General Counsel

Playground Global is seeking a dynamic, business-driven General Counsel to lead all legal aspects of its investment activities, fund management, and risk mitigation. This role is ideal for an experienced legal professional with a strong background in venture capital, corporate development, and transactional structuring who thrives on crafting innovative deal strategies rather than focusing on process and administration. This role requires a strong understanding of corporate and business development dynamics, enabling portfolio companies to structure innovative deals and strategic financial partnerships. You’ll play a pivotal role in shaping Playground Global’s legal and strategic landscape, providing expert guidance that drives high-impact investment decisions and strengthens portfolio companies.

Responsibilities

Strategic Advice

• Serve as a strategic thought partner to the General Partners and investment team, delivering critical insights that shape investment decisions and unlock M&A opportunities across the portfolio.

• Establish yourself as a trusted advisor to Playground Portfolio Companies, offering strategic guidance throughout their growth journeys.

Investment and Transactional Support

• Leverage your legal and financial expertise to advise on innovative deal structures, financing strategies, and investment opportunities that position our portfolio for sustained success.

• Advise our Investment Team on creative deal structures and financing strategies for Portfolio Companies.

• Guide legal due diligence, legal compliance, and strategic decision-making for new investments, M&A deals, and secondary transactions.

• Mitigate legal risks to safeguard long-term portfolio success. 

• Optimize the use of external legal resources to drive efficiency and cost-effectiveness. 

Fund Formation and Management

• Drive regulatory excellence by ensuring full compliance with securities laws, regulations, and internal policies while upholding fiduciary duties and investment policies. 

• Ensure the seamless formation, structuring, and management of funds, working closely with external counsel to support capital raising, regulatory compliance, and strategic fund operations.

• Oversee fund formation and structuring, working closely with external counsel and supporting capital raising and distributions.

• Oversee compliance with Limited Partnership Agreements and Operating Agreements.

Core Legal 

• Oversee all legal operations at Playground Global, managing outside legal partners, leading key negotiations, and mitigating risks to protect and propel both the firm and its portfolio companies forward.

• Lead negotiations on critical key agreements, including NDAs, leases, and other commercial arrangements.

• Develop risk management strategies to protect Playground Global and its portfolio companies while enabling scalability.

Qualifications

• You have 8+ years of relevant experience showcasing expertise. Ideal experience is derived from M&A, Private Equity, corporate development, or venture capital backgrounds.

• You possess strong written and verbal communication. Independent executor who has strong collaboration skills. Solid project management skills among both internal and external constituents. Dream up new creative ways to be a champion for the success of Playground companies.

• Ability to navigate complex deal structures and develop creative financing and investment solutions.

• Proven ability to lead risk mitigation and crisis response situations.

• You have a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited institution. 

The annual base salary range is $450,000 to $500,000. The base salary will depend on numerous factors such as experience, knowledge, and skills. We offer a competitive benefits package and prioritize in-person collaboration. Our team works from our Palo Alto office at least three days a week, and each month, we come together for a full week of focused work at our inspiring Studio office.

We believe great ideas come from diverse perspectives, and we’re committed to building a team that reflects the world we live in. If you’re passionate about our work, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences and encourage individuals of all identities to apply.