Job description

Director of Legal & Compliance Company: Synquery Location: Nashville, TN (on-site) Reports To: Chief Executive Officer Employment Type: Full-Time ABOUT SYNQUERY Synquery is an early-stage expert network company using AI to transform how businesses access expertise at scale. We are a fast-growing, entrepreneurial company building a next generation expert network. We're looking for a hands-on legal leader who wants to help shape not just our compliance posture, but how the company operates and grows. THE OPPORTUNITY Synquery is seeking a Director of Legal & Compliance to build and lead the company's legal and compliance function. This is a rare opportunity for an entrepreneurial-minded lawyer to join a company at a formative stage, working directly with the CEO to establish the frameworks, policies, and agreements that will govern how Synquery operates as it scales. You will wear multiple hats — advisor, negotiator, program-builder, and strategic partner to leadership — in an environment where your decisions will have immediate impact. WHAT YOU'LL DO • Lead compliance strategy: Design, implement, and manage comprehensive compliance programs covering Synquery's internal personnel as well as the network of experts who engage with the platform. • Build the compliance infrastructure: Establish policies, training, and monitoring processes to ensure adherence to relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards (e.g., expert network compliance norms, confidentiality and information barriers, data privacy). • Negotiate key agreements: Draft, review, and negotiate client agreements, partner agreements, expert agreements, vendor contracts, and other core business documents. • Manage legal risk: Identify, assess, and mitigate legal and regulatory risks across the business, including those specific to AI-enabled products and services. • Advise leadership: Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and broader leadership team on legal, regulatory, and compliance matters affecting business strategy and operations. • Shape company policy: Help define internal governance practices, employment policies, and operational procedures as the company scales. • Manage outside counsel: Engage and coordinate with external law firms on specialized matters as needed, while keeping day-to-day legal work in-house. • Support corporate matters: Assist with corporate governance, entity management, and other general corporate legal needs as they arise. WHAT YOU'LL BRING • J.D.: from an accredited law school; active bar membership in good standing. • 3+ years: of experience as a corporate lawyer or in-house counsel, ideally with exposure to contract negotiation and compliance programs. • Strong drafting and negotiation skills across commercial agreements (client, partner, and vendor contracts). • Familiarity with compliance frameworks relevant to regulated information services, data privacy, or expert networks (preferred, not required). • A builder's mindset — comfortable creating structure and process. • Sound judgment and the ability to balance legal risk with business pragmatism in a fast-moving environment. • Excellent communication skills and the confidence to advise senior leadership directly. • Self-starter energy: this role has significant autonomy and will require someone who is comfortable defining their own scope as the company's needs evolve. WHY JOIN SYNQUERY • Direct line to the CEO and a real seat at the table in shaping company strategy. • The chance to build a legal and compliance function. • Competitive salary, meaningful equity, and growth potential at an early-stage company positioned in a large and expanding market. • A collaborative, fast-paced culture where impact is immediate and visible. Note: This role can be flexible between part-time and full-time, structured around the scope of responsibilities the candidate takes on. Synquery is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Requirements

Must-haves

Director of Legal & Compliance
Company: Synquery
Location: Nashville, TN (on-site)
Reports To: Chief Executive Officer
Employment Type: Full-Time
Lead compliance strategy: Design, implement, and manage comprehensive compliance programs covering Synquery's internal personnel as well as the network of experts who engage with the platform.
Negotiate key agreements: Draft, review, and negotiate client agreements, partner agreements, expert agreements, vendor contracts, and other core business documents.
Manage legal risk: Identify, assess, and mitigate legal and regulatory risks across the business, including those specific to AI-enabled products and services.
Advise leadership: Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and broader leadership team on legal, regulatory, and compliance matters affecting business strategy and operations.
Shape company policy: Help define internal governance practices, employment policies, and operational procedures as the company scales.
Manage outside counsel: Engage and coordinate with external law firms on specialized matters as needed, while keeping day-to-day legal work in-house.
Support corporate matters: Assist with corporate governance, entity management, and other general corporate legal needs as they arise.
J.D.: from an accredited law school; active bar membership in good standing.
3+ years: of experience as a corporate lawyer or in-house counsel, ideally with exposure to contract negotiation and compliance programs.
Strong drafting and negotiation skills across commercial agreements (client, partner, and vendor contracts).
A builder's mindset — comfortable creating structure and process.
Sound judgment and the ability to balance legal risk with business pragmatism in a fast-moving environment.
Excellent communication skills and the confidence to advise senior leadership directly.
Self-starter energy: this role has significant autonomy and will require someone who is comfortable defining their own scope as the company's needs evolve.
Direct line to the CEO and a real seat at the table in shaping company strategy.
The chance to build a legal and compliance function.
Competitive salary, meaningful equity, and growth potential at an early-stage company positioned in a large and expanding market.
A collaborative, fast-paced culture where impact is immediate and visible.

Nice-to-haves

Familiarity with compliance frameworks relevant to regulated information services, data privacy, or expert networks (preferred, not required).

Application prep

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