Legal Counsel, Copyright Attorney

About Mistral AI 

At Mistral AI, we believe in the power of AI to simplify tasks, save time, and enhance learning and creativity. Our technology is designed to integrate seamlessly into daily working life. 

We democratize AI through high-performance, optimized, open-source and cutting-edge models, products and solutions. Our comprehensive AI platform is designed to meet enterprise needs, whether on-premises or in cloud environments. Our offerings include le Chat, the AI assistant for life and work. 

We are a dynamic, collaborative team passionate about AI and its potential to transform society.Our diverse workforce thrives in competitive environments and is committed to driving innovation. Our teams are distributed between France, USA, UK, Germany and Singapore. We are creative, low-ego and team-spirited. 

Join us to be part of a pioneering company shaping the future of AI. Together, we can make a meaningful impact. See more about our culture on  

Role Summary 

We are seeking a Copyright Attorney to join our Legal team, focusing on data and content acquisitions for pre-training, post-training, RAG, and other AI applications. This is a new role, designed to provide legal support for the increasing number of licensing, data access, and partnership deals that fuel Mistral's AI models. 

As a member of our legal team (based in Paris), you will play a pivotal role in:

• Negotiating and drafting high-stakes agreements involving AI technologies, licensing, and partnerships.

• Mitigating copyright risks in a rapidly evolving legal landscape.

• Shaping scalable licensing models that reward creators and ensure sustainable access to high-quality knowledge. 

This role is ideal for a proactive, business-oriented attorney who thrives in a fast-paced environment and wants to define the future of AI and copyright law. 

Why Join Us? 

• Work on the latest legal issues around generative AI, model training, and platform liability.

• Join a high-impact, nimble, and fast-growing company that values autonomy and bold thinking. 

• Your work drives real change, and you define your role.

• Draft and close transformative deals that shape the future of AI and content licensing.

• Deliver differentiated value to Mistral's B2B customers by integrating advanced reasoning with accurate, up-to-date knowledge.

• Co-build the knowledge economy by designing scalable licensing models that reward creators and ensure fair value distribution. 

What You Will Do 

Contract Negotiation & Drafting

• Lead and support negotiations for inbound and outbound licensing agreements, data acquisitions, and content partnerships.

• Draft, review, and finalize contracts to ensure legal compliance and alignment with business objectives.

• Advise internal stakeholders on copyright risks, rights clearance, and best practices for content usage. 

Copyright Risk Mitigation

• Monitor copyright litigation, regulatory developments, and industry trends to identify risks and opportunities.

• Develop and implement strategies to mitigate copyright-related risks, including fair use analyses and rights clearance processes.

• Collaborate with external counsel and copyright collectives/agencies to resolve disputes and secure necessary permissions. 

Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as the primary legal contact for copyright-related matters, providing clear and actionable guidance to product, engineering, and research teams.

• Ensure compliance with French and European copyright laws, as well as international standards where applicable. 

Compliance & Process Improvement

• Develop internal policies, workflows, and training materials to educate teams on copyright issues and best practices. 

• Contribute to Mistral AI's overall IP strategy, with a focus on copyright and data rights. 

About you

• Master's degree in law from a top European law school

• 10+ years of experience, including substantial in-house legal experience in tech, media, or AI-related industries, and previous experience as a copyright or contract negotiation attorney in a tier-1 law firm

• Technical proficiency in Copyright, including experience with digital content, data licensing, and AI-related legal issue and solid understanding of French and European copyright law, with experience navigating complex legal frameworks related to digital content, data licensing, and AI technologies.

• Demonstrated ability to negotiate and draft high-stakes agreements, including Licensing agreements (inbound/outbound), Data access and acquisition contracts, Partnership agreements and/or Software selling/buying contracts

• Dynamic and persuasive communicator, capable of building trust with internal teams and external partners and to simplify complex legal concepts for non-legal stakeholders (e.g., product, engineering, research teams).

• Comfortable acting as a bridge between legal, technical, and business teams to align objectives and mitigate risks.

• Strong ability to identify, analyze, and mitigate legal risks in a fast-evolving regulatory landscape and talent for translating legal constraints into actionable strategies that support business growth

• Thrives in a fast-paced, innovative environment where priorities and challenges evolve rapidly.

• Collaborative, low-ego, and eager to contribute to a cross-functional, international team.

• Proactive and resourceful, with a solution-oriented mindset and willingness to "roll up your sleeves" to get things done.

• Commitment to responsible AI, including fairness, transparency, and accountability in content usages

• Knowledge of US copyright law, open-source licensing, or AI/ML technologies is a strong plus.

Benefits

Competitive cash salary and equity

Food : Daily lunch vouchers

Sport : Monthly contribution to a Gympass subscription 

Transportation : Monthly contribution to a mobility pass

Health : Full health insurance for you and your family

Parental : Generous parental leave policy

Visa sponsorship