Legal Counsel

About Ritual Ritual is building a sovereign, execution layer for AI, with our private testnet already live and running. The Ritual chain is the first blockchain custom-built to support AI-native operations, designed from the ground up to enable a new class of applications at the intersection of crypto and AI. Our first product, Infernet, is pioneering new ground as the first solution to enable developers to access AI models both on-chain via smart contracts and off-chain, demonstrating our commitment to bridging these transformative technologies. About the role As the first in-house legal hire, you will be responsible for setting up and managing all aspects of the legal framework for the company. This is a hands-on role requiring a proactive problem-solver with a deep understanding of corporate, employment, and regulatory legal matters, especially in Web3 and AI. You will provide strategic legal advice to the executive team while ensuring compliance and mitigating risks as the company scales. • Legal Strategy and Operations: Build the legal function from the ground up, including creating policies, processes, and templates to support the company’s growth. Serve as a trusted advisor to the executive team and board on legal, regulatory, and business matters • Corporate Governance: Oversee corporate governance, ensuring compliance with all relevant regulations and best practices. Draft and manage board resolutions, minutes, and shareholder agreements • Contract Management: Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of agreements, including commercial, vendor, partnership, and employment contracts. Establish a contract management system to streamline workflows and improve efficiency • Compliance: Develop and maintain compliance programs, particularly in areas related to GDPR, AML, OFAC, etc. Ensure adherence to data privacy, employment law, and intellectual property laws • Regulatory Matters: Stay updated on regulatory developments that impact the company, particularly within blockchain/AI. Partner with cross-functional teams to address compliance risks proactively • Risk Mitigation: Identify potential legal and regulatory risks and recommend risk mitigation strategies. Handle disputes, litigation, and external counsel engagement as needed • Equity and Fundraising: Support fundraising activities by providing legal guidance on term sheets, stock issuance, and investor agreements. Oversee equity administration in partnership with internal teams About you • J.D. from an accredited law school and active membership in at least one U.S. state bar • 3+ years of relevant legal experience, including time at a top-tier law firm and/or as in-house counsel • Experience working with early-stage or high-growth companies, particularly in web3/AI • Strong expertise in corporate governance, contract law, regulatory compliance, and risk management • Familiarity working with web3 teams • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills • Ability to work independently and proactively in a fast-paced environment • Strong business acumen with the ability to balance legal and business priorities Why join us • Join a passionate group of engineers, researchers, and operators on a mission to build the next generation of AI infrastructure • Highly competitive compensation package, including annual discretionary bonus & optimized tax structure compared to the vast majority of web3 startups • Top 1% of benefits across the web3 startup space • 100% of premiums covered on highest quality healthcare • Aggressive company 401k match • Fully remote and/or hybrid, up to you! • Participate in virtual and in-person events • Much much more!