--- title: 'Senior Legal Counsel at Summit Therapeutics' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-legal-counsel-summit-therapeutics-princeton-k25r9p11wqar' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-10-30' --- # Senior Legal Counsel at Summit Therapeutics - **Company:** Summit Therapeutics - **Location:** Princeton, NJ - **Compensation:** $203k–$243k - **Work type:** remote - **Posted:** 2026-10-16 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-30 - **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/summittherapeutics/jobs/4452094009 ## Job description About Summit: Summit Therapeutics Inc. is a biopharmaceutical oncology company with a mission focused on improving quality of life, increasing potential duration of life, and resolving serious unmet medical needs. At Summit, we believe in building a team of world class professionals who are passionate about this mission, and it is our people who drive this mission to reality. Summit’s core values include integrity, passion for excellence, purposeful urgency, collaboration, and our commitment to people. Our employees are truly the heart and soul of our culture, and they are invaluable in shaping our journey toward excellence. Summit’s team is inspired to touch and help change lives through Summit’s clinical studies in the field of oncology. Summit has multiple global Phase 3 clinical studies, including: Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) - HARMONi: Phase 3 clinical study which was intended to evaluate ivonescimab combined with chemotherapy compared to placebo plus chemotherapy in patients with EGFR-mutated, locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous NSCLC who were previously treated with a 3rd generation EGFR TKI. - HARMONi-3: Phase 3 clinical study which is intended to evaluate ivonescimab combined with chemotherapy compared to pembrolizumab combined with chemotherapy in patients with first-line metastatic NSCLC. - HARMONi-7: Phase 3 clinical study which is intended to evaluate ivonescimab monotherapy compared to pembrolizumab monotherapy in patients with first-line metastatic NSCLC. Colorectal Cancer (CRC) - HARMONi-GI3: Phase 3 clinical study intended to evaluate ivonescimab in combination with chemotherapy compared with bevacizumab plus chemotherapy. Ivonescimab is an investigational therapy not presently approved by any regulatory authority other than China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). Summit is headquartered in Miami, Florida, and has additional offices in California, New Jersey, the UK, and Ireland. Overview of Role: The Senior Legal Counsel is primarily responsible for drafting, and negotiating to execution key clinical collaboration agreements.  This position will also support other legal and contracting needs of the company. This position is within the Legal Department and partners with business development, clinical development, clinical operations, medical affairs, finance, research & development, and other internal clients from other departments to support company business objectives, protect the company from risk, and ensure compliance with company guidelines. Role and Responsibilities: Draft, review and negotiate strategic clinical trial collaboration agreements, including related supply, delivery and quality agreements, with business development, research and development, and commercial partners. Draft, review and negotiate clinical related contracts, including clinical trial agreements (including ancillary agreements, such as clinical study service agreements, quality agreements, and pharmacy and radiology agreements), investigator sponsored studies (ISTs), sponsored research agreements, and agreements with contract research organizations (CROs). In addition, may draft, review and negotiate financing agreements, consulting agreements, master services agreements and related statements of work, vendor and service contracts and related work orders, IT software license agreements, and confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements. Acts as the primary contact between internal business units, including the Business Development and Strategic Alliance team, and external parties, ensuring that all legal and contractual matters are addressed efficiently and promptly; escalate matters to the Chief Legal Officer or General Counsel, as necessary, to reduce company risk and help ensure company business objectives are met. - Provide guidance and supervise other attorneys and paralegals in the legal department in the review and negotiation of contracts ensuring compliance with all Legal Department guidelines, policies and procedures - Develop strong working relationships with functional groups and project teams. - Promptly respond to complex inquiries regarding contract obligations and revisions. - Identify risks and issues, suggest alternatives that meet company business objectives while also reducing company risk. - Reports the status of contracts to internal clients using established processes and updated processes as necessary. - Actively seeks feedback and advice from IP Counsel, Regulatory Counsel, Commercial Counsel, and the Compliance Department to ensure efficient and appropriate handling of relevant issues in agreements - Works with Quality Assurance to ensure appropriate handling of quality matters. - Prepare template agreements, modify existing templates and prepare unique agreements as required. - Ensure clear and prompt communication with company employees, and outside parties regarding contract status