General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer & Data Privacy Officer

About Wellspring

Wellspring Worldwide, Inc. is a leading provider of web-based software systems for managing research, technology commercialization, and innovation operations for universities, companies, government agencies, and independent labs. Founded in 2003, Wellspring has grown to serve over 500 organizations globally, including Fortune 500 companies, SMEs, hospitals, and universities. The company’s flagship products—Sophia, Flintbox, and Zeto—enable organizations to manage the entire innovation lifecycle, from discovery and IP management to commercialization and knowledge transfer.

We are seeking a highly skilled General Counsel with 5-7 years of corporate experience to serve as the senior-most legal, compliance, and privacy authority at Wellspring Worldwide. This role combines the responsibilities of General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, and Data Privacy Officer—owning the full spectrum of legal risk, regulatory compliance, and privacy across the company's global operations. In these roles you will partner with our CTO who is our Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). The ideal candidate will leverage AI-powered legal tools to drive efficiency and scalability, while advising executive leadership as a trusted strategic partner.

This role carries direct ownership of three functional areas:

• General Counsel — legal strategy, contracts, M&A, litigation, IP, corporate governance, and international expansion.
• Chief Compliance Officer — regulatory compliance, internal controls, and security policy frameworks.
• Data Privacy Officer — personal data governance and global privacy compliance.

Key Responsibilities

Legal Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure the company's operations adhere to applicable international, national, and local laws and regulations.
• Identify, analyze, and manage legal risks across multiple jurisdictions.
• Establish and maintain policies and procedures to mitigate legal risks.
• Use AI-powered compliance monitoring tools to track regulatory changes across jurisdictions in real time, reducing manual research burden.

Contract Review and Management

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of contracts including commercial agreements, employment contracts, vendor agreements, and partnerships.
• Manage cross-border transactions and contracts, ensuring compliance with international regulations.
• Maintain AI-assisted contract templates and playbooks to standardize and streamline negotiation.

Corporate Governance

• Advise on corporate governance best practices and ensure compliance with board governance frameworks.
• Partner with the Finance team and the company’s registered agent to ensure compliance with all Secretary of State registrations and annual report filings.
• Assist with board meetings, resolutions, and related legal documentation.

Regulatory Affairs & Chief Compliance Officer Responsibilities

This role serves as the company's Chief Compliance Officer, with direct ownership of:

• Monitoring changes in international laws and regulations and ensuring timely compliance across all operating jurisdictions.
• Designing, implementing, and maintaining the company's internal controls framework, ensuring consistent adherence to policies and regulatory obligations.
• Developing security-related policies and compliance frameworks, working in close partnership with IT/CISO on implementation and enforcement.
• Managing relationships with regulators and handling any regulatory inquiries or investigations.
• Leading compliance risk assessments and reporting to the executive team and board.
• Leveraging AI-assisted regulatory intelligence platforms to proactively identify and assess the impact of regulatory changes on company operations.

Data Privacy Officer Responsibilities

This role serves as the company's Data Privacy Officer, with direct ownership of:

• Owning and maintaining the Company's personal data governance framework.
• Ensuring full compliance with GDPR and all applicable global data protection laws (CCPA, UK GDPR, and other jurisdiction-specific regimes).

Litigation & Dispute Resolution

• Oversee and manage litigation, arbitration, or disputes, coordinating with external counsel as needed.
• Represent the company in negotiations and dispute resolution processes.
• Use AI-powered e-discovery and document review tools to reduce cost and time in litigation support.

Intellectual Property

• Safeguard the company's IP assets by managing global registrations, infringements, and disputes.
• Use AI tools to monitor IP landscapes, identify potential infringement, and manage portfolio tracking at scale.

AI & Legal Technology Leadership

• Champion legal and compliance technology adoption, evaluating and implementing AI tools across legal, compliance, and privacy functions.
• Establish governance frameworks and usage policies for AI in legal workflows, ensuring accuracy, confidentiality, and ethical use.
• Partner with technology and product teams to advise on AI-related legal risk, data privacy, and emerging regulatory requirements (e.g., EU AI Act, state AI laws).
• Stay current on AI law, privacy regulation, and compliance developments and advise leadership on strategic implications.

Stakeholder Management & Training

• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on legal, compliance, and privacy implications of strategic decisions.
• Collaborate with external counsel and advisors for specialized legal matters.
• Provide training to internal teams on commercial contracts, compliance, data privacy, contract management, and responsible use of AI legal tools.

Qualifications

• JD, LLB, or equivalent degree from an ABA-approved law school.
• Licensed to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction; multi-jurisdictional licensure preferred.
• 5-7 years of experience in a similar role with international exposure in a multinational corporation or law firm.
• Demonstrated experience serving in or alongside a Data Privacy Officer function, with hands-on GDPR compliance ownership.
• Proven experience managing internal controls frameworks and regulatory compliance programs (CCO-equivalent experience).
• Strong knowledge of international business law, regulations, and best practices.
• Exceptional negotiation, drafting, and communication skills.
• Strong organizational and project management skills; ability to manage external counsel and legal budgets.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in SaaS, tech transfer, or adjacent technology industries.
• Hands-on experience evaluating, procuring, or implementing legal technology or AI tools.

Key skills/competency

• General Counsel
• Chief Compliance Officer
• Data Privacy Officer
• Legal Strategy
• Contract Management
• Corporate Governance
• Regulatory Compliance
• GDPR
• Intellectual Property
• AI Legal Technology