Lead Counsel

Lead Counsel

Summary

Wikimedia envisions a world where the sum total of human knowledge is available to everyone.

The Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit home of Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, and other free educational projects, serves as the hub of a global movement of hundreds of thousands of contributors collaborating to collect and share the sum of all human knowledge with the world.

As Wikimedia pursues our global strategic direction, our Legal department is tasked with solving many legal questions, including some that no one has fully considered before. We are looking for a lawyer skilled with litigation, free expression, and privacy issues to join our in-house legal department as Lead Counselto help advise the Foundation on our growing European Union Legal work. This will include managing various types of formal legal complaints including data requests, defamation complaints, and likely future complaints under the proposed European Digital Services Act. This will also include advising Foundation teams on necessary technology changes to comply with applicable law. Where necessary, it will also include working with local counsel to prepare court filings in multiple jurisdictions. Ideal candidates will have the skills and knowledge to craft holistic and creative legal strategies in a variety of contexts.

Who Should Apply:

At Wikimedia, we serve the world. We believe that there is no way to meaningfully achieve our goal of reaching every single human unless our organization reflects the full breadth of the human experience. To that end, the Wikimedia Foundation recruits candidates from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences, including those from historically marginalized groups — women, people with disabilities, people of color, formerly incarcerated people, people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or gender nonconforming, first and second generation immigrants, and people from low-income families. A diversity of lived experiences is reflective of those who create and use Wikimedia every day.

Essential Functions of Role:

• Assist the Wikimedia Foundation in crafting an effective litigation and compliance strategy encompassing countries outside the United States, especially the European Union.
• Manage a variety of formal and informal legal requests related to content on Wikimedia projects, including new types of requests being considered in proposed laws. This includes but is not limited to:
  • Analyze and respond to Digital Millennium Copyright Act notices
  • Respond to data requests from courts and law enforcement agencies
  • Manage complaints related to defamation, invasion of privacy, right to be forgotten, and related issues
• Advise Foundation product and technology teams legal obligations applicable to their work
• Manage a variety of formal and informal legal requests related to data protection, particularly the General Data Protection Regulation. This especially includes, but is not limited to, responding to inquiries from data protection authorities.
• Provide advice and counsel on the Foundation’s general strategic approach to issues related to data protection, especially in the EU.
• Assist the Foundation in developing a litigation and regulatory advocacy strategy based on planned operations.
• Advise the Foundation on other domestic and international legal and policy questions, which may include contract, copyright, trademark, or privacy matters as needed.
• Liaise with and assist in the management of outside counsel.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills and Experience:

• JD from an accredited law school or equivalent international training and active license to practice law in your jurisdiction.
• Authorization to practice law in the State of California (either as an active member of the California Bar or by qualifying as in-house registered counsel from another jurisdiction).
• Training, knowledge, or experience with technology and media law such as defamation, free expression, and intellectual property.
• Training, knowledge, or experience handling and/or supporting litigation and regulatory matters.
• Training, knowledge, or experience with privacy law, especially technology-related user data topics.
• Ability to excel in a fast-paced, multitasking environment that demands high-quality work on short deadlines.
• Ability to identify and implement practical solutions to abstract or complex problems.
• Ability to adhere to deadlines, and complete work independently.
• Ability to travel, including internationally; and to travel or work on weekends if and when needed, due to conferences, legal needs, etc.
• Ability to communicate and collaborate across cultures and timezones.
• Excellent English writing, speaking, and presentation skills.

Qualities that are important to us:

• Appreciation for and alignment with Wikimedia’s mission.
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills and ability to work well on a team.
• A desire to learn, stretch, and grow.

Additionally, we’d love it if you have:

• Prior experience working in the technology sector.
• Prior experience working with a remote workforce.
• Ability to conduct professional work in languages other than English. French and German are a particular plus.
• Skill with empathetic communication with members of the public.
• Experience with litigation related to user-generated content.
• Experience working internationally, for international clients, or on international law.
• Experience working with subpoenas and/or law enforcement investigations, especially related to technology companies.
• Knowledge of, or experience with, computer code and technologies for website hosting and database management. Familiarity with user data collection and storage technologies is a particular plus.
• Prior experience working with or participating in online communities, especially large volunteer communities.
• Prior experience engaging in writing or public speaking for a non-legal audience.
• Prior work, internship, or volunteer experience in the nonprofit sector.

About the Wikimedia Foundation

The Wikimedia Foundation is the nonprofit organization that operates Wikipedia and the other Wikimedia free knowledge projects. Our vision is a world in which every single human can freely share in the sum of all knowledge. We believe that everyone has the potential to contribute something to our shared knowledge, and that everyone should be able to access that knowledge freely. We host Wikipedia and the Wikimedia projects, build software experiences for reading, contributing, and sharing Wikimedia content, support the volunteer communities and partners who make Wikimedia possible, and advocate for policies that enable Wikimedia and free knowledge to thrive.

The Wikimedia Foundation is a charitable, not-for-profit organization that relies on donations. We receive donations from millions of individuals around the world, with an average donation of about $15. We also receive donations through institutional grants and gifts. The Wikimedia Foundation is a United States 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization with offices in San Francisco, California, USA.

As an equal opportunity employer, the Wikimedia Foundation values having a diverse workforce and continuously strives to maintain an inclusive and equitable workplace. We encourage people with a diverse range of backgrounds to apply. We do not discriminate against any person based upon their race, traits historically associated with race, religion, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy or related medical conditions, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, or any other legally protected characteristics.

If you are a qualified applicant requiring assistance or an accommodation to complete any step of the application process due to a disability, you may contact us at recruiting@wikimedia.org or (415) 839-6885.

U.S. Benefits & Perks*

• Health Care Benefits Covered at 100%:We cover 100% of premiums for medical, dental and vision plans for all full time employees and eligible dependents
• Wellness Reimbursement Program: Up to 1,800.00 USD per year for reimbursement for staff wellness expenses, such as gym fees, educational expenses, and more
• Technology and Equipment Stipend: In addition to receiving a brand new laptop, monitor, & docking station, all new hires receive 600.00 USD stipend to set up their space for working virtually
• Professional Development Program: Up to 750.00 USD reimbursement per year to encourage continuous learning through attending conferences, courses, workshops and the purchase of educational materials
• 401(k) Retirement Plan: Employer match of up to 4% of employee contributions dollar for dollar with no vesting period
• Paid Time Off:Generous paid time off policy of over 45 days, which includes: vacation days, at least one observed holiday a month, sick leave, and volunteer days
• Flexible Schedules: Options available to balance your personal and remote-work life
• Silent Fridays: No scheduled meetings so you can get caught up at the end of each week
• New Parent Leave:Fully paid new parent leave for seven weeks plus an additional five weeks for pregnancy, and flexible options as you embark on your return to work
• Fertility and Adoption Reimbursement Plan: Reimburses staff up to 5,000.00 USD in expenses per year, with a lifetime maximum of 10,000.00 USD
• Assistance for those unexpected life events:Long and short term disability, life insurance, and an employee assistance program
• Pre-tax Savings Plans: Generously funded health savings accounts (HSAs), pre-tax contribution options for health care, child care & elder care, public transportation and parking expenses

• Please note that for remote roles located outside of the U.S., we defer to our PEO to ensure alignment with local labor laws.

More information

Wikimedia Foundation
Applicant Privacy Policy
News from across the Wikimedia movement
Wikimedia 2030
Our Commitment to Equity
This is Wikimedia Foundation
Facts Matter
Our Projects
Our Tech Stack