About the role

About The Meridiem

The Meridiem is a fast-growing tech journalism platform delivering essential coverage of AI, startups, venture capital, cybersecurity, and enterprise technology. We provide morning briefings and evening analysis to a rapidly expanding subscriber base of tech professionals, founders, and investors. Backed by Series A funding, we are scaling our team to match our ambition of becoming the go-to source for technology news and insight.

Role Overview

We are hiring our first in-house Legal Counsel to advise on the full range of legal matters facing a scaling tech media company. From media law and content compliance to privacy regulations and employment law, you will be the legal backbone of the organization. This role requires a generalist with strong judgment who can navigate the unique legal landscape of digital journalism while supporting the business operations of a fast-growing startup.

Key Responsibilities

• Advise the editorial team on media law matters including defamation risk, fair use, reporter privilege, source protection, and pre-publication review.
• Ensure compliance with data privacy regulations (GDPR, CCPA, and emerging frameworks) across subscriber data collection, processing, and storage.
• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreements including advertising contracts, sponsorship deals, content licensing, partnership agreements, and vendor contracts.
• Manage intellectual property matters including trademark protection, copyright enforcement, and content licensing.
• Advise on advertising and sponsored content regulations, ensuring clear disclosure and FTC compliance.
• Support employment law compliance across multiple jurisdictions for a globally distributed remote workforce.
• Draft and maintain company policies including terms of service, privacy policy, cookie policy, and acceptable use policies.
• Advise leadership on corporate governance, equity structures, and board-related matters.
• Support fundraising processes with legal review of term sheets, investment agreements, and due diligence responses.
• Manage relationships with outside counsel for specialized matters (litigation, international law, tax).
• Develop internal legal processes and templates that enable teams to move fast with appropriate guardrails.
• Stay current on regulatory developments affecting digital media, AI-generated content, and technology journalism.

Requirements

• JD from an accredited law school and active bar membership in at least one US jurisdiction.
• 5+ years of legal experience, with meaningful exposure to media law, intellectual property, or technology law.
• Strong understanding of First Amendment principles, defamation law, and press freedoms.
• Experience with data privacy regulations (GDPR, CCPA) and their practical implementation.
• Comfort with contract drafting and negotiation across a range of commercial agreements.
• Familiarity with employment law fundamentals, particularly for remote and distributed workforces.
• Ability to provide clear, practical legal advice that balances risk management with business velocity.
• Strong written communication skills with the ability to make legal concepts accessible to non-lawyers.
• Entrepreneurial mindset suited to a fast-paced startup where you will be the sole legal resource.

Nice-to-Have

• Experience as in-house counsel at a media, publishing, or technology company.
• Background in advertising law and FTC compliance for digital media.
• Experience with international media law and content regulations.
• Knowledge of AI-related legal issues including AI-generated content, deepfakes, and automated systems regulation.
• Experience supporting venture capital fundraising or M&A transactions.
• Familiarity with open source licensing and software IP matters.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary with meaningful equity in a Series A startup.
• Fully remote work with flexible hours.
• Health, dental, and vision benefits.
• Generous PTO and company-wide recharge days.
• Annual CLE and professional development budget.
• The opportunity to build the legal function from the ground up at a high-growth media company.
• Direct partnership with the CEO and editorial leadership on high-stakes decisions.

How to Apply

Send your resume and a brief cover letter to support@themeridiem.com with the subject line "Legal Counsel Application." In your cover letter, describe your experience at the intersection of media law and technology, and a legal challenge you navigated in a media or publishing context. We review applications on a rolling basis and aim to respond within one week.