Senior Counsel, Commercial & Employment (EMEA)
Benchling’s mission is to unlock the power of biotechnology. The world’s most innovative biotech companies use Benchling’s R&D Cloud to power the development of breakthrough products and accelerate time to milestone and market. Come help us bring modern software to modern science.
Role Overview
We are looking for a mission-driven, collaborative, and highly motivated individual to join Benchling as a critical member of the legal team. As Senior Counsel, EMEA Legal, you will be a trusted advisor to Benchling’s EMEA teams, supporting revenue growth in Europe and guiding compliance across multiple jurisdictions. This is a unique opportunity for an experienced, pragmatic, and business-oriented attorney to provide legal guidance focused on commercial transactions, privacy, and regional employment law. The ideal candidate will be based in/near London or Zurich.
Responsibilities
Commercial Transactions: Own and manage the full lifecycle of commercial contracts for our EMEA operations, including structuring, drafting, and negotiating SaaS agreements, professional services and outsourcing agreements, partner agreements, DPAs and security addendums, and other operational agreements.
Process Improvement: Collaborate with the Head of Commercial, Legal and other global legal team members to develop and implement efficient, scalable, localized contracting policies, practices, and processes, and evolve and manage training programs for the EMEA sales organization on negotiation best practices and relevant legal issues.
Risk Mitigation and Business Partnership: Apply sound judgment to assess risks associated with non-standard legal positions and collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement practical mitigation strategies, providing clear, concise guidance to senior stakeholders on legal risks and liabilities within proposed commercial transactions.
Employment Law: Partner with global HR, legal and business leaders on a wide range of European employment law matters, proactively identifying and mitigating employment legal risks and disputes, guiding the business on hiring, compensation, commission plans, benefits, performance management, leaves of absence, and contingent workers across multiple jurisdictions.
Compliance and Data Protection: Maintain a working knowledge of relevant European laws and regulations related to privacy customer data protection and advise on their implications for Benchling’s business in EMEA.
Qualifications
7+ years of general relevant legal experience, with at least 5 years in-house specifically focused on commercial enterprise SaaS transactions. Understanding of SaaS contracting norms and market terms. Experience supporting sales and go-to-market activities in biotech, healthcare, or life sciences industries is a plus. Experience navigating employment law across multiple European jurisdictions is preferred.
Qualified attorney or solicitor (or EU equivalent) with experience in an English-speaking jurisdiction.
Strategic thinker who can provide entrepreneurial, pragmatic, and business-oriented legal advice, translating complex legal concepts into actionable frameworks.
Autonomous and collaborative, comfortable operating autonomously in a fast-paced, high-growth environment while building strong, trusted partnerships with leadership and cross-functional teams.
Exceptional communicator with outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
Highly organized, reliable, and diligent, with ability to manage multiple issues simultaneously and set appropriate priorities.
Growth mindset, embrace change, practice kindness and integrity, and proactively seek ways to positively impact the business.
How We Work
We offer a flexible hybrid work arrangement that prioritizes in-office collaboration. Employees are expected to be on-site 3 days per week (Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday).
Company Benefits - EMEA
Competitive total rewards package
Fertility healthcare and family-forming benefits
Four months of fully paid parental leave
Home office stipend
Mental health benefits + wellness stipend
Learning and development reimbursement
25 days vacation days + public holidays
Company-wide Winter holiday shutdown
Sabbaticals for 5-year and 10-year anniversaries
Remote perks including travel to hubs
In-office perks (Zurich Only – In Office)
Commuter benefits (Zurich Only – In Office)
Benchling welcomes everyone.
We believe diversity enriches our team so we hire people with a wide range of identities, backgrounds, and experiences.
We are an equal opportunity employer. That means we don’t discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We also consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law, including but not limited to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.
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