Legal Counsel, Commercial

GitLab is the intelligent orchestration platform for DevSecOps. GitLab enables organizations to increase developer productivity, improve operational efficiency, reduce security and compliance risk, and accelerate digital transformation. More than 50 million registered users and more than 50% of the Fortune 100* trust GitLab to ship better, more secure software faster.

The same principles built into our products are reflected in how our team works: we embrace AI as a core productivity multiplier, with all team members expected to incorporate AI into their daily workflows to drive efficiency, innovation, and impact. GitLab is where careers accelerate, innovation flourishes, and every voice is valued. Our high-performance culture is driven by our values and continuous knowledge exchange, enabling our team members to reach their full potential while collaborating with industry leaders to solve complex problems. Co-create the future with us as we build technology that transforms how the world develops software.

*Fortune 500® is a registered trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, used under license. Claim based on GitLab data. Fortune 100 refers to the top 20% ranked companies in the 2025 Fortune 500 list, published in June 2025. Fortune and Fortune Media IP Limited are not affiliated with, and do not endorse products or services of GitLab.

An overview of this role

As Legal Counsel, Commercial, you'll help GitLab move faster by making commercial contracting clear, consistent, and scalable. Reporting to the Director, Legal, Commercial, you'll partner with internal stakeholders and external counterparties to negotiate and review complex agreements, assess legal risk, and translate regional legal requirements into practical templates, policies, and processes. You'll be a trusted advisor to teams across GitLab, helping them reach business goals while protecting GitLab's interests, and you'll contribute to the growth of the commercial legal function through mentorship, playbooks, and training. In your first year, you'll take ownership of strategic contracting workstreams, strengthen how we manage risk in high-priority transactions (including technology and artificial intelligence-related agreements), and improve the systems and documentation that support efficient deal execution.

What You’ll Do  

• Negotiate, draft, and review complex commercial and technology agreements, including partnership, services, consulting, marketing, licensing, data privacy, and artificial intelligence related contracts.
• Independently manage strategic and high-priority matters tied to large-value and material transactions, partnering directly with internal stakeholders and external parties.
• Advise Sales and cross-functional GitLab teams on contract structure, risk allocation, and practical negotiation strategies that support business goals while protecting GitLab's interests.
• Perform risk analysis on contractual documents and recommend mitigation options, including escalation paths and alternative terms.
• Benchmark, develop, and maintain contract templates, playbooks, policies, and supporting documentation, incorporating regional legal requirements and feedback from stakeholders.
• Monitor legal and regulatory changes, assess impact on GitLab's contracting practices, and propose clear, actionable updates to templates and processes.
• Create and deliver training for contract managers and Sales team members to improve contracting consistency and day-to-day decision-making.

What You’ll Bring 

• J.D. from an accredited law school and active bar membership in at least one U.S. state
• 3+ years of experience at a major law firm and/or in-house legal department (focus on commercial and technology transactions preferred).
• Experience negotiating and drafting complex commercial and technology agreements, including software, SaaS, services, consulting, marketing, licensing, partnerships, data privacy, and artificial intelligence-related terms.
• Ability to independently manage high volume, strategic and high-priority matters and drive agreements to closure with internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Knowledge of regional legal requirements and comfort partnering with outside counsel to inform contract terms, templates, and policy enforcement.
• Practical risk-spotting and risk mitigation skills, with the ability to provide clear, business-focused guidance that protects GitLab's interests.
• Experience improving or building templates, playbooks, processes, and documentation to support consistent contracting outcomes across teams.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills, including the ability to influence and serve as a trusted advisor to sales and cross-functional leadership.
• Ability to create and deliver training for sales team members
• Comfort working in a remote, globally distributed environment across time zones, with a willingness to learn GitLab and its products (including using GitLab in your work).

About the team

The Commercial Legal team partners with the Sales organization and other cross-functional stakeholders across GitLab to support how we sell and deliver our products and services. You'll join our globally distributed team that works asynchronously and closely with internal clients, customers, and outside counsel to review, draft, and negotiate complex commercial and technology agreements, improve templates and playbooks, and provide practical guidance that helps teams move quickly while managing risk. Our focus includes scaling consistent contracting processes across regions, keeping pace with evolving legal requirements (including data privacy and artificial intelligence-related terms), and strengthening enablement through clear documentation and training. For more on how we work, see Team Handbook Page.

The base salary range for this role’s listed level is currently for residents of the United States only. This range is intended to reflect the role's base salary rate in locations throughout the US. Grade level and salary ranges are determined through interviews and a review of education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities of the applicant, equity with other team members, alignment with market data, and geographic location. The base salary range does not include any bonuses, equity, or benefits. See more information on our benefits and equity. Sales roles are also eligible for incentive pay targeted at up to 100% of the offered base salary.

United States Salary Range

$100,800—$216,000 USD

How GitLab will support you

• Benefits to support your health, finances, and well-being
• Flexible Paid Time Off 
• Team Member Resource Groups
• Equity Compensation & Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Growth and Development Fund
• Parental leave 
• Home office support

Please note that we welcome interest from candidates with varying levels of experience; many successful candidates do not meet every single requirement. Additionally, studies have shown that people from underrepresented groups are less likely to apply to a job unless they meet every single qualification. If you're excited about this role, please apply and allow our recruiters to assess your application.

Country Hiring Guidelines: GitLab hires new team members in countries around the world. All of our roles are remote, however some roles may carry specific location-based eligibility requirements. Our Talent Acquisition team can help answer any questions about location after starting the recruiting process.  

Privacy Policy: Please review our Recruitment Privacy Policy. Your privacy is important to us.

GitLab is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. GitLab’s policies and practices relating to recruitment, employment, career development and advancement, promotion, and retirement are based solely on merit, regardless of race, color, religion, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, lactation, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression), national origin, age, citizenship, marital status, mental or physical disability, genetic information (including family medical history), discharge status from the military, protected veteran status (which includes disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, active duty wartime or campaign badge veterans, and Armed Forces service medal veterans), or any other basis protected by law. GitLab will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. See also GitLab’s EEO Policy and EEO is the Law. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know during the recruiting process.