Senior Legal Counsel at Chess.com
United States
<meta><p style="font-family:"Basel Grotesk",Arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px 0px;padding:0px;"><b><strong style="font-size:18pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">About You</strong></b></p><p style="font-family:"Basel Grotesk",Arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px 0px;padding:0px;"><span style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">As Senior Legal Counsel, you will be the most senior legal leader inside Chess.com, reporting directly to the CFO. This is a newly created role born from the company's continued growth and increasing complexity across areas like intellectual property, global compliance, employment law, data privacy, commercial partnerships, and potential future capital markets activity. You will own and build our internal legal function, serve as the strategic legal advisor to the executive team and board, and establish the frameworks that allow Chess.com to move fast while managing risk thoughtfully.</span></p><p style="font-family:"Basel Grotesk",Arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px 0px;padding:0px;"><br></p><p style="font-family:"Basel Grotesk",Arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px 0px;padding:0px;"><span style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">You are someone who has spent years developing deep legal expertise, ideally in technology, gaming, or digital media, and you are ready to bring that experience to a company where you will have real ownership and impact. You recognize that every business decision carries some degree of risk. Your strength lies in clarifying those variables, assessing the potential outcomes, and guiding leadership toward the most strategic path forward. You are comfortable operating across jurisdictions, translating complex legal concepts for non-lawyers, and working in a flat, remote-first culture where trust and direct communication matter more than hierarchy.</span></p><p style="font-family:"Basel Grotesk",Arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px 0px;padding:0px;"><br></p><p style="font-family:"Basel Grotesk",Arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px 0px;padding:0px;"><span style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">This role is ideal for someone who wants to build something meaningful. You will not be inheriting a fully built-out legal department. Instead, you will have the opportunity to shape legal strategy and partner closely with leadership to support the next chapter of Chess.com's growth, including building the infrastructure and discipline of a public-ready company.</span></p><p style="font-family:"Basel Grotesk",Arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px 0px;padding:0px;"><br></p><p style="font-family:"Basel Grotesk",Arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px 0px;padding:0px;"><b><strong style="font-size:18pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">What you'll do</strong></b></p><ul data-pattern="discCircleSquare" data-depth="1" style="font-family:"Basel Grotesk",Arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;margin:8px 0px;line-height:1.6;padding:0px 0px 0px 32px;list-style-type:disc;"><li style="font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><b><strong style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Lead the legal function: </strong></b><span style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Serve as the primary legal advisor to the CEO, CFO, and broader executive team on strategic and operational legal matters across all Chess.com business units.</span></li><li style="font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><b><strong style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Shape legal strategy: </strong></b><span style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Develop and implement a legal strategy that supports the company's growth objectives, including commercial expansion, international operations, and building public-readiness across the organization.</span></li><li style="font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><b><strong style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Manage commercial transactions: </strong></b><span style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements, including partnership deals, licensing agreements, endorsement contracts, vendor agreements, and content licensing arrangements.</span></li><li style="font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><b><strong style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Oversee corporate governance: </strong></b><span style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Support board governance, manage entity structure across the group, and continuously strengthen the company's governance, reporting, and compliance infrastructure as the business scales. Coordinate with outside counsel on corporate transactions, equity matters, and other corporate legal needs.</span></li><li style="font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><b><strong style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Drive compliance and risk management: </strong></b><span style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations across all jurisdictions where Chess.com operates, including data privacy (GDPR, CCPA, COPPA), digital safety, consumer protection, and employment law.</span></li><li style="font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><b><strong style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Protect intellectual property: </strong></b><span style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Oversee the company's IP portfolio, including trademarks, copyrights, and domain strategy. Manage enforcement actions and coordinate with external IP counsel as needed.</span></li><li style="font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><b><strong style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Support data privacy and trust: </strong></b><span style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Provide legal guidance on data privacy matters, partner with the security and product teams on privacy-by-design, and serve as a resource for data protection compliance across the group.</span></li><li style="font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><b><strong style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Manage external counsel: </strong></b><span style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Oversee relationships with outside law firms, manage legal spend, and ensure outside counsel is being used strategically and efficiently.</span></li><li style="font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><b><strong style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Support employment and people matters:</strong></b><span style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;"> Partner with the People team to provide guidance on employment law, workforce compliance, and other people-related legal matters across the company's global footprint.</span></li><li style="font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><b><strong style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Handle litigation and disputes: </strong></b><span style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Manage litigation, regulatory investigations, and dispute resolution with the support of external counsel. Serve as the internal coordinator for legal proceedings.