structural. The window to solve it is now.Our answer is a machine-agnostic intelligence platform that lets any machine, on any site, perceive, decide, and act autonomously. One platform. Any machine. No fleet replacement.Already live across multiple sites and customers in Europe - spanning logistics and warehousing, industrial manufacturing, and large-scale chemical production - with a US expansion underway.The vision: one operator managing hundreds of machines simultaneously. Productive machine-hour cost dropping by 80x, and unlocks the next productivity revolution in physical work.The mission is to make productivity limitless. Come and help us build it. About the RoleHive is looking for a pragmatic, hands-on Legal Counsel to be in charge of all legal matters across the company. This is an in-house operator role, not a policy or pure-oversight seat — you'll draft and negotiate directly, make judgment calls quickly, and know when to bring in outside counsel versus handle something yourself, while remaining ultimately accountable for every legal matter that touches the business. You'll cover everything from entity structuring and fundraising docs to IP strategy, cross-border contracts, and HR-related legal matters, using outside counsel to fill in jurisdiction-specific or specialist expertise rather than trying to be an expert in every market. We need someone who wants to move at startup speed and get things done, not just flag risk.What You'll OwnCorporate & FundraisingManage entity structure and governance across all jurisdictions we operate in (formations, cap table hygiene, board resolutions, filings)Own fundraising legal work — term sheets, SAFEs/convertibles, share purchase agreements, disclosure schedules, and coordinating diligenceManage relationships with outside counsel and investors' legal teams; keep deals moving efficientlyMaintain corporate records and ensure ongoing compliance obligations are metCommercial ContractsDraft, review, and negotiate MSAs, DPAs, vendor agreements, and customer contracts, including cross-border deals with varying legal regimesBuild and maintain template contracts and playbooks so the business can self-serve on lower-risk agreementsBe the primary point of contact for commercial negotiations, balancing legal protection with deal velocityIP StrategyOwn IP strategy and protection — trademarks, patents (where relevant), trade secrets, and open-source/licensing considerations — engaging specialist outside counsel for filings and deep technical IP work while retaining overall accountabilityEnsure IP assignment is airtight across employees, contractors, and any external development partnersAdvise product and engineering on IP risk as new features and products are builtHR & Employment LegalAdvise on employment law matters across jurisdictions — contracts, terminations, disputes, disciplinary processes — partnering closely with the People functionReview and update employment policies, handbooks, and offer templates as we expand into new marketsManage or support employee relations issues that carry legal riskGeneral Counsel FunctionBe in charge of all legal matters across the company — the single accountable owner, even where specific work is executed by outside counselBe the internal point person for any legal question across the company — a true "ask me anything" resource for the teamOwn the outside counsel budget and relationships pragmatically: handle day-to-day drafting and negotiation directly, and route jurisdiction-specific or highly specialized work (e.g. patent filings, employment law in markets you don't cover deeply, contentious disputes) to the right external partner, while staying accountable for the outcomeAssess and manage legal risk across the business (data privacy, regulatory, insurance) with a bias toward practical solutions over theoretical risk-avoidanceAdvise leadership on legal implications of new markets, products, or business modelsWhat We're Looking ForQualified lawyer (England & Wales or equivalent) with in-house or relevant private practice experienceHas directly run legal workstreams for fundraising rounds (priced or SAFE/convertible) and understands cap table and investor dynamicsComfortable negotiating cross-border commercial contracts and adapting to different legal systemsPractical, commercially-minded approach — knows how to get a deal done, not just spot every riskExceptional attention to detail — comfortable being the last line of defense on contracts, filings, and compliance where mistakes are costly and hard to unwindStrong risk judgment: knows how to weigh legal exposure against business speed, and is rigorous exactly where it matters (fundraising docs, IP assignment, entity compliance) even while moving fast elsewhereExperience advising on employment law matters, ideally across more than one jurisdictionConfident managing outside counsel efficiently — knows what to delegate and what to handle directlyComfortable being a hands-on operator with limited support — this role drafts and executes, it doesn't just adviseHigh judgment and discretion; able to move fast without sacrificing rigor on things that matterNice to HaveExperience in-house at an early or growth-stage startupIP or technology law specializationExperience building legal function/processes from scratchAdditional jurisdiction qualification (e.g., US state bar) a plus given cross-border scopeFind more English Speaking Jobs in United Kingdom on Arbeitnow