Assistant General Counsel
23andMe
Summary
We're looking for an exceptional lawyer to join 23andMe's growing legal team as an Associate General Counsel. You will own the corporate transactions function and support other key practice areas for a company operating at the frontier of human genetics.
Job description
About this Role
We're looking for an exceptional lawyer to join 23andMe's growing legal team as an Associate General Counsel. You will own the corporate transactions function and support other key practice areas for a company operating at the frontier of human genetics.
Reporting directly to the General Counsel and Chief Risk Officer, you will work collaboratively with our Corporate Development, Commercial, Research, Philanthropy and other teams across the organization. You will partner with the General Counsel to evolve our legal, compliance and contracting functions, mentor and develop colleagues and shape how the business engages with our legal team.
The role requires sound judgment, executive presence, and the ability to pragmatically anticipate and mitigate risk, identify opportunities, and develop legal frameworks that support 23andMe's vision, mission and growth.
What You'll Do
- Lead strategic transactions in partnership with our Corporate Development, Research and Commercial teams
- Structure, draft and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements, including data licensing, research collaboration, channel partnership and grant agreements
- Advise on corporate governance, regulatory matters, IP, employment, and AI policy
- Assist in the review of marketing and promotional materials for regulatory compliance
- Demonstrate leadership by mentoring other team members, setting best practices, and contributing to the development of a collaborative, solutions-oriented legal culture
- Strengthen our Legal Ops function, using AI and automation to streamline deal flow and establish scalable contracting standards
- Effectively manage outside counsel and other key external stakeholders
What You'll Bring
- A strong generalist skillset with 8+ years of experience working on corporate and transactional matters in a leading law firm and/or in-house environment
- Significant experience structuring, drafting and negotiating commercial agreements, preferably in the data licensing or healthcare space
- Familiarity with how life sciences and healthcare organizations use de-identified data and navigate privacy laws and de-identification standards
- Proven ability to balance legal risk with business objectives in a fast-paced environment and communicate complex legal concepts clearly and effectively to non-legal stakeholders
- High integrity, forward-looking perspective, and a pragmatic, solution-oriented approach
- Familiarity with AI-enabled legal tools and workflows
- Ability to work 3 days onsite (Tuesday-Thursday) in our Palo Alto, CA office
- JD from an accredited law school and a member of at least one state Bar
Preferred
- Experience in genomics, biobanking, real-world data, or life sciences collaborations
- Experience advising on genetic testing regulation, including FDA pathways for direct-to-consumer and clinical tests, CLIA certification, and state laboratory licensure
- Nonprofit, academic medical center, or research institute experience
Requirements
- 8+ years of experience working on corporate and transactional matters in a leading law firm and/or in-house environment
- Significant experience structuring, drafting and negotiating commercial agreements, preferably in the data licensing or healthcare space
- Familiarity with how life sciences and healthcare organizations use de-identified data and navigate privacy laws and de-identification standards
- Proven ability to balance legal risk with business objectives in a fast-paced environment and communicate complex legal concepts clearly and effectively to non-legal stakeholders
- High integrity, forward-looking perspective, and a pragmatic, solution-oriented approach
- Familiarity with AI-enabled legal tools and workflows
- Ability to work 3 days onsite (Tuesday-Thursday) in our Palo Alto, CA office
- JD from an accredited law school and a member of at least one state Bar
- Experience in genomics, biobanking, real-world data, or life sciences collaborations
- Experience advising on genetic testing regulation, including FDA pathways for direct-to-consumer and clinical tests, CLIA certification, and state laboratory licensure
- Nonprofit, academic medical center, or research institute experience
Benefits
- Medical, Dental & Vision
- 401(k) Matching
- Unlimited PTO
Company overview
23andMe is a pioneering American personal genomics and biotechnology company founded in 2006 and headquartered in South San Francisco, California. The company is best known for its direct-to-consumer genetic testing service that analyzes customers' saliva samples to generate comprehensive reports on ancestry, genetic health risks, and inherited traits. With over 14 million individuals genotyped, 23andMe operates one of the world's largest genetic databases, enabling groundbreaking research in genetics and human health. The company offers three main services: Ancestry Service for detailed ethnic breakdowns across 4,500+ regions, 23andMe+ Premium for advanced health insights and ancestry features, and 23andMe+ Total Health for next-generation longevity analysis. Beyond consumer testing, 23andMe has evolved into a significant research organization, with over 80% of customers opting to participate in its research program, contributing to studies on Parkinson's disease, cancer, depression, and other conditions. The company has faced regulatory challenges with the FDA but has obtained clearance for multiple health reports, making it the first direct-to-consumer DNA service with FDA-cleared health reports. In 2025, the company underwent significant changes including Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing and subsequent acquisition by TTAM Research Institute, a nonprofit founded by co-founder Anne Wojcicki.