Interim Lawyer – Legal Advisory (Venture & Start-Ups)
Work Type: Part-time / Ad-hoc (Flexible)
Start Date: ASAP
Duration: 3 months (with potential to extend)
Location: London / Remote
Our customer is a founder-led boutique legal advisory firm supporting high-growth, venture-backed start-ups and VC investors. With a growing client base, the firm is seeking an experienced interim lawyer to provide commercially focused, business-minded legal support.
Role Overview
We are seeking a commercially astute, hands-on interim lawyer to advise venture-backed companies across a broad range of corporate, commercial, and strategic matters.
This role is suited to a mid-to-senior lawyer who thrives in fast-paced start-up environments and is comfortable working autonomously while partnering closely with founders, investors, and executive teams.
You will advise companies from formation through Seed and Series A fundraising, supporting corporate structuring, governance, commercial contracting, and strategic transactions.
Key Responsibilities
Venture & Fundraising
* Lead and manage fundraising rounds (Seed through Series A)
* Draft and negotiate term sheets, subscription agreements, shareholders’ agreements, and investor rights agreements
* Advise on cap table management and equity structuring
* Coordinate with investors and external counsel
* Advise founders and boards on fundraising strategy and risk allocation
* Support VC investors on early-stage investments
Corporate & Governance
* Company formation and structuring (UK and US entities)
* Execute Delaware flips and cross-border restructurings
* Manage ongoing corporate governance and company secretarial matters
* Prepare board and shareholder documentation
* Implement and manage employee equity schemes (EMI, options, etc.)
Commercial Contracts
* Draft, review, and negotiate SaaS agreements (MSA, SLA, DPA, licensing, reseller agreements)
* Advise on manufacturing, supply, and distribution agreements
* Negotiate strategic partnership and enterprise agreements
* Advise on IP ownership, licensing, and commercialisation
* Support go-to-market and scale-up commercial strategy
Experience & Qualifications
* Qualified UK lawyer (US qualification or other common law jurisdiction also considered)
* 8+ years’ PQE within venture capital, start-up, or high-growth environments
* Strong experience advising on Seed and Series A fundraising
* Proven experience with Delaware flips and cross-border structuring
* Deep understanding of SaaS and technology contracting
* Experience with manufacturing and supply agreements
* Strong corporate governance and company secretarial background
* Comfortable operating independently in an interim or fractional capacity
About Elevate
Elevate is a global provider of consulting, technology, and services to law departments and law firms. Headquartered in Los Angeles, our team of 1,600+ legal professionals including lawyers, consultants, project managers, and engineers operates across the United States, Europe, the UK, Asia, Hong Kong, and Australia.
Legal Talent is Elevate’s flexible resourcing division, redefining legal careers. We connect exceptional legal professionals with evolving client needs through a curated global talent community and technology-enabled search capabilities. We are proud to have been ranked Band 1 in Chambers’ Global Flexible Legal Resourcing category.
Our Commitment
At Elevate, equity and inclusion are fundamental to our success. As part of Elevate The Law Company we believe a diverse and inclusive culture is essential to attracting and retaining top legal talent. We empower our people to bring their authentic selves to work, recognising that diversity of experience and perspective drives innovation and better business outcomes.
We welcome applications from talented professionals of all backgrounds and invite you to join us in reshaping the legal industry.