Zama is an open source cryptography company building state-of-the-art Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) solutions for blockchain.
Zama was founded by Pascal Paillier, a pioneer in FHE, and Rand Hindi, a serial privacy entrepreneur.
If you would like to learn more about Fully Homomorphic Encryption, check out our 6-min introduction: https://6min.zama.ai/
Join an ambitious, fast-growing deep tech scale-up at the heart of digital innovation. As Senior Legal Counsel, reporting directly to the General Counsel, you will have a key impact within a dynamic, fast-paced environment, leveraging your expertise to drive meaningful outcomes.
Working at the intersection of technology and business, you will collaborate with teams spanning business and product development, engineering, finance, and marketing. Your success will depend on your ability to navigate complex legal challenges, rapidly adapt to new technologies and regulatory frameworks, and proactively advise on emerging areas that may lack established precedent.
This role is ideal for a creative, business-minded legal professional eager to deliver results and craft pragmatic solutions in close partnership with a multidisciplinary team in a rapidly evolving industry.
Key Responsibilities
Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of contracts (IT, services, consulting, advisory, contractor, finance, SaaS, licensing, marketing, NDA, partnership, JV, LOI, etc.) in both French and international contexts, ensuring legal security and business effectiveness;
Design bespoke, innovative contractual solutions for novel deals and pioneering business models where market standards are not yet established;
Support the General Counsel in managing legal matters for the French parent company and its Swiss subsidiary, across both daily operations and strategic projects.
Assist the General Counsel with corporate matters, including annual accounts approval, intra-group agreements, delegation of authority, formalities with French authorities (guichet unique), and the allocation of BSPCE, BSA, and tokens.
Participate in M&A, fundraising rounds, creation of subsidiaries, and extraordinary transactions.
Support the COO in employment matters by generating CDI and contractor agreements (on the basis of our internal templates), salary amendment addendums, and HR policies.
Assist in updating GDPR documentation;
Serve as a liaison between our patent agent and inventors to facilitate smooth patent application processes;
Actively contribute to improving internal processes and developing legal templates;
Coordinate with external counsel when needed (tax, export control, MiCA, etc.).
Experience: > 8 years
Compensation: above market
Master's 2 Degree in French Business/Private law, CAPA; LLM in Law or Finance is a plus;
8+ years strong legal experience in contract and commercial law;
Fluency in written and spoken English (the company’s working language) and French is required;
Proven ability to draft and negotiate both standard and innovative agreements;
Passionate about new technologies; experience in fintech, blockchain, cybersecurity, or crypto highly desirable;
Hands-on experience in IP (patents) and corporate law is a plus;
Demonstrates a strong desire and ability to learn and acquire new competencies, especially in corporate and regulatory fields;
Business-oriented mindset, proactive communication style, and collaborative approach.
Preferred Personal Skills
Curious, rigorous, well organized and detail-oriented, while remaining pragmatic and solution-focused;
Ability to work independently, manage multiple projects, and deliver pragmatic, creative legal solutions in a fast-moving setting;
Demonstrates strong discretion in handling confidential and sensitive information;
Excellent interpersonal skills and a demonstrated ability to work collaboratively;
Creativity and adaptability to invent new legal frameworks for emerging technologies;
Genuine interest in the start-up ecosystem and deep tech environment.
· Step 1: The Application Form
Start your journey by filling out our application form. This is your chance to introduce yourself and showcase your unique skills and experiences.
· Step 2: Call with Your Future N+1
This call is a fantastic opportunity to establish a personal connection, discuss your aspirations, and gain insights into the team and company culture.
· Step 3: The Challenge
Next up, tackle our challenge! This is where you can shine and show us how you approach and solve real-world problems.
· Step 4: The Technical Interview
Dive deep into your technical knowledge with your future manager. This is your opportunity to demonstrate your expertise and passion for the field.
· Step 5: Cultural Fit & Compensation Chat
Meet with our COO to discuss our company culture and explore how you can thrive with us. We'll also discuss compensation to ensure we're on the same page.
· Step 6: The Trial
Spend a day at the office to meet your future manager and the team in person. This is a valuable opportunity to collaborate and engage in discussions with team members you will work closely with. At the end of the day, you will present yourself to the entire team, outlining your role and contributions as a Senior Legal Counsel at Zama. This interactive experience will help you build connections and gain a deeper understanding of the team dynamics.
· Step 7: The Reference Check & Offer
As a final step, we'll conduct a reference check to confirm your qualifications and past experiences. If all goes well, you will get an offer soon.
Zama values and promotes diversity. We give everyone a fair chance to be evaluated on their mix of professional, academic, and personal skills. Our aim is to make the hiring process as pleasant, stress-free, and friendly as possible, even if the process is longer and more involved than you might find elsewhere.