Commercial Counsel, APAC

About Anthropic Anthropic’s mission is to create reliable, interpretable, and steerable AI systems. We want AI to be safe and beneficial for our users and for society as a whole. Our team is a quickly growing group of committed researchers, engineers, policy experts, and business leaders working together to build beneficial AI systems. About the role Anthropic is seeking an exceptional Commercial Counsel to join our growing Commercial Legal team as our founding legal presence in APAC, based in Sydney. You'll serve as a strategic partner to our sales teams, leading complex negotiations and commercial deals that fuel our expansion with companies and organisations across the region, from startups to large enterprises. You'll guide sophisticated technology transactions across diverse industries and client sizes while advising on the legal and regulatory considerations unique to responsible AI deployment throughout APAC. As one of our first commercial legal hires in the region, you'll have the opportunity to shape how Anthropic builds its legal foundation across APAC, designing the processes, playbooks, and frameworks that scale with us. Key responsibilities Serve as a key strategic advisor to sales leadership on complex commercial deals and contractual matters, from small and medium enterprises to large enterprise clients Lead negotiations and close sophisticated agreements with diverse APAC companies and organisations across multiple industries and market segments Navigate APAC regulatory compliance requirements and jurisdiction-specific contracting considerations across multiple markets Design and implement scalable contract frameworks, playbooks, and processes to support our fast-growing APAC sales organisation Identify, analyse, and proactively manage complex legal and regulatory risks while maintaining deal velocity in our rapidly evolving AI landscape Anticipate emerging legal developments affecting AI technologies across APAC jurisdictions and provide strategic guidance to cross-functional leadership Foster relationships with external stakeholders, including clients of all sizes, regulatory bodies, and industry partners across the APAC region Minimum qualifications Admitted to practise as a lawyer in Australia, with a current or obtainable practising certificate Deep expertise in complex technology agreements and regulatory compliance frameworks, including those relevant to the adoption of emerging technologies across APAC markets Strong business judgment and ability to balance legal risk with commercial objectives in fast-moving deal environments Demonstrated ability to navigate novel legal challenges with limited precedent in cutting-edge technology applications Clear, effective communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders across seniority levels and organisational functions A collaborative, solutions-oriented approach to supporting high-velocity sales processes across diverse market segments Strong understanding of AI technology trends and commitment to responsible AI deployment Preferred qualifications At least 10-12 years of experience in relevant legal roles supporting commercial transactions across diverse client segments and industries In-house experience at a technology company with APAC operations Previous exposure to AI, machine learning, or other emerging technologies in commercial or regulatory contexts Experience supporting sales teams across diverse client segments in deal negotiations and client relationship management Multi-jurisdictional experience across APAC markets Comfort operating in fast-paced, ambiguous environments with shifting priorities Logistics Minimum education: Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education, training, and/or experience Required field of study: A field relevant to the role as demonstrated through coursework, training, or professional experience Minimum years of experience: Years of experience required will correlate with the internal job level…