In-House Legal Counsel (Germany) (m/f/d)
Berlin
About the Job
As a key growth accelerator, A11 partners with Europe’s most ambitious startups and scaleups, corporates, and SMBs to connect them with top-tier talent ready to make an impact.
We’re looking for an experienced In-House Legal Counsel (m/f/d) to join and lead the legal, compliance, and governance functions at one of our Ecosystem Companies.
As an In-House Legal Counsel, you’ll act as a trusted advisor to leadership and teams across the business, managing a wide variety of commercial, employment, and compliance matters while driving scalable legal processes that enable growth.
Join the A11 Ecosystem – A next‑generation supply chain platform, the company is redefining how one of the world’s largest industries sources, distributes, and finances materials. Engineered to unlock the full potential of global trade, it harnesses agentic AI and workflow automation to provide seamless, high‑efficiency access to premium materials at scale. Since its commercial rollout, the platform has fueled exponential growth, optimizing procurement for thousands of businesses while setting new benchmarks for speed, transparency, and efficiency. Its competitive edge lies in full digitization and AI‑driven supply chain management automation, eliminating inefficiencies and creating a direct, intelligent bridge between suppliers and buyers. With a team of 80+ FTEs across Europe (Berlin HQ), China, and India, the company is rapidly scaling toward profitability, driving triple‑digit million GMV, and setting new industry standards in autonomous, AI‑powered supply chain orchestration.
In this role, you’ll:
* Commercial Excellence (≈70%)
* Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements — including B2B sales, SaaS, supplier, and partnership contracts — ensuring balanced, risk‑aware outcomes.
* Design and maintain standardized contract templates, playbooks, and workflows that accelerate deal cycles while maintaining legal robustness.
* Serve as a strategic partner to Sales and Growth, advising on legal implications of new business models and international expansion.
* Manage claims and disputes with a hands‑on, business‑minded approach that protects company interests while preserving key relationships.
* People & Employment Law (≈20%)
* Provide legal guidance to the HR and People Team on all matters of German employment law.
* Draft and update employment contracts, termination and works agreements, ensuring compliance with German labour standards.
* Advise on sensitive employee relations, restructurings, and disciplinary matters with empathy and precision.
* Monitor evolving German and EU regulations affecting operations, including data protection and commercial compliance.
* Support corporate governance for German entities and manage external counsel where specialized expertise is required.
* Foster a culture of proactive compliance and ethical business practice across the organization.
Your Profile:
* Fully qualified lawyer (Volljurist/in) or equivalent, with strong practical experience in German law
* 3+ years of post‑qualification experience from a leading law firm or in‑house legal team, ideally within technology, digital, or fast‑scaling businesses
* Deep knowledge of German Contract Law (Vertragsrecht) and solid experience in Employment Law (Arbeitsrecht), including handling commercial claims and disputes
* Business‑fluent in German and English (English is the internal working language)
* Commercially sharp, pragmatic, and collaborative mindset — you balance legal rigour with business agility, thrive in evolving environments, and translate complexity into clarity
Please note that this position is based in Berlin.
Benefits and Perks:
* Fulfil a role with entrepreneurial freedom and help scale a high‑impact business model
* Join an experienced founding team of serial and 2nd‑time founders
* Attractive base and bonus compensation program
* Collaborate with top‑tier investors and angels (incl. various unicorn founders) as well as leading market experts
If you’re eager to join the A11 Ecosystem and shape what’s next, we want to hear from you!
Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
A11 is committed to diverse and equal opportunities hiring for all – applicants, candidates, and employees alike. We value humans – with all our glorious multifaceted backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences – and look forward to your application.
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