In-House Litigation Counsel (Commercial Litigator)

About the role

Autzu is seeking an In‑House Litigation Counsel to lead complex commercial and employment disputes and support high‑stakes negotiations as the company expands its autonomous electric vehicle fleet operations. The role is based in San Francisco and reports to senior leadership.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and manage complex commercial litigation from pre‑dispute strategy through resolution, coordinating with outside counsel as needed.
• Negotiate and draft commercial agreements, including site/utility contracts, equipment finance, vendor partnerships, NDAs, employment agreements, SaaS and regulatory filings.
• Provide legal guidance to the CEO, COO and other C‑suite executives on commercial, regulatory and operational matters related to fleet, utilities and infrastructure.
• Develop internal legal templates, policies and standard operating procedures to streamline dispute resolution and compliance.
• Identify and mitigate legal risks across operations, HR, finance and other departments.
• Support fundraising and investor diligence with legal documentation and risk assessment.

Required profile

• J.D. from an accredited U.S. law school.
• Active California Bar membership; New York Bar admission or willingness to sit for the exam is strongly preferred.
• Minimum three years of experience handling complex commercial litigation at a top law firm or in‑house.
• Proven track record negotiating high‑value, multi‑party agreements.
• Experience with utilities, infrastructure or regulatory matters is a plus.
• Strong advocacy, communication and negotiation abilities.
• Ability to work independently in a fast‑paced, high‑growth startup environment.

Required skills

• Complex commercial litigation management
• Commercial contract drafting and negotiation
• Regulatory compliance for fleet and infrastructure operations