Senior Vice President, General Counsel

What you should know about First Tracks

First Tracks is an immunology-focused, clinical-stage biotechnology company with a 21-year track-record of discovering life-changing therapeutic antibodies. Over that time, we have worked to create a work environment where every role has meaning, every team member is respected and every day is a chance to make a difference for people living with autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. 

Our pipeline includes rosnilimab, a pathogenic T cell depleter, which has completed a Phase 2b trial for rheumatoid arthritis; ANB033, a CD122 antagonist, in a Phase 1b trial for celiac disease and eosinophilic esophagitis; and ANB101, a BDCA2 modulator, in a Phase 1a trial. 

Our success is rooted in the diversity of our teams’ experience, knowledge and background. We’re doers, thinkers and collaborators who embrace and live by our values: accountability, transparency and humility.

Here’s What You Will Do:

Essential Functions You Will Be Responsible For:

• Serve as a strategic partner and financial advisor to the CEO, the Board of Directors including the audit committees, and members of the senior management team to help shape the overall legal direction for the company.
• Serve as corporate Compliance Officer. Set internal governance policies and ensure adherence to policies
• Oversee SEC filings in partnership with other members or senior management
• Rendering legal opinions and providing guidance concerning issues of patentability, validity, and freedom-to-operate
• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of agreements, including licensing, collaboration, CRO, CDMO, clinical trial, supply, and consulting agreements.
• Support business development and strategic transactions such as M&A, joint ventures, and research collaborations.
• Partner with Finance and Corporate Development teams on securities, fundraising, and disclosure issues as needed. 
• Manage corporate governance matters including board and board committee minutes
• Provide legal and strategic guidance on clinical trial operations, including protocol development, site and investigator contracting, informed consent, and patient data protection.
• Advise on preclinical and translational research agreements, material transfer agreements (MTAs), and sponsored research arrangements with academic and industry partners.
• Prepare, file and prosecute patent applications with a primary focus on the protection of inventions and patent prosecution from “cradle to grave” and at diverse development stages, as well as matrixed support to other IP practice areas
• Provide IP support for partnering and other agreements (e.g., major licensing agreements, research collaborations, MTAs, CDAs)
• Maintaining strong knowledge of legal case law, rules and regulations before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office as well as other jurisdictional IP offices
• Develop best practices for legal operations and contract management systems.
• Support intellectual property-related transactional and litigation work
• At times, direct and manage outside counsel, including overseeing budget as appropriate
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior management and business leaders on strategic initiatives and legal risk.

Education & Experience: 

• Juris Doctor (JD) with 12+ years of experience, 3-5+ in-house at a clinical stage publicly traded company is preferred, including at least 5 years of  “in-house” experience in a life sciences organization
• Several years of experience at a Corporate Law Firm, preferably in the biotech space

Knowledge and Competencies: 

• Experience with strategic transactions, including financing, partnerships/collaborations, or mergers & acquisitions. 
• Experience with adverse proceedings (e.g., USPTO adverse proceedings, EPO adverse proceedings, U.S. litigation) is a plus

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus in order to read.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job, typically in an open office environment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

May be required to travel by plane or car.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or other legally protected status.