Woven Capital is Toyota's growth-stage venture capital arm focused on advancing the future of mobility – how people, goods, information and energy move. We manage $1.6 billion, investing in companies that create new ways to support mobility and emerging technologies, advance the industrial value chain, and accelerate decarbonization and sustainability. Our work connects breakthrough innovators with Toyota's global platform, strengthening the company's capabilities today while creating new opportunities for tomorrow.
WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
Woven Capital is seeking a highly experienced and strategically minded Head of Legal for our rapidly expanding global investment platform. This person will report directly to the COO, and act as a strategic thought partner for the full leadership team. The Head of Legal will assume responsibility for several functions that are currently heavily outsourced to external counsel, including support of the investment process, negotiation of commercial agreements, corporate governance, compliance, and risk management, while overseeing and managing outside counsel relationships. Responsibilities include:
Commercial & strategic agreement negotiations
- Lead negotiation of commercial agreements that accompany or follow investments.
- Advise internal stakeholders on risk, enforceability, and global contracting standards.
- Develop scalable templates and playbooks to streamline repeat transactions.
Investment execution & deal structuring
- Lead all legal aspects of venture investments, including legal due diligence, term sheets, equity financing documents, shareholder agreements, side letters, and investor rights agreements.
- Structure transactions to align financial returns with strategic objectives.
- Partner with investment professionals on valuation, risk allocation, governance rights, and exit strategy.
- Manage and coordinate external counsel efficiently and cost-effectively.
Portfolio support & value creation
- Provide guidance on governance, board matters, follow-on financings, and liquidity events.
- Support M&A, secondary transactions, and exit processes.
- Help team navigate legal questions regarding portfolio companies with Toyota & its affiliates
Legal Operations & Corporate Governance
- Oversee corporate policies, support in board matters, and internal approvals.
- Manage NDAs, vendor agreements, contractor agreements, and employment-related matters (hiring, terminations, and employee documentation), in conjunction with the Woven by Toyota HR team.
- Advise on privacy and data security compliance (e.g., GDPR, CCPA, and other applicable regulations).
- Provide oversight on IP matters.
- Advise on litigation exposure, product liability, commercial disputes, insurance, and risk mitigation.
- Support securities matters, intercompany arrangements, and organizational structuring.
- Partner closely with regional and corporate legal teams to ensure cross-jurisdictional alignment.
- Engage with external counsel, regulators, and public authorities as required.
- Advise on emerging legal and regulatory risks across jurisdictions.
Compliance and Risk Management
- Oversee fund governance, LP agreements, and all other corporate compliance matters.
- Ensure compliance with securities laws, antitrust regulations, FCPA, export controls, and data privacy laws.
- Establish risk frameworks specific to corporate venture investing.
- Manage conflicts of interest between the corporate parent, fund and portfolio companies.
Strategic Advisory & leadership
- Advise senior leadership on the legal implications of innovation strategy and venture deployment.
- Translate legal risk into clear, business-focused recommendations.
- Serve as a strategic partner to the Investment Committee.
- Build and scale legal infrastructure appropriate for a growing CVC platform.
- Manage the legal budget and external counsel relationships.
- Implement contract management systems and internal training to improve deal execution.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- 7-10+ years of relevant legal experience, including experience at a top-tier law firm and within a corporate environment such as a corporate venture capital arm, venture capital fund, private equity firm, or in-house at a technology company.
- Exposure to venture-backed startups and emerging growth companies.
- Significant experience negotiating complex commercial agreements.
- Demonstrated experience leading commercial and investment negotiations directly (not solely managing outside counsel).
- Experience with cross-border transactions and global regulatory considerations.
- Experience working across multiple legal disciplines (e.g., corporate, commercial, governance, regulatory).
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively, with a willingness to assume additional responsibilities as needed.
- Exceptional attention to detail and strong organizational skills; excellent time management with the ability to manage multiple concurrent assignments with a high degree of accuracy.
- Comfortable operating within both structured corporate environments and fast-paced, startup-driven settings; demonstrates resourcefulness and agility.
- Ability to build strong, trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Maintains focus and urgency while fostering a respectful and collaborative work environment.
- Adapts well to changing priorities and navigates ambiguity with confidence.
- Strong negotiation, drafting, and strategic problem-solving skills.
- Demonstrates sound judgement and ability to reach decisions with focus on the bigger picture, results vs. task-oriented
NICE TO HAVES
- Experience in auto/tech mobility sector
- Fund formation
- Experience in highly regulated
- Experience managing outside counsel.
- Fund of funds experience
- Experience working in large multinational corporations
For positions based in Palo Alto, CA; Brooklyn, NY; and Seattle, WA, the base pay ranges from $250,000 to $300,000 per year.
Your base salary is one part of your total compensation. We offer a base salary, short term and long term incentives, and a comprehensive benefits package. The total compensation offered to an employee will be dependent upon the individual's skills, experience, qualifications, location, and level.
WHAT WE OFFER
We are committed to creating a modern work environment that supports our employees and their loved ones. We offer many options of the best programs to allow you to do your most meaningful work and to help you shape the future of mobility.
・Excellent health, wellness, dental and vision coverage
・A rewarding 401k program
・Flexible vacation policy
・Family planning and care benefits
Our Commitment
・We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity.
・Any information we receive from you will be used only in the hiring and onboarding process. Please see our privacy notice for more details.
