Corporate Counsel

Corporate Counsel

Stoke Therapeutics is a biotechnology company dedicated to restoring protein expression by harnessing the body's potential with RNA medicine. Using Stoke's proprietary TANGO approach, Stoke is developing antisense oligonucleotides to selectively restore naturally-occurring protein levels. Stoke's first medicine in development, zorevunersen, has demonstrated the potential for disease modification in patients with Dravet syndrome and is currently being evaluated in a Phase 3 study. Stoke's initial focus are diseases of the central nervous system and the eye that are caused by a loss of ~50% of normal protein levels (haploinsufficiency). Proof of concept has been demonstrated in other organs, tissues, and systems, supporting broad potential for Stoke's proprietary approach. Stoke is headquartered in Bedford, Massachusetts.

Stoke is seeking an enthusiastic and highly motivated Corporate Counsel to join the Legal team. As Corporate Counsel, you will serve as a highly visible legal partner across the organization, supporting critical business initiatives spanning clinical development, research, manufacturing, commercial, medical affairs, vendor partnerships, and corporate operations. The ideal candidate brings strong pharmaceutical or biotechnology legal experience, particularly in R&D contracting, and enjoys collaborating with smart, mission-oriented teams tackling meaningful scientific challenges. The person in this role will need to be able to manage multiple competing priorities and work collaboratively in an environment with multiple stakeholders.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the drafting, review, negotiation, and finalization of a broad range of agreements including confidential disclosure, clinical trial, supply, quality, consulting, scientific advisor, and master services agreements, while ensuring compliance, alignment with business needs, and operational excellence.
• Working with key internal stakeholders, outside vendors, and outside legal counsel to ensure corporate agreements meet relevant timelines and business requirements.
• Advising internal stakeholders on contractual rights and obligations, as needed.
• Utilizing contract management system to track key contract information and generate reports as necessary.
• Maintaining and updating company agreement templates as needed.
• Providing training and guidance to employees regarding the internal contracting process, contracts management system, and related best practices.

Required skills and experience include:

• JD from an accredited law school and membership in good standing with the bar of at least one state in the US.
• Minimum of 8 years of post-graduate legal experience, including both law firm experience representing biotech/pharma clients and in-house experience at a biotech/pharma company.
• Significant experience drafting and negotiating contracts typical in the biopharma industry.
• Proven track record of effectively partnering with business teams throughout the contracting process and providing timely, pragmatic, and solution-oriented advice to bring contracts to completion.
• Ability to analyze complex contracts and legal documents and provide concise, actionable feedback.
• Ability to manage multiple competing priorities and set clear expectations with internal and external clients.
• Outstanding attention to detail and project management skills, with the ability to drive initiatives forward to successful completion.
• Sense of ownership and the ability to operate effectively in a lean, high-performing environment.
• Proficiency in biopharma research and development matters and familiarity with relevant laws and regulations and intellectual property (IP) matters that arise in the biopharma industry.
• Proficiency utilizing a contract management system.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Location(s): Stoke is located in Bedford, MA, and will be moving to a new location in Waltham, MA by the end of 2026. This position requires 3 days onsite and is currently based in Bedford and will later be based in Waltham.

Travel: This position will require minimal travel.

Compensation & Benefits: At Stoke Therapeutics, we are committed to offering a comprehensive, competitive and thoughtfully designed total rewards program. The anticipated salary range for this role is $227,000 - $258,000. The final offer will be determined based on a variety of factors, including role scope, experience and qualifications, education, market benchmarks, internal equity, and geographic location. In addition to base salary, Stoke offers an annual bonus and equity participation. Our benefits package includes medical, dental and vision insurance; life, long- and short-term disability insurance; paid parental leave; a 401K plan with company match, unlimited vacation time, tuition assistance and participation in our Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP).

Culture & Values: At Stoke, we believe that innovation, the ability to successfully advance our ground-breaking science and having fun as a team are enhanced by being together in person, at least periodically. We allow for flexibility in work arrangements that balance individual's needs and preferences with the needs of our business and our desire to foster a culture of collaboration and innovation. Our values guide our work to deliver meaningful medicines for people who need them. We are committed to being true to ourselves, to our colleagues, and to the people with severe diseases who are counting on us. We embrace diversity within a unique culture that is defined by our values. Our employee-led Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DIB) Committee underscores the importance of DIB to who we are and what we do.