Corporate Counsel

Location

Overview

We are hiring our first dedicated corporate counsel to take the lead for our clients on a wide variety of transactions and strategic matters. Supporting mission-driven and impact-focused founders is what we are all about, and we are looking for someone who wants to use their talents to increase our clients’ speed and scale. 

The best person for this role will have very high horsepower (IQ) and attention to detail, balanced by efficiency, pragmatism, and a deft ability to care for all stakeholders (EQ); they will also have a strong sense of purpose and be actively engaged in personal growth.

They will be excited about the career opportunities presented by working directly with hundreds of fast-growing organizations, although they will also want their next role to last for a while (four or five years, not two). They will be seeking alignment in their career, genuine friendships at work, and an elite, fast-paced practice that allows significant flexibility for family & friends, movement, rest, and hobbies.

The Firm

Cedar Grove LLP is a mission-driven law firm helping good people build good organizations. With deep ties to Stanford University, Y Combinator, and the Silicon Valley startup community, we advise for-profit and nonprofit organizations throughout their life cycle on (i) corporate legal matters (e.g., fundraising and equity issuance), (ii) employment (e.g., hiring and firing), (iii) commercial (e.g., compliance and customer contracts), and (iv) operations and strategy. We are growing very quickly.

Mission

Our mission is the foundation of the firm.

Role and Location

This is a full-time role for Corporate Counsel. All team members work remotely, with quarterly off-sites, typically Thursday - Saturday in January, April, July, and October.

Responsibilities

• Create value for our clients with efficient, thoughtful, momentum-generating advice

• Directly maintain and grow client relationships with exceptional service and value creation

• Act as outside general counsel to dozens of startup companies from formation through maturity 

• Assist with forming for-profit and nonprofit organizations (prior experience with nonprofits not required)

• Advise, draft, and negotiate financing transactions, including SAFEs, venture financings, and impact investments, including applicable securities compliance

• Provide counsel on corporate governance matters, including board responsibilities, fiduciary duties, and compliance obligations

• Conduct legal due diligence reviews for corporate transactions

• Advise on employee, consultant, and advisor onboarding, including classification compliance, intellectual property, and equity compensation

• Handle founder separations, including both company representation and individual founder representation

• Collaborate with corporate attorneys, paralegals, legal operations, and software developers

Background and Experience

• Required:

  • T14 law school

  • 2+ years of experience at an AmLaw 100 law firm

  • Strong business acumen and commercial awareness in the technology sector

  • U.S. residence and bar license

• Preferred:

  • Law school: Stanford, Yale, Harvard, Berkeley

  • 2+ years of experience at Gunderson, Cooley, Fenwick, Wilson Sonsini, Goodwin, Orrick, or another startup-focused law firm

  • 1-2 years of additional experience in-house as legal counsel or operator at early to late-stage private tech companies

  • M&A experience and ability to oversee and manage small M&A transactions start to finish

  • California residence and license

  • Demonstrated interest in mission-driven work, particularly in health, climate, or sustainability sectors

Qualities

• Mission aligned

• Growth mindset

• Learns really (really) quickly

• Efficient perfectionist

• Intuitive, systems-level approach to creating value for clients and the firm

• Works collaboratively but autonomously

Culture, Hours, Compensation, Benefits

• Mission-driven culture

• 1,200 billed hours (clients) and 500-600 other hours (meetings, off-sites, operations, etc.)

• Hours arrangements and mix can vary:

  • Partnership track requires more hours, especially nonbillable

  • 80% and 60% arrangements are available

• Very competitive compensation ($250k - $400k) depending on experience and arrangement

• Significant opportunities for learning, upskilling, and career advancement

• Protected weekends

• Remote

  • M-W-F standing video calls

  • Quarterly in-person off-sites (typically Thursday - Saturday)

• Modern tools and systems

• Freedom to build your skillset and book of business, as well as custom infrastructure & tooling

• A culture that is kind & supportive, where we foster genuine friendships, not just “collegiality”

Process (~1 Month)

Application: Submit online. We encourage you to find a warm introduction to Sam, Colin, or Michael. 

• Screener call (10 mins)

• 1:1 with Sam (30 mins)

• 1:1 with Colin, Michael (30 mins each)

• Take-home assignment (1-2 hours)

• Final round group interview or in-person dinner (we will cover travel expenses)

We look forward to meeting you.