Overview
A growing organization is seeking a General Counsel to serve as the chief legal advisor to the board and executive team during a pivotal phase of growth. This senior role involves directing the legal function and actively shaping business strategy as the company transitions into a public entity.
Responsibilities
Public Company Compliance & Governance
- Manage all SEC reporting obligations, including preparation and review of 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K, and proxy statements.
- Lead compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX), enforce insider trading policies, oversee Regulation FD adherence, and manage earnings call and quiet period protocols.
- Oversee board governance, including committee charters (audit, compensation, nominating), directors and officers (D&O) insurance, and director independence determinations.
- Act as the primary legal liaison to independent directors and board committees.
- Drive the design and ongoing implementation of internal controls.
Oversight of Legal Function
- Enhance existing legal infrastructure such as contract management systems, transaction and financing processes, governance documents, compliance programs, and legal operations.
- Build scalable legal processes to support growth across the company and its portfolio of subsidiaries.
- Design and manage processes for outside counsel engagement and legal spend.
- Oversee risk management philosophy across legal and corporate matters, including capital financing and transactions.
Employment & Equity Compensation
- Manage equity plans including stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs), and 409A valuations.
- Draft and negotiate executive employment agreements, severance arrangements, and equity award documentation.
- Provide employment law advice across the company’s portfolio.
Crisis Management & Strategic Counsel
- Provide steady legal guidance during shareholder demands, regulatory inquiries, litigation, and transactions.
- Communicate clearly with the board, balancing risk without over- or under-stating issues.
- Offer real-time legal counsel to support CEO and leadership decision-making.
Requirements
- Minimum 10 years of legal experience, including significant exposure to public companies or as outside counsel to public companies in an Emerging Growth Company (EGC) context.
- Proven ability to build public company legal functions from the ground up, including systems, teams, and processes, especially in resource-constrained environments.
- Deep expertise in SEC reporting, SOX compliance, corporate governance, and public company operations.
- Experience across multiple industries with adaptable legal judgment.
- Strong knowledge of equity compensation, employment law, and executive agreements.
- Excellent commercial instincts with a track record of advancing business goals through practical legal advice.
- Outstanding communication skills and executive presence; comfortable presenting to boards and engaging with independent directors.
- Demonstrated leadership in mentoring junior legal talent and business stakeholders.
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
Preferred Qualifications
- Transactional experience in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), capital markets, or both.
- Experience drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements and financing documents.
- Intellectual property portfolio management experience.
- Familiarity with data privacy compliance, including GDPR, CCPA, and applicable state or sector-specific regulations.
- Experience with broad-based employee equity programs.
- Knowledge of state blue sky and securities laws.
Compensation & Benefits
- Competitive salary.
- Equity participation for all employees.
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their families.
- Paid parental leave.
- Support for career growth and a healthy work-life balance culture.
Location