Sr. Corporate Counsel

STAAR Surgical; Lake Forest (CA); On-site; USD 190,000 - 270,000; Full time

Job summary

STAAR Surgical seeks a senior corporate attorney to lead SEC compliance, governance, and major transactions. You will partner with executive leadership and the board, owning core public-company responsibilities while expanding into general corporate matters and strategic initiatives.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years of experience (law firm and/or in-house at a public company), a JD admitted in California, and proven ability to advise executives on filings, disclosures, and enterprise risk.

Qualifications

• JD required; California bar admission in good standing, or admission in another state and registered in CA.

Responsibilities

• SEC Reporting & Compliance: Draft, review and file 10-K/10-Q/8-K and registration statements.
• Corporate Governance: Advise on SEC regulations, Sarbanes-Oxley, and listing exchange rules.
• Corporate Secretarial Support: Support the Board, prepare board materials, and manage proxy statements.
• Disclosure Advice: Review earnings releases, investor presentations, and public communications.
• Securities Transactions: Support equity/debt financing, M&A, and insider trading compliance.

Skills

SEC filings

Corporate governance

Cross-functional leadership

Regulatory compliance

Public company counsel

Education

Juris Doctorate (JD)

Job description

MAIN JOB RESPONSIBILITIES / COMPETENCIES

Why This Role

This is a career-defining opportunity for an experienced SEC and corporate transactions attorney who wants to move beyond technical compliance and into a trusted business advisor role within a global, publicly-traded medical device company.

You will work directly with senior leadership and support the board of directors, taking ownership of core public company responsibilities while intentionally expanding your scope into general corporate matters, strategic transactions, global compliance, and enterprise risk management. For the right attorney, this role offers a clear runway to future legal leadership in the medical technology industry.

Role Overview

This is a Sr. Corporate Counsel, or for the more experienced candidate, an Associate General Counsel role, reporting to the VP of Legal. You will serve as a key legal partner to the executive team, advising on SEC compliance, corporate governance, capital markets matters, and complex corporate transactions. In parallel, this role is designed to broaden general legal expertise, including global subsidiary governance, enterprise risk management, health care compliance, and cross-functional commercial support.

Key Responsibilities

• SEC Reporting & Compliance: Draft, review, and file periodic reports (10-K, 10-Q, 8-K) and registration statements.
• Corporate Governance: Advise on compliance with SEC regulations, Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and listing exchange rules (NYSE/NASDAQ).
• Corporate Secretarial Support: Support the Board of Directors, prepare board materials, and manage proxy statements.
• Disclosure Advice: Review earnings releases, investor presentations, and public communications.
• Securities Transactions: Provide legal support for equity/debt financing, M&A, and insider trading compliance (Section 16).
• Cross-Functional Legal Leadership: Support commercial operations, regulatory and health care compliance programs, and enterprise risk management efforts.
• Other functions and responsibilities as deemed necessary to support STAAR business needs.

REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION & TRAINING

• Juris Doctorate (JD) and admission to practice in California (in good standing); or admitted to practice in another state and registered with the State Bar of California.

EXPERIENCE

• At least 5+ years’ experience as an attorney, including law firm experience and/or in-house experience at a public company; medical technology company experience preferred.
• Experience drafting, reviewing, and advising on various SEC filings. Strong understanding of SEC compliance regulations and advising public company executives and directors. Experience as corporate secretary and willingness to assist directly with SEC filings and corporate governance matters, though this position is supported by an experienced corporate paralegal.

OTHER SKILLS

• Experience with global subsidiary management and corporate governance
• General knowledge of medical technology industry, including applicable legal, compliance and regulatory frameworks. Understanding of, and willingness to learn and develop skills to support healthcare compliance and risk management activities.
• Self-motivated, with ability to independently identify, analyze and render practical legal advice and counsel.
• Ability to build consensus with diverse stakeholders and third parties and form strong, collaborative working relationships with clients.
• Ability to manage shifting workload priorities, with strong organization skills and ability to meet multiple deadlines across a variety of projects and programs.
• Detail oriented, with a high degree of accuracy and efficiency.
• Excellent computer, communications, problem-solving, and analytical thinking skills.
• Team player focused on team and organizational success.
• Integrity, honesty, and trustworthiness are core operating principles.

Pay range is $190K - $270K- Title and compensation will be determined based on the selected candidate’s experience. An Assistant General Counsel (AGC) level role may also be considered depending on qualifications.

STAAR Surgical is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran or disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.