Legal Counsel (Regulated Industries) at TOAST

Why TOAST’s Legal Counsel (Regulated Industries) Role Is a Career-Defining Move

In an era where law and technology collide with unprecedented force, the role of a Legal Counsel specializing in regulated industries has evolved far beyond the traditional confines of contract review and compliance checklists. TOAST, described as an innovation-led creative studio working across AI, AR/VR, immersive experiences, gaming, and film/VFX, is seeking a Legal Counsel (Regulated Industries) to serve as its primary legal advisor for sectors including pharmaceuticals, healthcare, biotechnology, and financial services. This is not a typical in-house counsel opening; it is an opportunity to sit at the intersection of creative storytelling, emerging technology, and some of the most heavily regulated industries in the world.

For legal professionals in India and across the globe, this role offers a rare entry point into a global, future-facing practice. The position is posted as a full-time global role with flexibility on location and hybrid working options, making it accessible to senior lawyers who are comfortable navigating multi-jurisdictional legal landscapes. The role demands more than legal expertise – it requires a commercial mindset, a collaborative spirit, and the ability to translate legal risk into business opportunity.

The Regulated Industries Legal Landscape: A Primer

Regulated industries such as pharmaceuticals, biotech, medical devices, and financial services are governed by a dense web of statutes, guidance, and industry codes. Legal counsel in these sectors must not only understand the letter of the law but also anticipate how regulators will react to innovative business models. TOAST’s clients are global brands in technology, entertainment, FMCG, automotive, and healthcare – which means the Legal Counsel will be expected to advise on promotional and non-promotional communications, medical-legal review (MLR), FDA and OPDP considerations, and emerging digital health regulations.

“We hire for mindset first,” says the TOAST careers page. “Curiosity, craft, collaboration, and that spark that pushes ideas further — these matter more to us than perfect CV alignment.”

This philosophy underscores the firm’s commitment to finding a lawyer who is not only technically superb but also genuinely excited by the creative and technological dimensions of the work. For candidates from law schools and mid-tier firms, this signals an environment where professional growth is measured by the complexity of the problems you solve, not merely by billable hours.

Inside the Day-to-Day: More Than Just Contracts

The key responsibilities listed in the job description reveal a role with extraordinary breadth. The Legal Counsel will:

• Serve as the primary legal advisor for projects in regulated industries, including healthcare and pharmaceutical engagements.
• Draft, review, and negotiate client agreements, statements of work, master services agreements, and vendor contracts.
• Advise on intellectual property ownership, licensing, usage rights, and open-source software matters.
• Support AI governance frameworks for generative AI, machine learning, and automated systems.
• Provide data protection and privacy guidance with respect to HIPAA, GDPR, CCPA, and other global regimes.
• Collaborate with Medical Affairs, Production, Technology, and Executive Leadership to ensure compliant product development.

This is not a siloed legal desk. It is a cross-functional advisory role that places the lawyer at the centre of the company’s most ambitious projects. The dual emphasis on AI governance and immersive technologies such as VR and AR means the counsel will be dealing with legal questions that few lawyers in the world have yet mastered. That is precisely what makes this role so valuable for a career trajectory.

The AI Governance and Privacy Frontier

One of the most exciting aspects of this job is the explicit focus on AI & Emerging Technology Governance. The job description asks the Legal Counsel to “assess risks relating to AI outputs, training data, content generation and user interactions” and to “advise on transparency, accountability and responsible AI deployment.” These are not hypothetical issues; they are live questions facing every global brand that uses AI to create customer experiences.

Similarly, privacy and data protection are treated as project-delivery necessities. The counsel will be expected to understand the interplay between HIPAA, GDPR, CCPA, and other applicable privacy regulations, and to embed privacy considerations within the earliest stages of creative and technological development. For legal professionals who have built expertise in data protection, this is an opportunity to apply that knowledge to boundary-pushing media and experiential projects.

Decoding the Ideal Candidate Profile

The “required experience” section is specific and demanding:

• Juris Doctor (JD) and admission to practice law within the United States.
• Significant experience within healthcare, life sciences, technology, or other regulated industries.
• Experience drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements.
• Strong understanding of regulatory and compliance frameworks.
• Experience advising on privacy, intellectual property and technology matters.
• Experience working with cross-functional business teams.
• Ability to balance legal risk with commercial objectives.
• Experience supporting international businesses operating across multiple jurisdictions.

Desired experience includes pharmaceutical promotional review processes, MLR environments, FDA and OPDP considerations, digital therapeutics, AI governance, SaaS licensing, immersive technologies, and healthcare congresses. This preferred list gives ambitious lawyers a map for acquiring niche expertise that will make them indispensable in the emerging legal-tech landscape. Even if you do not currently satisfy every desired criterion, the posting notes that “all profiles will be kept on file for upcoming TOAST projects across our six pillars.”

How to Apply and Stand Out

The application process is refreshingly direct: email your CV and portfolio to careers@ohtoast.com. There is no LinkedIn click-through application, no ATS portal, and no lengthy form. TOAST also asks candidates to include “a short overview of a 3D/VFX project you’re proud of — and the role you played in its success.” This unusual request signals that TOAST values creative and technical awareness even in its legal hires. For a lawyer with a passion for design, film, or emerging media, this is a chance to demonstrate a well-rounded profile.

Deadline: Not specified. Given that the posting shows applicants are already applying, interested candidates should move quickly. There are currently no fees associated with applying, and TOAST explicitly states it welcomes individual applicants only.

Why This Matters for Your Career Trajectory

For legal professionals looking to pivot into high-growth sectors, this role offers several distinct advantages:

• Exposure to cutting-edge legal problems – AI governance, immersive tech, and digital health are not yet standard practice areas, and early experience will distinguish you in the marketplace.
• International scope – Supporting a global business across multiple jurisdictions builds a portable skill set that transfers across borders.
• Creative commercial environment – TOAST’s studio culture allows legal counsel to work side-by-side with designers, producers, and technologists, developing soft skills that pure law-firm practice often ignores.
• Strategic advisory role – As the primary legal advisor to regulated industry projects, you will be a key decision-maker in the company, not a back-office function.

Final Thoughts

The Legal Counsel (Regulated Industries) at TOAST is more than a job posting; it is a window into the future of legal practice in the creative and technology industries. For lawyers who thrive on complexity and want to shape the guardrails of tomorrow’s innovations, this is a must-apply opportunity.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does this role require a US law license?

Yes, the posting explicitly requires a Juris Doctor (JD) and admission to practice law within the United States. Candidates with equivalent international qualifications may not be considered unless they also hold US bar admission.

2. Is there a fixed location for this position?

The job is described as a full-time global role, with flexibility on location and options for hybrid working. While the LinkedIn listing shows a location in The Dalles, Oregon, TOAST appears open to candidates working remotely or in a hybrid arrangement from suitable jurisdictions where they are authorised to work.

3. How can I apply if I do not meet every desired requirement?

TOAST states that they hire for mindset first, and that all profiles will be kept on file. If you have strong regulated-industry experience and a demonstrable interest in technology and immersive media, you are encouraged to apply and highlight how your background aligns with the role’s core requirements.

4. What should I include in my application to stand out?

Beyond a well-structured CV, TOAST specifically requests a short overview of a 3D/VFX or creative project you are proud of and the role you played in its success. Use this to demonstrate your understanding of the creative and production process, and to show how you can communicate legal concepts to a non-legal audience.