Head of Legal

About this role

Sakana AI is a Tokyo-based startup conducting foundational AI research and applied development for a global audience. The Head of Legal will oversee commercial contracts, corporate legal matters, intellectual property, risk, and compliance while working with existing legal team members to establish an effective legal function.

The role leads drafting, review, and negotiation of agreements with customers, partners, vendors, and contractors, including English-language contracts. It works with Applied, Product, and R&D teams from the early stages of transactions so that legal considerations are incorporated into the deal structure. Responsibilities also include shareholder and board meeting operations, corporate registrations, capital policy, and fundraising matters.

The position establishes policies for research outputs, models, data, and open-source software licenses, and advances patent and trademark strategy with outside counsel. It builds and operates compliance programs covering internal policies, personal data protection, export control, and security trade control. The role monitors AI-related regulations in Japan and other countries and turns developments into practical guidance for business decisions. It also handles disputes and external inquiries and selects and manages outside law firms.

The Head of Legal will personally review and negotiate important matters, manage legal team members, and improve quality and productivity through review standards, templates, and shared knowledge. The role will standardize contract and legal processes and promote efficiency, including through the use of generative AI, LLMs, and AI agents in legal work.

Required qualifications include at least five years of corporate legal experience, either in-house or at a law firm, and experience independently completing the drafting, review, and negotiation of contracts, including English-language agreements. Candidates must be able to explain risks concretely to business teams and present workable options. Native-level Japanese and English sufficient for contract work and day-to-day business communication are required.

Preferred qualifications include qualification as an attorney in Japan or registration as a registered foreign lawyer, experience building or strengthening a legal function at a startup or high-growth organization, and legal experience involving financial institutions, the public sector, or defense. Experience in IT, software, data, or AI law; licensing; data-use permissions; model rights; patents; trademarks; privacy; export control; security trade control; or management of a small team is also welcomed.

The position is full-time and based in the Tokyo office.