Corporate Counsel

Job Summary

As Veo’s Corporate Counsel, you will play a critical role in protecting and advancing the company’s legal interests, with a primary focus on product liability and personal injury matters. You will draw on your deep legal expertise, collaborative approach, and entrepreneurial mindset to help navigate the complex regulatory and legal landscape of urban mobility. In this fast-paced, high-growth startup environment, you will work closely with internal teams and external counsel to manage risk, resolve disputes, and support innovation. Prior experience in a startup or high-growth environment, along with proven experience in product liability and personal injury defense in California, is essential. This role is a hybrid role and you will be required to go into the office, located inside Santa Monica, CA, 4 days a week.

Responsibilities:

• Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate legal risks with solutions that align with business goals, with a particular emphasis on product liability and personal injury exposure.
• Lead and manage strategy with outside counsel, overseeing all product liability and personal injury defense matters in the U.S.
• Review and evaluate claims throughout pre-litigation and litigation to assess liability and potential damages.
• Develop and implement litigation strategies, including managing discovery and pursuing early settlements where appropriate.
• Set annual defense budgets and establish exposure reserves.
• Track, evaluate, and manage the performance of outside counsel to ensure efficient, cost-effective, and high-quality case handling.
• Represent the company at mediations, court proceedings, and oversee arbitrations and trials as needed.
• Review, revise, and occasionally draft legal motions in collaboration with outside counsel.
• Prepare corporate and expert witnesses for depositions and coordinate internal fact-finding and document collection.
• Conduct legal research and provide practical advice on liability risk mitigation.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with product, operations, and engineering teams to embed legal risk awareness early in the product development lifecycle.
• Carry out other legal duties as assigned in support of the broader legal function.

Requirements:

• Minimum of 5 years of hands-on experience handling litigation involving general and product liability claims, with significant experience in personal injury defense, particularly in California.
• Extensive experience managing cases through all phases, including pleadings, motion practice, discovery, dispute resolution, and arbitration or trial.
• Strong skills in case evaluation, critical thinking, and risk assessment.
• Expertise in negotiation, mediation, discovery, and motion practice.
• Prior in-house experience at a startup or fast-growing company is strongly preferred.
• Enthusiastic, collaborative, and adaptable, with a proven ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated good judgment, ability to work independently under pressure, and strong organizational skills.

Compensation & Benefits:

• Competitive Compensation Package that consists of a base salary range of $145,000 - $180,000 + Annual Performance Bonus + Equity (Stock Options) + Full Range of Benefits. 
• Veo is a total compensation company, and pay is determined by geographic cost of labor and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training - so not all candidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range. 
• Our total compensation package for this role, including bonus potential, ranges from $145,000 - $185,000. 
• Unlimited PTO
• Competitive Benefits Package (Medical, Dental, Vision, Short Term Disability and more!) 
• 401k with 3% match 
• Opportunity to work in a fast-paced technology company