Role Overview
Hemab is entering an exciting phase of growth and preparing for its transition to the public markets. As our first VP, Legal & Compliance, you will build and lead the company’s legal and compliance foundation while serving as a critical partner to the CFO, CEO, and Management Team.
This role is ideal for a hands-on, business-oriented attorney who enjoys building from scratch, thrives in a fast-moving biotech environment, and can operate as Hemab’s internal legal leader without the full enterprise scope implied by “General Counsel.”
You will spearhead IPO readiness, corporate governance, contracting, clinical and R&D support, risk management, and compliance frameworks, while coordinating external counsel efficiently. You will enable execution, ensure risk-informed decision-making, and create scalable structures to support Hemab’s next phase as a public company. 
Core Responsibilities
Strategic Business Partnership & Risk Management:
- Serve as a trusted advisor to the CFO, CEO, and senior leaders on legal and compliance matters with direct business impact.
- Translate legal and regulatory risks into clear, actionable guidance for executives.
- Support strategic initiatives including partnerships, global expansion, and financing activities.
- Identify material legal risks and implement practical mitigation strategies appropriate for Hemab’s size and maturity.
Legal & Compliance Foundation & Infrastructure:
- Design and implement scalable legal infrastructure (processes, systems, templates, workflows) that evolves from private to public company
- Build and maintain contract lifecycle management system.
- Create risk assessment frameworks and approval matrices aligned with business priorities and risk appetite.
- Develop policies and playbooks for recurring legal needs.
- Establish metrics and KPIs to measure legal function effectiveness and business impact.
Corporate Governance & Public-Company Readiness:
- Support the CFO and CEO in preparing Board materials and advising on governance best practices
- Establish and manage the corporate secretary function (agendas, minutes, resolutions, charters)
- Develop disclosure controls and procedures in preparation for becoming a public company
- Implement policies related to insider trading, whistleblower procedures, and conflicts of interest.
Corporate Governance & Compliance:
- Establish and evolve Board governance structures and corporate secretary functions
- Advise Board and management on fiduciary duties, conflicts of interest, and governance best practices
- Design and implement privacy and GDPR compliance program with strategic oversight of data governance
- Data protection agreements and cross-border data transfers
- Build regulatory compliance framework that scales with company growth and anticipates future requirements
- Develop crisis management and business continuity plans from legal perspective
IPO Readiness & Securities:
- Serve as Hemab’s in-house legal lead for the U.S. Nasdaq IPO process.
- Drive operational coordination between internal teams and external counsel, bankers, and auditors.
- Support drafting and review of S-1 registration statements, including risk factors, business descriptions, and MD&A inputs.
- Build Hemab’s public-company compliance readiness: SEC reporting processes, disclosure practices, governance enhancements.
- Provide legal input for investor communications, diligence responses, and investor-facing materials.
- Support capital markets activity leading up to and following the IPO (e.g., crossovers, PIPEs, follow-ons)
Intellectual Property Support:
- Coordinate with outside IP counsel and integrate IP strategy into business development and corporate strategy
Operational Contracting:
- Draft and negotiate CDAs, MSAs, and SOWs with CROs, CDMOs, and vendors
- Manufacturing and supply agreements
- Clinical trial agreements and investigator-initiated studies
- Service provider agreements
- Drive contract efficiency and turnaround times to support business velocity
Employment & HR Legal:
- Employment agreements and offer letters
- Equity compensation plans and documents aligned with talent strategy and retention goals
- Employee handbook and HR policies
- Immigration support for key hires
- Labor law compliance across jurisdictions
- Advise on executive compensation, retention strategies, and employment litigation risk
Build Lean, High-Leverage Team:
- Hire strategically with focus on capability gaps and business priorities
- Leverage digital tools for contract review, legal research, and drafting to maximize team efficiency
- Establish trusted outsourcing relationships (contract lawyers, legal process outsourcing) for surge capacity
- Create "insource vs. outsource" decision framework optimizing for speed, cost, and strategic control
- Partner with top-tier external counsel for specialized needs (IPO, complex litigation, promotional review)
- Build legal function as competitive advantage through speed, business enablement, and strategic value-add
