Legal Counsel

LOCATION: The Legal Counsel position is a remote, work-from-home role, as are all positions at Acceleration Partners (a structure central to our culture and vision to change the work/life paradigm). Some travel is required for client meetings, internal meetings, conferences, and other events. Ideally this candidate would be in EST or CST.

THE ROLE: 

Acceleration Partners has grown significantly over the last several years, and with that growth has come increasingly complex legal needs. Our global footprint now spans Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Australia, and we work with some of the world's leading brands. With over 300 employees across multiple countries and a commitment to running a profitable, operationally excellent business, we are looking for full-time Legal Counsel who will serve as our in-house legal resource across contracts, and occasionally support compliance, data privacy and HR matters.

This role serves as a key legal partner to the business, providing practical, risk-balanced guidance while enabling commercial objectives across a globally distributed organization.

This is a unique opportunity for an attorney who wants meaningful, substantive work, applying deep legal expertise in a more focused, flexible environment — fully remote.

At Acceleration Partners, everything we do comes back to three core values: Own It, Embrace Relationships, and Excel & Improve. This role requires contract expertise, sound judgment, and the ability to build trust quickly with internal teams and external clients alike. If you're looking for a role where your legal instincts directly shape how a growing company operates, this is it.

TOP 5 JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

Client Contracts: Own the end-to-end client contract process. Draft, review, and negotiate client services agreements using a clear understanding of both our business and the client's needs. Ensure all language is legally sound, enforceable, and aligned with company interests. Work directly with our sales team to redline and negotiate non-standard terms.

Vendor Contracts: Serve as the primary legal point of contact for vendor relationships. Review supplier agreements to verify compliance with company policies and applicable international, federal, and state regulations. Flag risk and recommend practical solutions that keep the business moving. Ensure vendors meet data privacy and security standards, including appropriate data processing, cross-border transfer mechanisms, and confidentiality obligations.

Disputes and Legal Matters: Handle low-level disputes and legal inquiries that arise in the normal course of business. Provide sound, practical legal guidance to internal teams for routine matters.  Liaise with external counsel as needed on more complex issues, and draft and manage legal correspondence, including demand letters, cease and desist notices, and other dispute-related communications. Significant litigation, regulatory matters, or high-risk disputes will be managed in coordination with external counsel.

HR Legal Advisory: Partner with our People team to advise on employment-related legal questions, including compliance, policy questions, and employee relations matters. Provide practical, business-oriented guidance that balances legal compliance with operational realities. Escalate complex, multi-jurisdictional, or high-risk employment matters to external counsel where appropriate.

Corporate Governance:
Support basic corporate governance matters across the company’s global entities, including drafting of company resolutions or coordination with internal stakeholders and external service providers on entity management and required filings, as needed.

Contract Oversight and Record Keeping: Maintain accurate records for all active and completed contracts. Monitor contract timelines and proactively manage renewals, extensions, and close-outs. Proofread and fact-check all legal documents for accuracy and consistency, and communicate contract terms clearly to non-legal colleagues.

YOU'RE A GREAT FIT IF YOU:

• Have deep contract law expertise and the judgment to know when to move quickly and when to slow down.
• Are comfortable operating independently with minimal oversight.
• Can translate complex legal language into plain, clear guidance for non-lawyers.
• Bring a practical, business-minded approach — you understand that legal decisions exist in a business context.
• Have working familiarity with data privacy concepts (e.g., GDPR) as applied in commercial contracts.
• Are organized, deadline-driven, and take personal ownership of your work.
• Thrive in a remote environment and communicate proactively with distributed teams.
• Are looking for a role with real responsibility and a manageable pace — substantive work without the grind.
• Are able to operate as a trusted advisor, balancing legal risk with business objectives in a fast-moving environment.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• J.D. and active bar membership (or retired in good standing)
• 8+ years of legal experience, with meaningful depth in contract law
• Prior in-house or agency/services industry experience preferred
• Experience with data protection/privacy matters (e.g., GDPR, cross-border data transfers, DPAs) strongly preferred
• Experience advising on employment and HR-related legal matters is a plus but not required
• Strong communication skills — written and verbal — with the ability to work across functions
• Comfortable with international contracts and multi-jurisdictional considerations
• Confident making decisions independently while knowing when to escalate

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE:

Within 3 months: Full command of our existing contract library, processes, and active client agreements. Integrated into the sales and people team workflows. Handling routine contracts independently.

Within 6 months: Trusted legal resource for the business. Managing all inbound and outbound contracts, advising on disputes and HR matters without escalation, and contributing to process improvements that reduce risk and improve efficiency across the company. Acting as a go-to partner for cross-functional teams, proactively identifying legal risks and driving practical, scalable solutions.

WHY ACCELERATION PARTNERS?

Acceleration Partners is the world’s largest and first-to-market Partnership Marketing Agency creating and nurturing partnerships that drive exceptional measurable outcomes for their clients. Managing clients in 40+ countries, AP’s global team of 300+ focuses on data-driven strategies that connect brands to the right consumers through affiliate and influencer All of our work is supported by APVision, our proprietary technology suite which leverages the largest dataset of any agency in the Partnership Marketing agency ecosystem. Serving over 200 brands—including household names like Amazon, Apple, Target, Google, Marriott, Coinbase, and Burberry—AP’s diversified team is creating what’s next in the industry by building high-performing partnership marketing programs. As the only truly integrated global partnerships agency, AP prides itself on being at the cutting edge of industry developments and leveraging proven expertise to deliver unique solutions for brands seeking sustainable growth.

AP PERKS & BENEFITS - WHAT WE OFFER 

• 100% remote work for everyone 

• Group medical, dental, and vision coverage insurance (with opt-out benefits) 

• 401K with matching 

• Open Paid Time Off 

• Summer & Holiday Wellness Breaks in July and December 

• Volunteer and Birthday Time Off 

• Focus Fridays 

• Paid Parental Leave Benefits 

• Wellness, Technology & Education Allowances 

• Paid sabbatical leaves, donation matching, and more!! 
• Target base salary is $160-180K + bonus depending on location and experience.

Benefits may vary based on employment status or country location. 

Acceleration Partners is committed to a diverse workforce and we are an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate applicants regardless of an individual’s age, race, color, gender, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status.

#LI-REMOTE  

*GLSDR 

#LI-MG1