</span></li><li style="font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><b><strong style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Leverage AI tools: </strong></b><span style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Effectively leverage AI tools for legal strategy, tactics, and efficiency across the legal function.</span></li><li style="font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><b><strong style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Partner cross-functionally: </strong></b><span style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Work closely with teams across the company, including Finance, People, Product, Engineering, Content, Trust & Safety, and Partnerships, to provide practical, timely legal guidance.</span></li></ul><p style="font-family:"Basel Grotesk",Arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px 0px;padding:0px;"><b><strong style="font-size:18pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Skills & Qualifications</strong></b></p><ul data-pattern="discCircleSquare" data-depth="1" style="font-family:"Basel Grotesk",Arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;margin:8px 0px;line-height:1.6;padding:0px 0px 0px 32px;list-style-type:disc;"><li style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">JD from an accredited law school and active bar membership in good standing</span></li><li style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">10+ years of legal experience, with a mix of law firm and in-house roles. Experience at a senior level in-house is strongly preferred.</span></li><li style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Broad commercial and corporate legal experience, including contract negotiation, corporate governance, M&A, and regulatory compliance</span></li><li style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Strong expertise in technology, digital media, or gaming law, with practical knowledge of IP, data privacy, and e-commerce regulations</span></li><li style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Deep familiarity with data protection frameworks, including GDPR, CCPA, and COPPA</span></li><li style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Experience managing outside counsel relationships and legal budgets</span></li><li style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Track record of operating as a trusted advisor to C-suite executives and board members</span></li><li style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Excellent judgment with the ability to balance legal risk against business opportunity in a fast-paced environment</span></li><li style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Clear, direct communication style with the ability to translate complex legal concepts for non-legal audiences </span></li><li style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Comfort working in a fully remote, globally distributed team across multiple time zones</span></li><li style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">High degree of autonomy, ownership, and accountability</span></li></ul><p style="font-family:"Basel Grotesk",Arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px 0px;padding:0px;"><b><strong style="font-size:18pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Preferred Skills</strong></b></p><ul data-pattern="discCircleSquare" data-depth="1" style="font-family:"Basel Grotesk",Arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;margin:8px 0px;line-height:1.6;padding:0px 0px 0px 32px;list-style-type:disc;"><li style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Background in the gaming, sports, entertainment, or digital content industrie</span></li><li style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Experience building or scaling an in-house legal function from early stages</span></li><li style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Familiarity with international employment law across multiple jurisdictions</span></li><li style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Knowledge of AI law and emerging regulations around artificial intelligence</span></li><li style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Experience with SEC reporting frameworks, public company governance, or capital markets transactions</span></li><li style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Understanding of the chess world, competitive gaming, or online communities</span></li><li style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="color:rgb(49,46,43);font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">Fluency in Spanish or another widely spoken language is a plus</span></li></ul><p style="font-family:"Basel Grotesk",Arial,sans-serif;font-size:18pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px 0px;padding:0px;"><b><strong style="font-size:18pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">About the Opportunity</strong></b></p><ul data-pattern="discCircleSquare" data-depth="1" style="font-family:"Basel Grotesk",Arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;margin:8px 0px;line-height:1.6;padding:0px 0px 0px 32px;list-style-type:disc;"><li style="font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">This is a full-time opportunity</span></li><li style="font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">We are 100% remote, always have been, always will be! </span></li><li style="font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><span style="font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">This role is open to candidates who can work in the United States for timezone alignment purposes. </span></li></ul><p style="font-family:"Basel Grotesk",Arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px 0px;padding:0px;"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap;">---</span></p><p style="font-family:"Basel Grotesk",Arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:1.6;letter-spacing:0.25px;margin:4px 0px;padding:0px;"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap;">You can learn more about us here:</span></p><ul data-pattern="discCircleSquare" data-depth="1" style="font-family:"Basel Grotesk",Arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;margin:8px 0px;line-height:1.6;padding:0px 0px 0px 32px;list-style-type:disc;"><li style="font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><a href="https://www.chess.com/article/view/how-chess-com-virtual-team-works-together" target="_blank" class="css-173makr-linkStyle" style="color:rgb(30,74,169);cursor:pointer;"><span style="font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">https://www.chess.com/article/view/how-chess-com-virtual-team-works-together</span></a></li><li style="font-size:11pt;margin:3px 0px;letter-spacing:0.25px;line-height:1.6;"><a href="https://www.chess.com/about" target="_blank" class="css-173makr-linkStyle" style="color:rgb(30,74,169);cursor:pointer;"><span style="font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap;">https://www.chess.com/about</span></a></li></ul>
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