Senior Counsel, Corporate and Commercial (UK & Ireland) [612]

About the role

D-Wave is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Counsel, Corporate & Commercial to join our Legal team. This role is a key individual contributor responsible for providing strategic legal support across a broad range of corporate and commercial matters, including complex business transactions, technology agreements, corporate initiatives, and day-to-day operational legal needs, with a focus on the EMEA region.

Reporting to the VP, Legal you will partner closely with senior leaders and cross-functional teams to deliver practical, business-focused legal advice that enables growth, manages risk, and supports strategic company objectives. You will play a critical role in drafting and negotiating agreements, advising on complex legal matters, and building strong relationships across the organization.

This role is fully remote and open to candidates located in the United Kingdom and Ireland

What you'll do

• Draft, review, and negotiate complex commercial agreements, including customer, procurement, professional services, software, technology, collaboration, research, and confidentiality agreements. 

• Provide practical legal advice on commercial and corporate matters, balancing legal risk with business priorities. 

• Analyze and resolve complex legal issues arising from business operations, providing timely and actionable guidance with minimal supervision. 

• Partner with cross-functional teams, including Sales, Procurement, Finance, Research & Development, Security, and Operations, to support commercial initiatives and transactions.

• Support contract lifecycle management, including negotiation strategy, risk assessment, and agreement execution. 

• Proactively identify, address and manage legal risk issues arising in the day-to-day business operations.

• Provide general legal support across the team on EMEA matters, as needed. 

• Manage relationships with external legal counsel and support specialized legal matters as needed. 

• Stay current on commercial law, technology trends, and industry practices relevant to the company’s business.

• Work cross-functionally in different time zones with business and legal colleagues worldwide to support the global business.

About You

• Qualified lawyer in England & Wales or Ireland. 

• 6+ years of experience at a law firm and/or in-house legal department, with significant experience in commercial and corporate matters. 

• Experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex commercial and technology agreements. 

• Strong understanding of commercial law and the ability to provide practical, business-oriented legal advice. 

• Experience supporting business teams in a fast-paced, technology-driven environment. 

• Ability to independently manage complex legal matters, prioritize competing demands, and deliver high-quality work with minimal supervision. 

• Strong analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to explain legal concepts clearly to non-legal audiences. 

• Proactive, collaborative, and solutions-oriented approach with the ability to operate effectively in a dynamic, global environment. 

A D-Waver's DNA

• We look at the future and say “why not”; we see possibilities where others see problems or routines. We show the way ahead and are committed to achieving ambitious goals.
• We practice straight talk and listen generously to each other with empathy. We value different opinions and points of views. We ensure that we connect outside as well as inside to learn from others and inspire each other.
• We hold ourselves accountable for delivering results. We make decisions & take responsibility so that we can act & support each other.
• As leaders we motivate & engage our teams to undertake beyond what they originally thought possible, by developing our teams & creating the conditions for people to grow and empower themselves through enabling & coaching.

Our Compensation Philosophy is Simple but Powerful:

We believe providing D-Wavers with company ownership, competitive pay, and a range of meaningful benefits is the start of creating a culture where people want to give the best they’ve got — not because they’re simply making money, but because they’ve fallen in love with our vision, mission, values, and team. 

During the interview process, your Recruiter will review our total rewards (base, equity, bonus, perks, benefit, culture) offerings. The final offer is determined by your proficiencies within this level.   

Inclusion: 

We celebrate diverse perspectives to drive innovation in our pursuit. Our employees range from distinguished domain experts with decades of experience in their respective fields, to bright and motivated graduates eager to make their mark. Our diverse and innovative team will make you feel appreciated, supported and empower your career growth at D-Wave.

The Fine Print: 

No 3rd party candidates will be accepted

It is D-Wave policy to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/provincial, local law.