Legal Counsel (Fractional)

Accountabilities: Nonprofit Governance and Legal Advisory: Advise on nonprofit law, charitable activity boundaries, governance, and the legal requirements associated with operating a US 501(c)(3) organization and supporting independent projects through Model A fiscal sponsorship. Contract Drafting and Negotiation: Draft, review, and negotiate contractor agreements, service agreements, grant agreements, and other commercial and operational contracts, ensuring terms reflect organizational priorities and appropriate risk allocation. Employment Law and Immigration: Support compliant employment practices across multiple jurisdictions, advise on workforce-related legal matters, and assist with visa sponsorship and immigration compliance. Fiscal Sponsorship and Grant Management: Structure and negotiate agreements with funders, grant recipients, and sponsored projects, including provisions covering intellectual property ownership, transfers, project independence, and future spin-offs. Regulatory Compliance: Assess and advise on Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) exposure, GDPR obligations across UK and EU activities, and emerging AI regulations that may affect research, partnerships, and operations. Entity Formation and Project Spin-Offs: Guide projects through the transition to independent nonprofit status, including entity formation, tax-exemption applications, governance arrangements, and asset transfers. Risk Assessment and Legal Triage: Provide timely, practical legal advice on complex or ambiguous questions, clearly communicating potential risks, likelihood, and recommended actions. Identify when specialist external counsel is needed and coordinate escalations efficiently. Strategic Partnership: Work closely with executive leadership and operational teams to establish scalable legal processes, support organizational growth, and enable informed decisions without unnecessary administrative delays. Requirements Legal Qualifications: Authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction where you intend to work, with US bar admission strongly preferred and required for most opportunities in the broader hiring ecosystem. Professional Experience: Generally, at least five years of legal practice experience is preferred, particularly in nonprofit law, commercial contracts, employment law, regulatory compliance, or general counsel responsibilities. Nonprofit and Fiscal Sponsorship Expertise: Strong understanding of US nonprofit structures, 501(c)(3) requirements, charitable activity restrictions, fiscal sponsorship arrangements, and organizational governance. Contracting and Negotiation Skills: Demonstrated ability to draft, review, and negotiate complex agreements, including grant, service, employment, and intellectual property agreements. Employment and Regulatory Knowledge: Familiarity with multi-jurisdiction employment practices, immigration compliance, data protection requirements, and relevant regulatory frameworks. Experience assessing FARA exposure or emerging AI-related legal obligations is an advantage. Practical Legal Judgment: Ability to assess risk proportionately, develop clear recommendations, and balance legal compliance with operational realities. Comfortable working in evolving legal environments where established precedents may be limited. Communication and Collaboration: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex legal issues clearly to non-legal stakeholders and build effective relationships with senior leaders and operational teams. Autonomy and Adaptability: Able to work independently, manage competing priorities, deliver timely advice, and operate effectively in a fast-moving, mission-driven environment. Preferred Background: Experience advising research organizations, technology-focused nonprofits, AI safety initiatives, internationally operating organizations, or projects preparing to become independent entities is beneficial. Benefits Competitive Compensation: Independent contractor rate of $200–$300 per hour, or a full-time-equivalent gross annual salary range of $220,000–$300,000, prorated for fractional hours. Compensation depends on relevant experience, role level, and the applicable salary framework. Flexible Work Arrangement: Fully remote position with approximately 20–24 hours per week and flexibility in working hours and location. Candidates based in the United States or United Kingdom are preferred, with flexibility for other locations, particularly within UTC-5 to UTC+2. Potential for Growth: Opportunity to expand working hours as organizational needs and the portfolio of supported projects grow. Employment Flexibility: Open to either an employee or independent contractor arrangement, with the employee structure preferred. Comprehensive Benefits: Benefits vary by country, employment arrangement, and working hours, with an emphasis on equitable, high-quality support. Generous Paid Time Off: Vacation allowance, applicable statutory leave, and organization-wide mid-year and end-of-year breaks. Professional Development: Access to workshops, training, and dedicated work time for professional and personal growth. Technology and AI Support: Technology stipend for work-related equipment and a monthly AI tools budget equivalent to US$40. Collaborative Culture: Work with a supportive leadership team, low administrative bureaucracy, virtual coworking opportunities, and a peer support program for new employees. Work-Life Balance: A respectful, caring working environment that values autonomy, collaboration, and sustainable working practices. Meaningful Impact: Help strengthen the legal foundations of organizations working on global health, animal welfare, AI safety, and other important global challenges.