Commercial Counsel, Life Sciences

We are looking for an experienced Commercial Counsel, Life Sciences to support business operations in Santa Clara, California. This role partners closely with cross-functional teams to provide practical legal guidance across commercial activities, promotional practices, and strategic agreements. The ideal candidate brings strong contract drafting and negotiation skills, sound judgment, and the ability to balance legal risk with business objectives in a regulated healthcare environment.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the preparation, review, and negotiation of a broad range of commercial contracts, including licensing, supply, sales, marketing, research, and collaboration arrangements.
• Provide timely legal counsel to business stakeholders on day-to-day commercial matters involving products and services marketed to healthcare professionals.
• Evaluate advertising initiatives, campaigns, and related materials to help ensure alignment with company standards, truth-in-advertising expectations, and applicable legal requirements.
• Address disputes and other legal concerns through strategic negotiation, including support for pre-litigation resolutions and settlement discussions.
• Create and refine contract templates, guidance materials, and training resources to improve consistency and efficiency across contracting workflows.
• Monitor legal and regulatory developments affecting sales, marketing, reimbursement, privacy, anti-corruption, and healthcare compliance, and translate those developments into practical business advice.
• Serve as a legal representative in discussions with vendors, customers, and other external parties to support commercial relationships and risk management.
• Coordinate with outside counsel when needed by defining scope, overseeing deliverables, and tracking budget and project progress.
• Collaborate with internal partners across Legal, Compliance, Finance, Education, Supply Chain, R&D, Regulatory, Quality, Clinical, Marketing, Sales, and Information Technology.
• Support occasional travel requirements as needed, generally within a limited range of approximately 10–15%.
• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school with a strong academic record.
• Active admission to at least one U.S. state bar and status in good standing.
• At least 3 years of experience practicing as a commercial attorney in a law firm, an in-house legal department, or a combination of both.
• Demonstrated experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial agreements across multiple business functions.
• Working knowledge of legal issues relevant to life sciences or healthcare, including advertising, fraud and abuse, privacy, and anti-corruption considerations.
• Ability to provide clear, practical legal advice to cross-functional stakeholders in a fast-paced business setting.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and project management skills, including experience managing external counsel when appropriate.