Corporate and Securities Attorney
Company Overview
Avidity Biosciences is pioneering a new class of oligonucleotide-based therapies called AOCs designed to overcome the current limitations of oligonucleotide therapies in order to treat a wide range of serious diseases. We utilize our proprietary AOC platform to design, engineer and develop therapeutics that combine the tissue selectivity of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and the precision of oligonucleotide-based therapies in order to access previously undruggable tissue and cell types and more effectively target underlying genetic drivers of diseases. We are passionate about the impact of every employee in bringing these potentially transformative therapeutics to patients in need. Make a difference with us.
Job Summary
We are looking for a seasoned biopharmaceutical attorney, reporting to the General Counsel, to join and collaborate with all functional areas of Avidity in La Jolla, California. The successful candidate will be able to work at all levels of the Company and should have a strong background in biotechnology pharmaceuticals business operations. This position requires an attorney to be responsible for a broad array of matters, including partnering with internal and external stakeholders to ensure the Company’s compliance with U.S. securities laws, prepare and coordinate Board of Directors and committee matters, and providing timely and efficient legal advice across the Company.
You must be diligent and proactive, show excellent business judgment and strategic thinking, along with the ability to work independently and collaboratively in a collegial, fast-paced team environment.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Draft/review/submit SEC filings, including periodic and current reports, proxy statements and Section 16 reports in collaboration with internal and external finance and legal teams
- Advise on applicable securities law issues, including but not limited to the company’s fundraising activities
- Manage the timeline and preparation for the annual proxy statement and stockholder meeting
- Prepare Board of Directors and committee materials
- Provide legal advice on disclosure matters, including investor presentations, press releases, and other corporate internal and external communications
- Work on corporate governance matters, including assisting in the preparation of certain corporate policies and providing training to employees on those policies
- Coordinate stock equity matters in conjunction with Finance and Human Resources
- Prepare, review and negotiate a diverse range of agreements common to the biotechnology industry
- Work closely with other functional area teams to provide legal advice as needed
- Provide advice in a wide array of practice areas and special projects as needed
- Keep current on industry-related laws and regulations and creating or modifying policies and procedures based on such developments
- Manage and direct outside counsel when outside expertise is needed
- Work collaboratively with company management, colleagues and various business units to support corporate activities
- Provide risk management and mitigation counseling
- Remain up-to-date on governmental regulations that may influence contracting matters
- Support global corporate initiatives, and foreign and domestic subsidiary management
- Apply legally sound and commercially realistic legal advice to balance legal risk, compliance, business and operational objectives and resources to Company transactions
- Coordinate with the General Counsel and legal team to manage legal risk and Company strategy
- Provide high quality, timely and practical legal advice and guidance, and identify/resolve critical legal and business issues arising from all areas of the organization
- Maintain corporate policies across the organization, managing updates as the laws and regulations change
Qualifications:
- Licensed attorney with 5 years of experience in a leading law firm and/or in-house biotechnology/pharmaceutical industry
- Demonstrated leadership qualities including experience coordinating with cross-functional teams, as well as providing sound business and legal judgment, and strategic and analytical thinking
- Self-motivated, practical, and interested in working on a wide range of legal matters to lead the Company on legal implications of its business strategy
- Experience working with all levels of management and key business stakeholders with a demonstrated ability to effectively communicate legal risks to executive leadership and senior management
- Excellent organizational skills and able to work with a team to meet critical deadlines; flexible and capable of managing multiple projects simultaneously
Preferred Education and/or Experience:
- Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school
- Admitted to practice