Legal Counsel, M&A
Mistral AI · Paris ·
- Work mode
- Onsite
- Category
- Legal
- Experience
- 7+ years
- Visa sponsorship
- Yes
- Company size
- 1000+
About Mistral
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 as well as personal needs. Our offerings include Le Chat, AI Studio, Mistral Code and Mistral Compute — a suite that brings frontier intelligence to end-users.
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
As our M&A Legal Counsel, you will work directly under the Head of M&A and Finance Legal Counsel, based in Paris. In close collaboration with our Business and Finance teams, you will be instrumental in structuring, drafting, and negotiating Mistral's external growth transactions — from talent-driven acqui-hires and technology acquisitions to small-to-mid cap strategic deals.
Mistral operates at the frontier of AI, where the pace of innovation demands M&A speed and precision that matches the technology itself. You will help shape our growth and business relationships that will define Mistral's next chapter.
Key responsibilities
• Draft, negotiate, and provide strategic advice on a wide range of M&A transactions, including acquisitions, acqui-hires, and other internal or external growth projects worldwide.
• Take an active part in every stage of M&A transactions: deal structuring, due diligence, strategic negotiations, signing and closing
• Lead or coordinate legal due diligence processes, identifying and managing key legal risks across corporate, IP, employment, and regulatory workstreams.
• Draft, negotiate, and advise on transaction documentation including LOIs, NDAs, SPAs, shareholders' agreements, earn-out mechanisms, and post-closing arrangements.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including other corporate functions
• Build our internal templates, practices and guidelines for M&A documentation.
• Support on other legal topics as needed, especially on the compliance front related to corporate matters (including labor law, insurances, Sapin II, etc.).
Qualifications and skills
• Bachelor degree or above (LLB, LLM, Juris Doctor preferred) from an accredited law school in France or another EU country. Admission to practice law in at least another jurisdiction, in particular in the USA would be a plus.
• A minimum of 7 years of relevant legal experience, including a minimum of 4 in an international law firm.
• Strong experience in structuring and negotiating M&A transactions, including hands-on experience leading large to mid-cap acquisitions from due diligence through signing and closing.
• Familiarity with VC-PE type transactions is highly valued: you understand sophisticated shareholders' agreements, liquidation preferences, anti-dilution provisions, management and employees' incentive packages, as well as the governance dynamics of venture-backed and PE-backed companies.
• Demonstrated ability to navigate cross-border M&A structuring questions and multi-jurisdictional transactions, including coordinating with local external counsel.
• Excellent written and verbal communication in both English and French. Strong ability to present complex legal concepts in a clear and understandable manner to non-legal stakeholders.
• Sharp business acumen, honed through direct experience working within businesses — ideally across multiple industries — where you have delivered measurable impact and demonstrated a deep understanding of operational and strategic priorities.
• Great negotiation skills, with a history of successfully leading critical discussions with founders, boards, investors, and their advisors, balancing assertiveness with collaboration, and maintaining positive, long-term relationships with all stakeholders.
• An understanding of the tax implications of M&A structuring, allowing you to optimise outcomes and mitigate risks.
• Knowledge and usage of Artificial Intelligence: an understanding of AI technologies, including machine learning, natural language processing and their applications, is important.
• Adaptability: proactive, flexible, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Ethical Awareness: a strong understanding of ethical considerations related to AI, such as fairness, transparency, accountability, and bias mitigation, is important.
• International mindset: international experience is a plus.
What We Offer
• Ability to shape the exciting journey of AI and be part of the very early days of one of the hottest AI companies.
• A fun, dynamic, multicultural team and collaborative work environment — based in Paris, London, the USA and Singapore.
• Competitive salary and bonus structure & Comprehensive benefits package.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
Benefits
💰 Competitive cash salary and equity
🥕 Daily lunch vouchers : Swile meal vouchers with 10,83€ per worked day, incl 60% offered by company
🥎 Sport : Enjoy discounted access to gyms and fitness studios through our Wellpass partnership
🚴 Transportation : Monthly contribution to a mobility pass via Betterway
🧑⚕️ Health : Full health insurance for you and your family
🍼 Parental : Generous parental leave policy
🌎 Visa sponsorship
🤝 Coaching: we offer BetterUp coaching on a voluntary basis
The personal data you submit as part of your application will be processed in accordance with Mistral AI's Applicant Privacy Policy.