Senior Counsel, Corporate
Over the next 10 years, biotech will fundamentally rewrite the way we live. Gene editing and cell therapy will dramatically change how we treat cancer and other major illnesses. Biofuels and biomaterials will transform the cars we drive, the clothes we wear, and the makeup of everyday objects. Crop science and synthetic biology will produce sustainable and ethical food. Benchling’s mission is to accelerate the research that propels us towards this future, and magnify its impact, through modern software.
Every day, scientists around the world use Benchling in their efforts to solve humanity's most pressing problems. For these scientists, Benchling is the central technology they use to conduct their research.
Benchling was founded by a team of MIT graduates and has raised funding from Benchmark, Andreessen Horowitz, Thrive Capital, and Y Combinator. Our customers include pharmaceutical giants, leading biotechs, and the world's most renowned research institutes.
We are looking for a mission-driven, collaborative, and highly-motivated individual to join as a founding member of the legal team as we assemble a world-class group from the ground up. The right person for this role must be a team player who is comfortable operating in a fast-paced, high-growth environment and is able to balance legal risk with business objectives. As Senior Counsel, and one of our first lawyers, you will be an integral part of key strategic initiatives, governance, and corporate transactions, and will have a broad range of responsibilities. You will make substantial contributions to our IPO readiness efforts, including partnering with key stakeholders on external communications, and advising on stock administration matters relating to public company readiness.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Building, leading and scaling the corporate legal function as we grow and mature towards public company readiness.
- Counseling on securities law compliance in the United States and all other applicable jurisdictions.
- Participating in various efforts related to corporate development, corporate and Board governance, and potential preparation for public markets.
- Overseeing legal aspects of corporate transactional matters, including M&A, corporate finance, leases and other facilities related transactions.
- Advising on corporate governance matters, including support in connection with preparations for Board of Directors, Board Committee and shareholder meetings.
- Leading global corporate administration efforts, including compliance with relevant international, federal, and state laws, and maintaining foreign and domestic entities.
- Counseling on a range of related corporate matters such as executive compensation and stock administration.
- Collaborating cross-functionally with Finance, HR, senior leadership and other members of the team.
ABOUT YOU
- J.D., with strong academic credentials and membership in at least one U.S. state bar (CA, NY preferred).
- 7+ years of experience as corporate and securities counsel (including in-house and law firm experience). Significant public company reporting and/or recent IPO experience is essential.
- Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with ability to advocate for a position while maintaining collaborative and open-minded approach.
- Highly organized, reliable, detail-oriented, and diligent.
- Ability to work on multiple issues simultaneously and to set appropriate priorities with clients and to deliver results efficiently.
- Proven ability to provide entrepreneurial, pragmatic, business-oriented advice, with a dedication to superior customer service.
- Ability to operate autonomously while being a team player who brings a positive attitude to the job.
- Deep knowledge of US corporate, securities and financial laws with particular focus on corporate transactions, securities law compliance and corporate governance.
- Ability to design and implement privacy compliance programs
- Experience working on enterprise SaaS, biotech, healthcare or life sciences-related technology products and services.
- Most importantly, you have a growth mindset, embrace change, and practice with kindness, humility, empathy, integrity, and levity.
LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES
- Admit mistakes and shortcomings
- Deliver results
- Disagree and commit
- Obsess over customers
- Rely on work ethic
- Show empathy
- Recruit and develop the best
- Sweat the details
- Think and communicate clearly
- Unite around the mission
*COVID-19 Perks updates
PERKS AND BENEFITS
- Work with a talented yet humble team
- Competitive compensation & equity package
- Monthly health & wellness stipend
- 401k
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Weekly virtual social events, and annual company retreats
- *$1,000 work-from-home stipend
*In following best practices and safety protocols, all Benchling employees are expected to work remotely until we are further advised that it is safe for employees to resume work in their respective office locations. To support remote work conditions, Benchling provides each employee a one-time stipend of $1,000 upon commencing employment, and additional discounted employee purchase plans for home-office equipment.
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.
We also consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law, including but not limited to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.