Corporate Associate

Hoge Fenton; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 175,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Disability insurance

EAP

401(k)

Student loan repayment

Parental leave

Flexible work

No-accrual vacation

Job summary

Hoge Fenton, a distinguished multi-service law firm headquartered in downtown San Jose, seeks a Corporate Associate to join our growing team. This role offers significant responsibility in a fast-paced, collaborative environment, with the opportunity to support growth-stage companies through complex legal matters.

The ideal candidate has a J.D., California Bar admission, 4–6 years in corporate law focusing on emerging companies, venture capital and M&A, and strong drafting/negotiation skills for

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school.
• Active California State Bar membership required.
• 4–6 years of corporate law experience with a focus on emerging companies, VC, and M&A.
• Strong drafting and negotiation skills for complex contracts.
• Familiarity with securities law exemptions and QSBS is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead venture capital financings from Seed through Series D, including NVCA-based documents, SAFEs, and convertible notes.
• Manage buy-side and sell-side private M&A, due diligence, and closing processes.
• Serve as outside general counsel for startups, private companies, and nonprofits on governance and equity compensation.
• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial and technology agreements including MSAs, SOWs, SaaS, NDAs.
• Act as primary client contact and provide strategic legal advice aligned with business goals.

Skills

Juris Doctor

Active California State Bar

Corporate law experience

Venture capital

M&A

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.) from accredited law school

Active membership in the State Bar of California

Job description

Hoge Fenton, a distinguished multi-service law firm, headquartered in downtown San Jose, is seeking a Corporate Associate to join our growing team. This is a unique opportunity for an attorney who thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment, is eager to take on significant responsibility, and enjoys helping growth-stage companies navigate complex legal landscapes.

Key Responsibilities

• Emerging Companies & Venture Capital: Lead and support venture capital financings (Seed through Series D), including drafting NVCA-based documents, SAFEs, and convertible notes
• Private M&A: Manage buy-side and sell-side private acquisitions, including conducting due diligence, drafting principal transaction documents, and overseeing the closing process
• General Corporate Governance: Act as outside general counsel for startups, privately held companies, and nonprofit organizations, assisting with entity formation, board consents, and equity compensation matters (including Rule 701 compliance)
• Commercial & Tech Transactions: Review, draft, and negotiate commercial and technology agreements, including technology transfer and IP licensing agreements, master service agreements (MSAs) and statements of work (SOWs), SaaS agreements, vendor contracts, and NDAs
• Client Management: Serve as a primary point of contact for clients, delivering strategic legal advice that aligns with their business objectives

Requirements

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school
• Active membership in the State Bar of California
• 4 to 6 years of corporate law experience, with a focus on emerging companies, venture capital, and M&A
• Strong drafting and negotiation skills for complex commercial and corporate contracts
• Solid working knowledge of securities law exemptions and Blue Sky filing requirements
• Familiarity with Section 1202 (QSBS) and tax optimization strategies is a plus

Why Hoge Fenton?

Hoge Fenton is a well-established, highly respected multi-service law firm offering a supportive, flexible, and collaborative environment where attorneys build long-term careers handling high-quality, impactful matters. The firm maintains a deep commitment to diversity, inclusion, and professional development, providing resources and mentorship that empower attorneys at every stage of their careers.

Location

This position can be based in our Silicon Valley (downtown San Jose), Tri-Valley (Pleasanton), or Peninsula (San Mateo) office. Travel between locations may be necessary.

Compensation and Benefits

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $175,000 to $225,000. This range reflects the firm’s good faith estimate of potential compensation, which may vary based on experience, qualifications, and skill set.

• medical
• dental
• vision
• disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• 401(k)
• a student loan repayment benefit
• paid parental leave
• flexible work arrangements
• a no-accrual vacation policy

Equal Opportunity Statement

Hoge Fenton has a strong commitment to diversity. The firm strives to recruit and retain a workforce that welcomes and supports the interests of women, families, and individuals of all ages, races, creeds, religions, colors, national origins, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities/gender expressions, disabilities, or military and veteran statuses. Hoge Fenton is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Unsolicited resumes from search firms will not be considered, and no fees will be paid for candidates submitted without a prior written agreement.