Commercial & IP Counsel

About the role

We are seeking a highly skilled and business-savvy IP and Commercial Counsel to support the ongoing operations of StackAdapt’s AI-Powered Marketing Orchestration Platform and its expanding suite of programmatic and owned-channel products, including connected TV (CTV), digital out-of-home, display, audio, and email. This Counsel will work closely with product managers, engineers, data science, compliance, privacy, and commercial teams to provide legal guidance on the design, implementation, and commercialization of advertising technologies, AI-driven and automated features, and data solutions, as well as being responsible for the Company’s intellectual property portfolio and complex intellectual property litigation. StackAdapt embraces AI and automation across the business, and this Counsel is expected to use those tools to work efficiently and to extend the reach and efficacy of the legal team.

StackAdapt is a remote first company. This role is open to applicants currently located in Canada or the United States.

What you'll do

Commercial & Platform Agreements

• Draft, negotiate, and interpret contracts with clients and ad tech ecosystem partners, including Supply Path Optimization (SPO) agreements with SSPs, publishers, and ad exchanges, as well as data sharing and measurement/verification vendor agreements.
• Manage and negotiate IAB terms and conditions, specifically including the Standard Terms and Conditions (2.0-4.0) and the Multi-State Privacy Agreement.
• Review and negotiate agreements for AI and automation vendors, covering model and data licensing, generative-AI tools, and terms governing the use of company or third-party training data.
• Develop automated and AI-assisted workflows to ensure internal compliance with all ecosystem partner agreements.

Intellectual Property & Litigation

• Partner with and manage external counsel globally across all IP litigation, strategy, and regulatory matters.
• Direct all phases of complex IP and patent litigation, from strategy development and enforcement actions (e.g., preparing claim charts) to court appearances, drafting settlement agreements, and negotiating IP licenses.
• Advise management on overall IP strategy by overseeing patentability, freedom-to-operate, and infringement analyses.
• Work with internal R&D and product teams to identify patentable inventions, guide portfolio development, and provide training on IP best practices.
• Oversee IP due diligence for acquisitions, divestitures, or partnerships.
• Monitor changes in patent law and the evolving AI regulatory landscape to proactively advise on potential impacts to the company.

Product Counselling

• Provide comprehensive legal, IP, and regulatory guidance to internal teams during the design and launch of programmatic, martech, and owned-channel features, specifically including targeting, bidding algorithms, and data integrations.
• Advise on the legal and compliance implications of AI, machine learning, and automated decision-making tools, including training data, model outputs, and emerging governance obligations.
• Support the Privacy team on data governance matters involving bid-stream, impression, user-volunteered, and third-party data.
• Guide post-launch compliance efforts, including auditing mechanisms and the ongoing protection of proprietary technology via trademarks, copyrights, and patents.

What you Bring

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school and Call to the Bar in one or more Canadian Provinces or one or more US states, with active license to practice law in such jurisdiction(s)
• 6+ years of legal experience, preferably in technology, with at least 3 years in an in-house commercial role and 3 years of complex litigation experience.
• Strong aptitude for complex technology and desire to learn the functioning of the ad tech ecosystem (including DSPs, SSPs, ad exchanges, CTV and other emerging channels, AI-powered ad tech, and programmatic advertising principles.)
• Excellent negotiation, analytical, and communication skills to manage disputes and advise senior leadership.
• Ability to handle complex cases and meet litigation deadlines in a high-pressure environment.
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving to balance legal risks with business goals.
• Strong drafting and negotiation skills for commercial agreements.
• Ability to simplify complex legal and technical concepts for cross-functional teams.
• Excellent collaboration skills to work effectively with non-legal stakeholders, including product managers and engineers.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment and provide clear, actionable legal advice.
• A demonstrated appetite for adopting automation and AI tools to drive efficiency and consistency in legal workflows.
• Preferred: Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP) certification, experience with AI-related legal and governance issues in ad tech, martech, or similar technology platforms, and fluency with AI and automation tools in a modern legal function.