Senior Corporate Counsel, Commercial

As the Senior Corporate Counsel, Commercial at Okta, you’ll primarily be responsible for advising and supporting our sales and professional services organizations. You'll draft and negotiate outbound SaaS master subscription agreements and ancillary commercial documents with large enterprise customers across regulated industries. Your role will also involve providing day-to-day legal support to our internal teams, ensuring that negotiated agreements align with Okta's policies while helping to navigate complex legal issues.

To qualify for the Senior Corporate Counsel, Commercial role at Okta, candidates should have at least 7 years of relevant transactional legal experience, particularly with negotiating and drafting enterprise-level technology agreements including SaaS and cloud services agreements. Additionally, a minimum of 4 years of in-house experience with a technology vendor is needed. A robust understanding of commercial legal support in highly-regulated industries is crucial, as is a strong academic background with a J.D. from a highly-regarded school.

The Senior Corporate Counsel, Commercial plays a vital role in Okta’s sales processes by providing essential legal guidance during negotiations with enterprise customers. By drafting and negotiating key legal documents and advising internal stakeholders, you empower the sales team to meet revenue goals while mitigating legal risks. Building critical relationships and providing practical legal advice ensures that Okta remains competitive and compliant in the industry.

Senior Corporate Counsel, Commercial at Okta typically engage with various sectors, focusing on highly-regulated industries like banking, finance, and healthcare. The role involves significant interaction with enterprise customers in these fields, requiring an understanding of the legal nuances and compliance standards that govern these sectors. This experience is both challenging and rewarding as you help navigate complex transactions and support the growth of organizations relying on Okta's identity solutions.

At Okta, the Senior Corporate Counsel, Commercial role offers significant opportunities for career growth. You’ll work on complex, high-impact legal matters alongside senior leadership, contributing to the strategic direction of the company. Moreover, Okta fosters an environment of learning and innovation, encouraging legal professionals to expand their expertise in commercial transactions, corporate governance, and industry compliance, paving the way for future leadership roles.

In answering this question, focus on specific examples of SaaS agreements you’ve negotiated, including the complexities involved and how you ensured favorable terms for your organization. Highlight any challenges you faced, particularly when dealing with large enterprise clients, and explain how you navigated those during negotiations.

Explain your strategies for keeping informed about relevant legal trends and changes in regulations impacting technology agreements. Mention subscriptions to legal publications, participation in webinars, and involvement in professional networks or organizations dedicated to IT law.

Provide a specific example of a complex deal, outlining the stakeholders involved and the obstacles you encountered. Discuss your approach to find solutions, emphasizing communication, negotiation skills, and your ability to maintain organizational objectives.

Discuss the importance of legal risk assessment in contract negotiations and decision-making. Explain how you identify, evaluate and communicate risks to internal stakeholders to ensure informed decision-making that aligns with both legal requirements and business objectives.

Detail your organizational strategies for managing competing deadlines, such as using project management tools, maintaining clear communication with team members, and setting realistic timelines. Emphasize your ability to adapt in a fast-paced environment.

Effective collaboration with sales teams is key for the Senior Corporate Counsel role. Discuss your communication style, how you establish trust, and specifically how you actively engage to understand their challenges and provide practical legal support that aligns with sales objectives.

In responding, share examples of previous initiatives you’ve undertaken to streamline legal processes or enhance template usability. Highlight any specific metrics that demonstrate success, illustrating your proactive approach to continuous improvement in legal practices.

Explain your understanding of the urgency within sales environments and how you balance thorough legal analysis with rapid delivery of legal counsel. Include methods you use to provide concise, actionable advice while ensuring compliance.

Discuss your insights into the specific legal and compliance considerations that are vital when working with clients in regulated industries. Emphasize how you adapt your negotiation strategies to address their unique requirements while still achieving contractual goals.

This is your chance to showcase your understanding of Okta’s mission and how your values align with theirs. Express your enthusiasm for the identity space and your passion for being part of a company that values diversity, learning, and collaboration.