Corporate Counsel

Elephas•Madison, WI

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Elephas is a growing biotechnology company located in Madison, WI seeking a pragmatic, business-oriented Corporate Counsel to serve as the company's primary in-house legal resource during a critical phase of growth and commercialization. This role will partner closely with leadership across commercial, operations, finance, HR, product, and R&D functions to provide practical legal guidance while enabling the business to move quickly and effectively. The ideal candidate is an experienced legal generalist who excels at contract drafting, negotiation, risk assessment, and business problem-solving. This individual will help establish scalable legal processes, support commercial growth initiatives, and provide day-to-day legal counsel across a broad range of business matters. This is a hands-on role for someone who enjoys operating in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and partnering directly with business leaders to drive outcomes. This is an opportunity to help build the legal foundation of a growing biotechnology company at a pivotal stage of commercialization. You will work directly with executive leadership, influence key business decisions, and play a meaningful role in shaping the company's future growth and success.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
5+ years of legal experience, including in-house and/or law firm experience supporting commercial business operations.
Demonstrated experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex commercial contracts.
Strong business judgment and ability to balance legal risk with practical business objectives.
Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
Experience partnering directly with executives and cross-functional stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

Employment law and HR-related matters
Clinical trial and healthcare-related contracting
Regulatory compliance in biotechnology, diagnostics, or medical device environments
Intellectual property coordination and management
Data privacy and information security matters
International business transactions
Preferred Experience supporting biotechnology, life sciences, healthcare, diagnostics, medical device, or pharmaceutical organizations.
Experience supporting companies in high-growth or startup environments.
Employment law experience.
Clinical research, healthcare, or regulatory law experience.
Intellectual property management or coordination experience.
Experience supporting commercialization-stage organizations.

Responsibilities

Draft, review, negotiate, and manage a wide range of agreements, including: Customer agreements Vendor and supplier contracts Service agreements Consulting agreements Confidentiality agreements (NDAs) Strategic partnership agreements Distribution and commercialization agreements Research collaboration agreements
Provide practical legal advice to business stakeholders during negotiations.
Identify legal and business risks while recommending solutions that support company objectives.
Develop contract templates and scalable contracting processes.
Serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership on legal and business matters.
Support company growth initiatives, strategic partnerships, and commercial activities.
Help establish legal policies, procedures, and governance practices appropriate for a growing biotechnology company.
Coordinate with external legal counsel when specialized expertise is required.
Assist with board materials, corporate governance, and corporate record management.
Identify and assess legal, operational, and commercial risks.
Provide guidance on compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Support company-wide risk management initiatives and training programs.
Maintain awareness of evolving legal and regulatory developments relevant to the business.