Director of Legal

About FirstPrinciples:
FirstPrinciples is a non-profit organization building an autonomous AI Physicist to understand the nature of reality: the underlying structure, governing principles, and fundamental laws of our universe. We're developing an intelligent system that can explore theoretical frameworks, reason across disciplines, and generate novel insights to tackle the deepest unsolved problems in physics. By combining AI, symbolic reasoning, and autonomous research capabilities, we're developing a platform that goes beyond analyzing existing knowledge to actively contribute to physics research. Our goal is to accelerate progress on the questions that have captivated humanity for centuries.

We operate as a nonprofit with a growing global footprint, currently comprising a Canadian foundation and a US-based 501(c)(3).

Job Description:

We are hiring our first in-house legal counsel to build the legal function at FirstPrinciples.

This role will be based in Canada and will serve as the primary legal partner for the entire organization globally. You will support our Canadian foundation, our US 501(c)(3), and future international entities, working across borders, legal systems, and institutional norms.

You will work closely with the executive leadership team and will be involved early in shaping how the organization is structured & operates. This is not a downstream review role. It is a high-trust position for someone who can combine strong legal fundamentals with sound business judgment in novel situations.

The ideal candidate is comfortable operating as a team of one, enjoys building legal structures and frameworks from scratch, and is excited by the challenge of supporting a fast-moving research organization working at the frontier of AI and fundamental science.

Key Responsibilities:

AI Governance & Intellectual Property:

• Develop and oversee AI governance frameworks, including responsible AI policies, model documentation standards, and regulatory compliance across jurisdictions.
• Advise on intellectual property strategy, including patent evaluation, trade secrets, open-source licensing, and ownership of AI-generated research outputs.
• Maintain and regularly update the organization's website privacy policy and terms of use to reflect evolving legal requirements, product changes, and best practices.
• Ensure compliance with emerging AI and data regulations globally.

Corporate, Governance & Cross-Border Support:

• Support corporate governance for Canadian, US, and future international entities, including board matters, resolutions, and regulatory obligations.
• Coordinate with the Director of Finance on key regulatory filings including Form 990 (IRS), T3010 (CRA), and other global compliance filings.
• Coordinate with external counsel in the US and other jurisdictions as needed, while retaining ownership of legal strategy and decisions.
• Draft and negotiate vendor agreements, NDAs, and other commercial contracts used across the organization.
• Provide guidance on export controls, sanctions compliance, and cross-border data and AI model transfers.

Global Data Acquisition & Licensing:

• Structure, draft, and negotiate data acquisition, licensing, and usage agreements with academic institutions, research consortia, publishers, and other data providers across multiple jurisdictions.
• Advise on data rights, permitted uses, restrictions, and risk exposure in the context of AI-driven research and model development.
• Work closely with technical and research teams to translate technical needs into clear, enforceable contracts.

Partnerships & Research Collaborations:

• Lead legal structuring and negotiation of collaboration agreements with universities, research institutes, nonprofits, and other partners globally.
• Draft and negotiate MOUs, research collaboration agreements, joint research agreements, and related frameworks.
• Ensure agreements align with FirstPrinciples’ mission, nonprofit obligations, and long-term research goals across jurisdictions.

Talent Programs & Academic Engagement:

• Develop and manage legal frameworks for fellowships, internships, co-op programs, visiting researcher arrangements, and academic secondments across Canada, the US, and other regions.
• Draft and review offer letters, program agreements, and related documentation in coordination with the Director of Talent and Director of Finance.
• Advise on IP ownership, publication rights, confidentiality, and conflicts of interest related to research talent.

Fundraising & Nonprofit Compliance: 

• Advise on cross-border charitable solicitation, donor restrictions, grant agreements, and nonprofit regulatory requirements.
• Support board governance, conflict of interest policies, and compliance with private benefit rules.

Risk, Compliance & Strategic Advice: 

• Identify legal and regulatory risks early and provide clear, practical guidance to leadership.
• Help design legal processes that scale as the organization grows internationally without slowing execution.
• Act as a thought partner on new legal questions at the intersection of AI, data, nonprofit law, and global research collaboration.

Additional Duties: 

• Participate in internal committees and projects.
• Perform other administrative tasks as needed.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (JD) or equivalent, with active bar membership in a Canadian jurisdiction.
• 8+ years of relevant legal experience, ideally combining law firm training with in-house experience.
• Strong experience in commercial contracts, data licensing, or technology-related agreements.
• Demonstrated experience advising on emerging AI regulatory frameworks.
• Experience advising on Canadian and U.S. employment law basics.
• Experience working with nonprofits, technology companies, research institutions, universities, or international organizations is a strong plus.
• Comfort supporting cross-border operations and coordinating with foreign counsel when needed.
• Ability to operate independently, set priorities, and make judgment calls in ambiguous situations.
• Experience building a legal function from scratch or as first/early in-house counsel.
• Clear and direct communication style with non-lawyers, including researchers, engineers, and operators.
• Interest in or curiosity about physics, AI, or fundamental scientific research.
  

Application Process:

• Interested candidates are invited to submit their resume, a cover letter detailing their qualifications and vision for the role, and references. Please include "Director of Legal" in the cover letter.

Join us at FirstPrinciples and be a part of a transformative journey where science drives progress and unlocks the potential of humanity.