Legal Counsel (all genders)

Overview

Impossible Founders is pioneering one of Europe's most ambitious DeepTech venture platforms, focusing on launching new ventures, forging partnerships, and managing public funding. Facing complex legal, regulatory, tax, and organizational challenges, the company is seeking its inaugural in-house legal counsel to shape its legal framework.

Key Responsibilities

• Create and implement corporate structures for new ventures and investments.
• Provide advice on corporate law such as company formation, governance, shareholder arrangements, financing rounds, and strategic deals.
• Manage funding-related and regulatory issues connected to public grants, research collaborations, and innovation initiatives.
• Draft and review minor commercial contracts.
• Maintain relationships with external legal experts across corporate, tax, employment, IP, and public funding domains.
• Oversee external law firms, ensuring clarity in briefings, expectation management, and project progress.
• Coordinate legal, compliance, and regulatory matters with auditors, tax consultants, and other professional advisers.
• Independently handle daily employment law issues including standard contracts and onboarding documents.
• Develop and expand a scalable legal template library to support company and venture growth.
• Act as first contact for founders and venture teams regarding practical legal inquiries.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate brings both legal expertise and proactive ownership, with a passion for building legal structures where none exist, acting as a strategic partner rather than a gatekeeper.

• Must have passed the First German State Examination in Law (Erstes Staatsexamen).
• Possess at least three years of professional experience, preferably within startups, law firms, venture-backed firms, investment settings, or public funding environments.
• Strong expertise in corporate law, ideally complemented by knowledge in venture capital, startup law, tax, employment law, or public funding.
• Possess pragmatic and solution-driven approach, comfortable with uncharted situations.
• Demonstrate sound judgment distinguishing routine issues from those requiring specialist input.
• Capable of managing external professional service providers effectively.
• Express genuine interest in entrepreneurship, innovation, and company building.

Additional Advantages

• Experience with public funding bodies or innovation agencies such as EIC, Horizon Europe, or national grant schemes.
• Knowledge or interest in NGO structures, public funding procedures, or tax-related topics.
• Familiarity with nonprofit or foundation legal frameworks.
• Exposure to venture capital documentation including term sheets and capitalization tables.
• Established network of specialist law firms or lawyers in Germany or Europe.

Why Join Us?

• Significant responsibility and autonomy from day one, with freedom to shape your role and the company.
• Flexible, family-friendly working environment combining hybrid work and shared office days.
• Opportunity to engage in projects impacting AI, climate tech, and other cutting-edge fields.
• A collaborative, diverse, and inclusive workplace with English as the company language.
• Attractive benefits including 30 days' vacation, Deutschlandticket for public transport, central office location, and choice of hardware.

About Impossible Founders

Impossible Founders is a pioneering German DeepTech startup incubator dedicated to transforming cutting-edge technologies into impactful companies. Collaborating with top scientists, fearless founders, and prestigious institutions, it works in advanced domains such as Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Technology, advanced materials, and Green Tech.

Diversity & Inclusion

Impossible Founders encourages applicants of all backgrounds regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, ethnicity, cultural or physical abilities, embracing diversity as a strength.