Senior Corporate & Securities Legal Counsel

Upwork ($UPWK) is the world's work marketplace. We serve everyone from one-person startups to over 30% of the Fortune 100 with a powerful, trust-driven platform that enables companies and talent to work together in new ways that unlock their potential.
Last year, more than $3.3 billion of work was done through Upwork by skilled professionals who are gaining more control by finding work they are passionate about and innovating their careers.
Upwork is seeking a self-motivated corporate and securities attorney to join our award-winning legal team. In this position, you will report to and work with the company's Vice President, Deputy General Counsel to manage the corporate and securities work at Upwork. You will work with and advise a variety of cross-functional partners, including members of the Upwork leadership team. This position requires deep experience in public company representation, including public company reporting requirements, corporate governance, executive compensation, corporate development transactions, and other important corporate matters.
This is a remote-first role (where you can live and work from any one of our approved locations) on our legal team, which Law.com recently recognized as 2021's "Most Innovative Legal Department" in the United States.
Your Responsibilities:

• Assist in all areas related to corporate and securities matters
• Prepare and review SEC filings, including Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, proxy statements, and Section 16 filings
• Assist with investor relations matters, including reviewing quarterly stockholder letters, earnings scripts, press releases, and other materials
• Prepare for annual stockholder meetings
• Coordinate, prepare for, and attend governance-focused investor meetings
• Prepare materials for board of directors and committee meetings, including board decks and meeting minutes
• Support our human resources department with executive compensation and other matters
• Support our stock administration function on equity matters
• Support M&A and other strategic transactions, including working with the corporate development function
• Advise on corporate governance, executive compensation, and related matters, as well as updating and managing applicable corporate governance policies
• Advise on potential impact of new and proposed securities laws and corporate governance developments, market trends, and best practices
• Maintain and update policies and procedures to ensure compliance with SEC and other securities-related regulatory requirements applicable to publicly-traded companies, including Regulation FD and insider trading matters
• Manage outside counsel in all appropriate subject matters

What it takes to catch our eye:

• 7+ years corporate and securities experience with a top corporate law firm and, ideally, a sophisticated in-house corporate legal team
• Resourceful self-starter with a positive attitude and strong work ethic
• Experience preparing and reviewing SEC filings
• Assisted on mergers and acquisitions and other strategic transactions

• Team player who welcomes responsibility and drives complex, cross-functional projects to timely completion
• Good judgment and risk management skills with an ability to balance business needs, regulatory obligations, and reputational risks in a practical way
• Strong written and verbal communications skills
• A demonstrated ability to collaborate, as well as to work independently, balancing competing priorities in a fast-paced environment with a high level of professionalism
• Prior experience working for a sophisticated in-house legal team in the corporate arena

Come change how the world works.
At Upwork, you'll shape talent solutions for how the world works today. We are a remote-first organization working together to create exciting remote work opportunities for a global community of professionals. While we have physical offices in San Francisco and Chicago, currently we also support hiring of corporate full-time employees in 19 states in the United States. Please speak with a member of our recruitment team to determine whether you are located in a state in which we are hiring corporate full-time employees.
Our vibrant culture is built on shared values and our mission to create economic opportunities so that people have better lives. We foster amazing teams, put our community first, and have a bias toward action. We encourage everyone to bring their whole selves to work and grow together through development opportunities, mentorship, and employee resource groups. And oh yeah, we've also got amazing benefits - including medical insurance for you and your family, unlimited PTO, 401(k) with matching, 12 weeks of paid parental leave, and a generous Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Check out our Life at Upwork page to learn more about our benefits and the employee experience.
Check out our Life at Upwork page to learn more about the employee experience.
Upwork is proudly committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we never discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.
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