Senior Legal Counsel - Japan and APAC

Meet DeepL

DeepL is a global AI product and research company focused on building secure, intelligent solutions to complex business problems. Over 200,000 business customers and millions of individuals across 228 global markets today trust DeepL's Language AI platform for human-like translation, improved writing and real-time voice translation.
Founded in 2017 by CEO Jaroslaw “Jarek” Kutylowski, DeepL now has over 1,000 passionate employees and is supported by world-renowned investors including Benchmark, IVP, and Index Ventures.

Our goal is to become the global leader in trusted, intelligent AI technology, building products that drive better communication, foster connections, and create a meaningful impact. To achieve this, we need talented people like you to join our journey. If you’re ready to shape the future of AI and grow your career in a fast-moving, purpose-driven environment, DeepL is your next destination.

What sets us apart

What sets us apart is our blend of cutting-edge AI technology, meaningful work, and a culture where people truly thrive. We’re a team of innovators, researchers, and creators driven by a shared purpose to unlock human potential by making work simpler, smarter, and more connected.

When we share what it’s like to work at DeepL, the reactions are overwhelmingly positive. This might be because of our technology that helps millions of people and businesses communicate and work better every day, or because of the trust, curiosity, and care that shape our culture.

What we know for sure is this: being part of DeepL means joining a team dedicated to innovation, growth, and well-being. Discover more about life at DeepL onLinkedIn,Instagram, and our Blog.

Meet the team behind this journey

DeepL's Legal team is looking for a Senior Legal Counsel to join our Go-to-Market (GTM) Legal function within our growing Legal department. In this role, you will work closely with the GTM Legal team, the broader GTM organization, and key stakeholders across the APJ region to provide practical, hands-on legal support for our commercial operations.

This is a unique opportunity to be DeepL's dedicated legal presence in Japan — helping shape how we do business across one of our most important and fastest-growing markets.

Your responsibilities

• Review and negotiate a variety of complex commercial agreements, including SaaS, MSA, DPAs with B2B customers.

• Provide the GTM team with advice on a wide variety of commercial legal matters.

• Support the improvement of internal processes within the GTM organisation.
  Support the development of and maintain the templates of the GTM Legal team.

• Draft and conduct training and self-help materials and guidelines for both the GTM and the GtM Legal team as well as other key stakeholders in the organization nationwide.

• Provide administrative support for legal documentation across the entire APJ operations.

Qualities we look for

• Required Qualifications:

  • At least 3 years of in-house commercial legal experience, ideally within a technology or software company.

  • Demonstrated ability to independently review, mark up, and negotiate B2B commercial contracts.

  • Strong Japanese language skills — this role requires direct engagement with Japanese clients, partners, and internal stakeholders.

  • Solid English proficiency for working with global templates, internal resources, and the broader legal team.

  • Excellent communication skills with a commercial mindset — comfortable working directly with sales and GTM teams.

  • Ability to work independently, adapt quickly to shifting priorities, and manage multiple matters simultaneously.

• Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience with technology or software contracts (SaaS, licensing, API agreements).

  • Familiarity with data protection frameworks and privacy regulations relevant to APJ markets.

  • Experience in a fast-growing, international company environment.

What we offer

• Diverse and internationally distributed team: joining our team means becoming part of a large, global community with people of more than 90 nationalities. We're more than just colleagues; we're a group of professionals with a shared mission to connect diverse cultures. Our global presence is growing–we've doubled in size nearly every year, with our employees based in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, the US, and Japan, and we continue to expand our network.

• Open communication, regular feedback: as a language-focused company, we value the importance of clear, honest communication. We value smooth collaboration, direct and actionable feedback, and believe that leading with empathy and growth mindset makes us better together.

• Hybrid work, flexible hours: we offer a hybrid work schedule, with team members coming into the office twice a week. This allows you to engage directly with your team and experience the unique energy of our workspace, while still enjoying the flexibility and comfort of working from home. With flexible working hours and trust in your productivity, we are in sync with your team’s general locations and time zones to foster effective and seamless collaboration.

• Regular in-person team events: we bond over vibrant events that are as unique as our team, from local team and business unit gatherings, to new-joiner onboarding, to company-wide events that bring us all together–literally.

• Monthly full-day hacking sessions: every month, we have Hack Fridays, where you can spend your time diving into a project you're passionate about and get the opportunity to work with other teams–we value your initiatives, impact, and creativity.

• 20 days of annual leave: we value your peace of mind. With 20 days off (excluding public holidays) and access to mental health resources, we make sure you're as strong mentally as you are professionally.

• Competitive benefits: just as our team spans the globe, so does our benefits package. We've crafted it to reflect the diversity of our team and tailored it to align with your unique location, to ensure you feel supported every step of the way.

• Virtual Shares: An ownership mindset in every role. We believe everyone should share in our success, and that’s why every employee receives Virtual Shares, linking your contribution directly to DeepL’s growth and rewarding you with a stake in our future.

We are an equal opportunity employer

You are welcome at DeepL for who you are - we appreciate authenticity here. Our product is for everyone, and so is our workplace. The more voices we have represented and amplified in our business, the more we will all succeed, contribute, and think forward! So bring us your personal experience, your perspectives, and your background. It’s in our diversity that we will find the power to break down language barriers in the world.