Senior Commercial Legal Counsel, APAC

GitLab is the intelligent orchestration platform for DevSecOps. GitLab enables organizations to increase developer productivity, improve operational efficiency, reduce security and compliance risk, and accelerate digital transformation. More than 50 million registered users and more than 50% of the Fortune 100* trust GitLab to ship better, more secure software faster. The same principles built into our products are reflected in how our team works: we embrace AI as a core productivity multiplier, with all team members expected to incorporate AI into their daily workflows to drive efficiency, innovation, and impact. GitLab is where careers accelerate, innovation flourishes, and every voice is valued. Our high-performance culture is driven by our values and continuous knowledge exchange, enabling our team members to reach their full potential while collaborating with industry leaders to solve complex problems. Co-create the future with us as we build technology that transforms how the world develops software. * Fortune 500® is a registered trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, used under license. Claim based on GitLab data. Fortune 100 refers to the top 20% ranked companies in the 2025 Fortune 500 list, published in June 2025. Fortune and Fortune Media IP Limited are not affiliated with, and do not endorse products or services of GitLab. An overview of this role As Senior Commercial Counsel in APJ, you’ll help GitLab grow across Asia-Pacific and Japan by bringing legal clarity to complex commercial deals. Reporting to the Director, Legal, Commercial, you’ll work closely with regional Sales and cross-functional partners to negotiate sophisticated agreements, manage cross-border legal questions, and turn varied local requirements into practical deal strategies. This is a high-impact role for someone who wants to shape how GitLab transacts across a diverse region while protecting the business and helping teams move with confidence. In your first year, you’ll take ownership of key APJ contracting workstreams, strengthen how we handle region-specific legal risk, and improve the templates and processes that support consistent deal execution across APJ. You’ll also help guide work involving data privacy and AI-related terms across multiple jurisdictions, including Japan. What you’ll do Negotiate complex commercial and technology agreements across APJ markets, including SaaS, software, partnership, services, consulting, marketing, licensing, data privacy, and AI-related contracts. Manage strategic and high-priority transactions across multiple jurisdictions, balancing legal risk with business needs. Partner with regional Sales leadership, internal stakeholders, and external counterparties to move deals forward with clear legal guidance. Navigate country-specific contracting norms, approval paths, and drafting requirements across APJ markets, including Japan. Advise on cross-border transaction structures and coordinate with outside counsel when local legal support is needed. Assess contractual risk and provide practical recommendations, including escalation paths and alternative terms. Develop and maintain APJ-focused templates, playbooks, policies, and supporting documentation to improve consistency in contracting. Train contract managers and regional Sales team members on contracting practices, legal developments, and day-to-day decision-making across the region. What you’ll bring Qualified to practice law through a J.D. or equivalent legal credential, with active bar membership or a license in a relevant jurisdiction. Experienced in commercial and technology transactions across APJ markets within a law firm, in-house legal team, or both. Skilled at negotiating complex agreements across multiple APJ jurisdictions, with familiarity with Japan contracting practices. Comfortable handling cross-border transactions that involve different legal systems and coordination with outside counsel. Able to identify legal risk, explain tradeoffs clearly, and provide business-focused guidance in varied regulatory environments. Experienced in improving or creating contract templates, playbooks, and processes that support consistent execution across teams and markets. Effective at building trusted relationships with Sales and cross-functional partners in a remote, globally distributed environment. Open to bringing transferable experience and language skills relevant to APJ markets; working proficiency in an APJ language such as Japanese is hel