and any outstanding issues - Support due diligence activities during acquisition of assets as it relates to review and assessment of contracts. - Provide training within the legal team and to other business departments as needed regarding contracting matters. - Handle miscellaneous legal tasks or special assignments on an as-needed basis. - All other duties as assigned. Experience, Education and Specialized Knowledge and Skills: - Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school and admitted to a US state bar in good standing. - Minimum of 7+ years of major law firm and/or in-house experience with a pharmaceutical, medical device, or healthcare company - Must have substantial prior experience as lead attorney for drafting and negotiating Clinical Trial Collaboration Agreements - Prior clinical trial agreement negotiation and drafting experience (U.S. and ex-U.S.) with a pharmaceutical company - Precise drafting and strong legal analysis skills, and knowledge of the regulations and statutes and industry guidelines impacting clinical trials, pharmaceutical research, development and commercial contracts, including data privacy (U.S. and GDPR) - Proficient with Word and have a working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and Teams and experienced working with CLM systems and an ability to quickly learn new CLM systems. - Excellent written and oral communication skills; ability to work effectively and efficiently with all levels of management and personnel. - Able to handle multiple projects in a timely manner - Experienced in handling due diligence with acquisition and/or divestitures - Strong interpersonal skills including a strong sense of being a team player - A keen understanding of business and the ability to diagnose legal problems and present positive, creative solutions and alternatives for management - Strong organizational and planning skills and meticulous attention to detail - Able to work independently while exercising initiative, flexibility and good judgment - Works well under pressure to meet specific deadlines - Must be flexible due to rapidly changing business environment for a growth company This is the pay for this position Pay Transparency $203,000—$242,563 USD Actual compensation packages are based on several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, depth of experience, certifications, and specific work location. This may be different in other locations due to differences in the cost of labor. The total compensation package for this position may also include bonus, stock, benefits and/or other applicable variable compensation. Summit does not accept referrals from employment businesses and/or employment agencies in respect of the vacancies posted on this site. All employment businesses/agencies are required to contact Summit’s Talent Acquisition team at recruiting@smmttx.com to obtain prior written authorization before referring any candidates to Summit. Summit Therapeutics Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and takes pride in creating and maintaining diverse environment. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training or promotion or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. ## About Summit Therapeutics ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Summit Therapeutics Inc. is a biopharmaceutical oncology company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing novel bispecific antibody therapies, with its lead candidate ivonescimab targeting PD-1 and VEGF for multiple solid tumors. - **Entity Type**: Public (NASDAQ: SMMT) - **Headquarters**: Miami, Florida, USA (with additional offices in Palo Alto, CA; Princeton, NJ; Oxford, UK; and Dublin, Ireland) - **Founded**: 2003 - **Founders**: Not publicly disclosed on the company website; the company was founded in 2003. ## Core Business - **Primary industry**: Biopharmaceuticals / Oncology - **Target customers**: B2B (healthcare providers, patients, and caregivers) with a focus on resolving serious unmet medical needs in oncology - **Mission statement**: "To resolve serious, unmet medical needs for the betterment of overall human health." [smmttx.com](https://smmttx.com/company/about-us/default.aspx) ## Products & Services - **Ivonescimab (SMT112)**: A novel, potential first-in-class investigational bispecific antibody targeting both PD-1 and VEGF. It is designed to combine immunotherapy (PD-1 blockade) with anti-angiogenesis (VEGF blockade) into a single molecule. Currently being studied in several global Phase 3 clinical trials for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), colorectal cancer (CRC), and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Licensed from Akeso, Inc. (HKEX: 9926.HK) for territories including the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. [smmttx.com](https://smmttx.com/pipeline/default.aspx) ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Approximately $2.7 billion (as of recent data) [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/summit-therapeutics) - **Key Metric**: Annual revenue of approximately $705,000 (reported). The company is pre-commercialization and heavily investing in R&D. Total funding raised since IPO (2015) is not disclosed, but the company has a strong cash position from equity offerings. - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Akeso, Inc. (key licensing partner for ivonescimab). The company is publicly traded with institutional and retail investors. - **Growth Signals**: - Headcount grew 72.5% year-over-year to 244 employees. