Legal Counsel

RIVR is a Swiss robotics company pioneering Physical AI and robotic solutions to revolutionize last-mile delivery, giving 1 human the power of 1000. Through the combination of artificial neural networks and innovative robot designs with wheels and legs, RIVR aims to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and scalability in last-mile delivery. Founded as Swiss-Mile, the company rebranded to RIVR in 2025 to better reflect its mission of driving the future of intelligent robotics. Join our innovative team, renowned for pioneering robotic design and neural network applications in robotics that improve environmental understanding and decision-making. With a robust research foundation and notable contributions from ETH Zurich, we are leaders in translating artificial intelligence and robotics into practical, real-world applications.

RIVR is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that values every perspective. If you're passionate about driving innovation in robotics and creating meaningful impact, we encourage you to apply and bring your unique self to our team.

Job Description
You will be our first Legal Counsel to establish and lead all legal matters for our fast-paced and innovative tech startup. This is a pivotal role that requires a strategic thinker with hands-on execution ability, ready to build scalable legal processes from the ground up.

You'll report directly to our Chief Operating Officer (COO), playing a critical role in our growth, risk management, and compliance across diverse legal areas. You'll also have frequent and essential interaction with the rest of the executive and management team, acting as a trusted advisor across the organization.

This role offers a unique opportunity to achieve optimal negotiation outcomes by collaborating closely with our experienced engineers. You'll leverage both your legal expertise and their deep technical knowledge to craft robust agreements and navigate complex challenges. This cross-functional synergy is key to our success and makes this position particularly impactful.

What You'll Be Doing

• You will work across different legal domains, serving as a critical partner across the organization:

Contracts & Commercial Law

• Review, draft, and help negotiate supplier, customer, and strategic partner agreements
• Maintain and update standard agreements, such as NDAs or employment agreements, and our Terms & Conditions
• Collaborate with executives and managers to develop negotiation strategies for complex agreements

Intellectual Property & Technology

• Manage company IP portfolio, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, designs, trade secrets, and domain names
• Monitor freedom-to-operate and support IP strategy, including patent filings and trademarks
• Advise and educate the company on confidentiality, IP, and open-source usage policies

Regulatory & Compliance

• Monitor evolving legal and regulatory landscapes for robotics, AI, and Personal Delivery Devices (PDDs) in public rights-of-way globally
• Support the HR team in drafting contracts for employees and contractors
• Provide guidance to ensure the company's operations remain compliant with relevant local and international regulations

Corporate & Governance

• Prepare and maintain board resolutions and corporate documents across the company's entities
• Support corporate compliance and governance matters for current and future entities
• Review documents related to financing and assist with negotiation strategies during funding rounds

Cross-functional Legal Advisory

• Serve as a trusted advisor to the executive team on strategic business initiatives, risk management, and operational decisions
• Collaborate with engineers and technical teams to ensure legal considerations are integrated into product development and commercialization strategies
• Effectively identify, recommend, and collaborate with external legal experts to ensure comprehensive coverage and risk mitigation across all specialized legal domains

What You Must Have

• Law degree (Swiss or international) and admission to practice law in Switzerland; additional jurisdiction qualifications are a plus
• 5+ years of experience in corporate, commercial, IP, and/or technology law, ideally with experience in startups or high-growth tech companies
• Hands-on experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts across multiple jurisdictions
• Strong understanding of IP law and regulatory frameworks affecting robotics, AI, or related technologies
• Excellent communication skills, able to explain complex legal concepts to non-legal stakeholders
• Strategic thinker with strong execution and organizational skills

Get some bonus points

• Have experience with robotics, AI, or other high-tech startups
• Are comfortable navigating international IP, contracts, and regulatory landscapes
• Enjoy collaborating closely with engineers and technical teams to integrate legal considerations into product development and vice versa
• Thrive in a fast-moving, high-growth startup environment

RIVR is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that values every perspective. If you're passionate about driving innovation in robotics and creating meaningful impact, we encourage you to apply and bring your unique self to our team.

We believe the best work is done when collaborating and therefore require in-person presence in our office locations.