Legal Counsel

Company Description

Shopify’s mission is to make commerce better for everyone. From building a new product feature for our commerce platform, to helping a merchant troubleshoot an issue over the phone, we want to empower our ecosystem through our work.

Having a unified vision, a north star, is vitally important to ensure that we are all headed in the same direction. No matter the size or experience, we want to power every merchant’s experience. This is why we’re all here.

Shopify is now permanently remote, and we’re working towards a future that is digital by design. That location you see above? Consider it merely an example of hundreds of potential locations across North America where Shopify is hiring. Learn more here: https://www.shopify.com/careers/work-anywhere 

Shopify is one of the greatest engines for economic independence on the planet, raising the standard for how companies of all sizes sell their products and services online and off. With millions of merchants in more than 175 countries, and the most innovative platform on the market, we continue to grow rapidly while staying focused on our mission to build a 100-year company that makes commerce better for everyone. 

About the team

The Acceleration Legal team is a small but important part of Shopify's Corporate Legal Team and, of course, the broader Legal Team at Shopify. Our focus is on supporting the Acceleration Team, which is a multidisciplinary group of folks who bring experience in product, technology, talent, partnerships, and corporate development. Our goal is to assess and pursue opportunities for Shopify acquisitions or investments. Our work is primarily transactional, but always evolving, as we provide strategic and legal insights while ensuring compliance with constantly changing laws and regulations.  

To be successful on our team, collaboration and engagement are key. We regularly collaborate with each other and with internal and external stakeholders. Being a member of a fast-moving team doing cutting edge legal work is not always easy, but practicing at the top of your game with smart, dedicated and highly-engaged colleagues is incredibly fulfilling and a great catalyst for personal growth. 

Job Description

About You
 
We are searching for a Legal Counsel, M&A and Investments with experience and a strong interest in tech investments, from early stage investing to full scale mergers and acquisitions. This role will partner closely with our Acceleration team (our team that accelerates Shopify's mission through corporate development, strategic acquisitions, investments and insights), and will work on the identification, evaluation and execution of strategic partnerships and investments as well as mergers and acquisitions.
 
You must be adept at juggling competing priorities, and using your business acumen, creativity and collegiality (both internally and in dealing with external parties) to get stuff done. You should have excellent problem solving and issue spotting skills.
 
The work is varied and constantly evolving. Success on the Shopify Acceleration legal team requires intellect, humility and a sense of humour. You need to take the work seriously, but not take yourself too seriously.  

Responsibilities

• Conducting legal due diligence on investment prospects
• Coordinating with internal subject matter experts, including Tax and Finance team members
• Negotiating and drafting transaction documents
• Working with external counsel
• Creating and refining templates, playbooks and processes
• Developing and delivering training sessions on various legal topics
• Assisting where needed on other legal matters from time to time

Qualifications

• A J.D. or LL.B.
• A license to practice law in the United States or Canada
• A willingness to work Eastern Time Zone working hours, or close to it
• 3-6 years of relevant corporate, M&A and venture/tech legal experience, ideally including law firm experience
• Experience managing projects and multiple priorities, stakeholders and deadlines
• The ability to work collaboratively as part of a team and on an individual basis without a lot of guidance or oversight
• Exceptional business judgment and relationship-building skills
• Strong written and interpersonal communication skills

Additional Information

We know that applying for a new role can be both exciting and time-consuming, and we truly appreciate your effort. Kate Royer looks forward to reading your cover letter.

Application Deadline is January 14, 2022 at 11:59PM EST. We welcome and encourage you to submit your application before the new year, however, successful candidates can expect to be contacted January 21, 2022.

Our belief is that a strong commitment to diversity & inclusion enables us to truly make commerce better for everyone. We encourage applications from Indigenous peoples, racialized people, people with disabilities, people from gender and sexually diverse communities, and/or people with intersectional identities. Please take a look at our Sustainability Reports to learn more about Shopify’s commitments to our communities, and our planet.

At Shopify, we understand that experience comes in many forms. We’re dedicated to adding new perspectives to the team - so if your experience is this close to what we’re looking for, please consider applying.