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/summit-therapeutics) - Multiple global Phase 3 trials actively recruiting (HARMONi, HARMONi-3, HARMONi-7, HARMONi-GI3, ILLUMINE). - Over 4,000 patients have been treated with ivonescimab across all clinical trials globally. [smmttx.com](https://smmttx.com/pipeline/default.aspx) - Achieved Great Place to Work® Certification. [smmttx.com](https://smmttx.com/careers/careers-overview/default.aspx) ## Competitive Advantages - **Novel Mechanism**: Ivonescimab is a first-in-class bispecific antibody targeting both PD-1 and VEGF simultaneously, potentially offering superior efficacy and fewer side effects compared to combination therapies. - **Speed and Execution**: The company emphasizes "high-speed execution in commercialization" and has rapidly initiated multiple Phase 3 trials. - **Global Reach**: Licensed territories cover major markets (U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan, Latin America, Middle East, Africa) with a strong partner (Akeso) in the rest of the world. - **Strong Balance Sheet**: With a $2.7B market cap and public listing, the company has access to capital markets to fund its pipeline. ## Strategic Focus - **Current priorities**: Advancing ivonescimab through Phase 3 clinical trials across multiple solid tumor indications (NSCLC, CRC, HNSCC), with the goal of regulatory approval and commercialization. - **Future direction**: Expanding the pipeline into additional solid tumors and leveraging the bispecific platform for future therapies. The company is focused on becoming a leading oncology player. - **Near-term milestones**: Data readouts from ongoing Phase 3 trials, potential regulatory submissions, and building commercial infrastructure. ## Why Work Here - **Culture**: The company has achieved Great Place to Work® Certification, indicating a positive, supportive, and fulfilling work environment. Core values include Commitment to People, Integrity, Passion for Excellence, Purposeful Urgency, Accountability, and Collaboration. [smmttx.com](https://smmttx.com/careers/careers-overview/default.aspx) - **Work Environment**: Fast-paced, high-energy atmosphere focused on innovation and collaboration. The company emphasizes "making a significant difference in patients’ lives." - **Benefits (U.S.)**: - 401(k) with 6% employer match - Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) with 15% discount up to the annual federal limit - Flexible Spending Account - Commuter Benefit - Onsite lunch provided - **Benefits (U.K.)**: - Private Medical Insurance - Employee Assistance Program - Life Assurance Policy - Company Pension Contributions - ESPP - **Remote/Hybrid Policy**: Not explicitly stated, but multiple office locations suggest a hybrid or on-site presence is expected for many roles. - **Open Roles**: 25 active job postings (as of recent data) including Senior Director of Sales Operations, Clinical Scientists, Medical Science Liaisons, and Drug Product MSAT roles. [greenhouse.io](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/summitherrapeutics) - **Headcount Growth**: 72.5% year-over-year growth signals a scaling organization with opportunities for career advancement. ## Sources 1. [smmttx.com - About Us](https://smmttx.com/company/about-us/default.aspx) 2. [smmttx.com - Investor Relations Overview](https://www.smmttx.com/overview/default.aspx) 3. [smmttx.com - Pipeline](https://smmttx.com/pipeline/default.aspx) 4. [smmttx.com - Careers Overview](https://smmttx.com/careers/careers-overview/default.aspx) 5. [linkedin.com - Summit Therapeutics Company Page](https://www.linkedin.com/company/summit-therapeutics) 6. [greenhouse.io - Summit Therapeutics Careers](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/summitherrapeutics) ## Other roles at Summit Therapeutics - [Director, MSAT-Drug Product (US, UK, Ireland, or Switzerland)](https://feeny.ai/job/director-msat-drug-product-us-uk-ireland-or-switzerland-summit-therapeutics-r3tyakx42enr) — Princeton, NJ - [Senior Medical Science Liaison (Upper NY)](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-medical-science-liaison-upper-ny-summit-therapeutics-new-york-0m9ztt6s208s) — New York, NY - [Medical Writer, Medical Communications & Publications](https://feeny.ai/job/medical-writer-medical-communications-publications-summit-therapeutics-palo-alto-mq4p6tvcrxnt) — Palo Alto, CA - [Director, Medical Affairs Operations](https://feeny.ai/job/director-medical-affairs-operations-summit-therapeutics-princeton-qnwcxs9r0125) — Princeton, NJ - [Senior Manager, Externally Sponsored Research](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-manager-externally-sponsored-research-summit-therapeutics-palo-alto-h6g4ymrm7ret) — Palo Alto, CA - [Paralegal](https://feeny.ai/job/paralegal-summit-therapeutics-palo-alto-7crgxyrgt8ht) — Palo Alto, CA - [Director, Regulatory Affairs CMC](https://feeny.ai/job/director-regulatory-affairs-cmc-summit-therapeutics-remote-spf3wfkhxryb) - [Executive Director, Key Accounts Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/executive-director-key-accounts-lead-summit-therapeutics-field-fcy78qbyss0k) — Field, United States - [Senior Director, Commercial Excellence](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-director-commercial-excellence-summit-therapeutics-princeton-7yyt2trazq5s) — Princeton, NJ - [Senior Director, National Field Excellence](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-director-national-field-excellence-summit-therapeutics-united-states-tbfnrz5523j2) — United States