Canonical: General Counsel (remote) — Home based - EMEA

About Canonical

Canonical develops open-source software and operating systems for enterprise and technology users. Its Ubuntu platform is used in cloud computing, data science, artificial intelligence, engineering and connected-device environments. The employer describes a distributed working model with periodic in-person team meetings. Its vacancies therefore span both software delivery and the business functions that support it. Applicants should check the location, time-zone and travel conditions attached to the individual role rather than assume every position is available from any country.

The position and its setting

Canonical lists General Counsel (remote) in Home based - EMEA, under reference 8249298. The details below separate the work described by the employer from essential conditions, preferred experience and practical preparation advice.

• Department: Operations
• Employer listing date: 2 October 2026

Subjects named in the job description

The posting mentions the following work areas. These references are not a separate list of compulsory certifications.

• AI
• compliance
• commercial negotiations
• partnership development

Essential requirements and candidate background

• An academic track record from both high school and university
• A degree in law, or equivalent, and an active licence to practice in an EMEA or Americas jurisdiction
• Substantial senior in-house experience in a global technology or software business
• Experience leading a distributed legal team, including managing managers across regions and time zones
• A track record of setting and holding a high performance bar: hiring well, developing people, and dealing with under performance directly rather than waiting it out
• Experience building or restructuring an in-house legal function, including deciding what is retained, delegated and sent to external counsel
• Technology related experience of:
• Negotiating and owning commercial technology contracts, including enterprise software and subscriptions, channel and reseller agreements, hardware manufacturer agreements, cloud and services
• Advising on open source licensing, including permissive and copyleft licences, and familiarity with how open source communities operate
• Experience of, or demonstrable readiness for, public company governance: listing preparation, board and committee support, disclosure and controls
• Depth in at least two of: data protection and privacy, IP and trademark, export controls and trade, competition, or disputes
• Confidence to respectfully speak up, exchange feedback, hold colleagues accountable, and share ideas without hesitation
• Professional written and spoken English with drafting and presentation skills
• Interpersonal skills, curiosity, flexibility, and accountability
• International travel two to four times a year for company events up to two weeks long

Preferred experience and additional strengths

• Experience taking a company through an IPO, or practicing as counsel inside a listed company
• A technical or engineering background, or fluency in how software is built and shipped
• Experience: a subscription or recurring-revenue business model
• Experience building or restructuring an in-house legal function
• A qualification in more than one jurisdiction

Location, schedule and contract conditions

For this overseas or regional listing, confirm work authorisation and any location restrictions with the employer. The location does not establish visa sponsorship or permission to work remotely from India.

• Advertised location: Home based - EMEA

Benefits mentioned by the employer

• We consider geographical location, experience, and performance in shaping compensation worldwide
• We revisit compensation annually (and more often for graduates and associates) to ensure we recognize performance
• In addition to base pay, we offer a performance-driven annual bonus or commission
• We provide all team members with additional benefits which reflect our values and ideals
• We balance our programs to meet local needs and ensure fairness globally
• Distributed work environment with twice-yearly team sprints in person
• Personal learning and development budget of USD 2,000 per year
• Bi-annual compensation review
• Company recognition rewards
• 40 days annual leave per annum, including public holidays and our All Company holiday periods
• Maternity and paternity leave
• Team Member Assistance Program & Wellness Platform

Pay and application dates

A verified salary figure is not established in this article. An online estimate for another General Counsel (remote) vacancy is not an offer for reference 8249298; use the employer’s own pay disclosure and recruitment communication.

A closing date is not confirmed in this article. Check the current employer page before submitting: an undated posting can change or be withdrawn.

How to apply to Canonical

Applications follow the official employer page linked below.

Open the official Canonical posting below and match the title and reference 8249298.

Compare your qualifications and experience with the essential conditions for the Home based - EMEA position, then read the preferred criteria separately.

Prepare an accurate CV and the supporting items requested in that employer’s application. Provide only information and documents you are authorised to share.

Use the employer’s application option, complete the required fields and review the submission. Retain the acknowledgement when one is provided. Job Alerts World does not receive the application.

Practical preparation: AI

An AI-related example should make the task and evaluation explicit. Explain the inputs, the system’s intended output and how you checked errors, usefulness or reliability, rather than relying on the model name alone.

Relevant skills

• AI
• compliance
• commercial negotiations
• partnership development