Commercial Counsel

Cvent is a leading meetings, events and hospitality technology provider with more than 4,800 employees and nearly 22,000 customers worldwide. Founded in 1999, the company delivers a comprehensive event marketing and management platform for event professionals and offers software solutions to hotels, special event venues and destinations to help them grow their group / MICE and corporate travel business.

The DNA of Cvent is our people, and our culture has an emphasis on fostering intrapreneurship a system that encourages Cventers to think and act like individual entrepreneurs and empowers them to act, embrace risk, and make decisions as if they had founded the company themselves. We foster an environment that promotes agility, which means we don’t have the luxury to wait for perfection. At Cvent, we value the diverse perspectives that each individual brings. Whether working with a team of colleagues or with clients, we ensure that we foster a culture that celebrates differences and builds shared connections.

About the role :

As an In-House Commercial Counsel, you will be responsible for providing comprehensive legal support focusing on commercial transactions, contract management, compliance, and risk mitigation. You will work closely with various departments, including Sales, Marketing, Finance, Product Development, and Customer Success, to ensure that all legal and regulatory requirements are met.

The position reports to the Associate General Counsel in Tysons, Virginia (functional manager) and the Head of Legal based in India (matrix manager). This individual will be expected to bring a high degree of contracts expertise to the position, and to rely on that expertise along with sound judgment and professionalism to operate independently. The role requires a balance of legal and business acumen, including competencies in Software as a Service (SaaS), commercial negotiation, structuring deals and validation of terms against commercial and industry norms and project management that is much more than simply documenting the legal terms of an already agreed upon deal. The successful candidate will be a strong team player, willing to do whatever is needed to advance the success of the legal team and Cvent as a whole.

What you will be doing :

• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating a wide variety of commercial agreements such as SaaS agreements, subscription agreements, vendor agreements, NDAs, partnership agreements, integration agreements, professional services agreements and SOWs and other relevant legal documentation and subsequent amendments.
• Review communications from customers, service providers, third parties and government agencies, and draft responses in consultation with management; draft outgoing legal correspondence relating to enforcement of Cvent contracts, intellectual property and other rights.
• Conduct research on emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, to identify potential legal implications and advise the company on strategic decisions.
• Provide legal support and guidance on contract interpretation, risk assessment, and issue resolution.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support business objectives while ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Advise business on data privacy and security matters, including GDPR, CCPA, and other relevant legislation.
• Monitor and analyze changes in relevant laws and regulations and advise the company on potential impacts.
• Assist in the development and maintenance of corporate policies, procedures, and compliance programs.
• Manage, counsel, educate, motivate, and supervise contract associates and junior counsels.
• Coordinate with external legal counsel as necessary, manage disputes and ongoing litigation cases directly or through external legal counsel. Appear for Cvent in court proceedings on matters pertaining to Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 and other litigation matters.
• Provide training and guidance to internal teams on legal and compliance matters.
• Review RFPs and RFQs, offering appropriate alternatives to contract terms and conditions.
• Routine legal advice to business and operations units.
• Support the global organization’s M&A activity, including due diligence.
• Support the corporate secretarial function, including meeting preparation and corporate governance compliance.
• Perform other projects and duties at the request of the management team.
• Collaborate with HR and other cross functional teams to resolve Cvent’s employee related matters.
• Analyze and streamline existing contract management processes to enhance efficiency and reduce turnaround time. Implement automation tools where applicable to optimize workflow and improve productivity.
• Ensure compliance with Cvent’s code of conduct and foster a culture of ethical decision-making across the organization.
• Advocate for transparent and responsible practices in all business dealings.
• Support the Account Management, Billing, Collections, and Legal personnel as necessary to manage contract renewal process and prepare improvements for same; Track and send contractually required notices / reports, and support collections (e.g., investigate bankruptcy claims, prepare release forms).

What you will need for this role :