Corporate Counsel

About this role

<p>Our mission at Duolingo is to develop the best education in the world and make it universally available. It’s a big mission, and that’s where you come in!</p> <p>At Duolingo, you’ll join a team that cares about educating our users, experimenting with big ideas, making fact-based decisions, and finding innovative solutions to complex problems. You’ll have limitless learning opportunities and daily collaborations with world-class minds — while doing work that’s both meaningful and fun.</p> <p>Join our life-changing mission to develop education for our half a billion (and growing!) learners around the world. </p> <p style="text-align: left;">Read <a href="https://blog.duolingo.com/?utm_source=greenhouse.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=generalblog_gh_091224">our blog</a> to learn more.</p> <hr> <p style="text-align: left;"><strong>About the role...</strong></p> <p style="text-align: left;">We’re looking for a Corporate Counsel to work closely with our Managing Counsel to support corporate matters, including, securities, governance, and M&A and strategic transactions. This is also an opportunity to work with the Managing Counsel to support a broader portfolio as a generalist in areas such as: international, employment, real estate/workplace, and risk management/insurance. You’ll be a member of the Legal team and collaborate with cross‑functional partners, including Finance, People, Workplace, and senior leadership, and outside counsel where needed, exercising sound judgment, crisp communication, and a practical, business‑forward approach.</p> <p style="text-align: left;"> </p> <p><strong>🧠  You will...</strong></p> <ul> <li>Support securities and public‑company workstreams, including periodic and current reporting, proxy statement/annual meeting preparation, Section 16 matters, and disclosure processes.</li> <li>Counsel on policies and procedures relating to securities law compliance and disclosure matters; support the administration of Duolingo’s Insider Trading Policy</li> <li>Advise on corporate governance, related policies and approvals, board materials, and subsidiary management; maintain templates, processes and playbooks to keep operations efficient and compliant.</li> <li>Support executive compensation, equity compensation, and incentive compensation plan matters.</li> <li>Provide guidance on international operations.</li> <li>Partner on corporate development strategy and help support mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, partnerships, investments, and other complex corporate transactions.</li> <li>Serve as a legal partner to People on recruiting and hiring practices, policies and handbooks, accommodations, investigations, performance/separations, and employment documents (offers, confidentiality/IP, consulting/contractor agreements).</li> <li>Support real estate and workplace matters, including office leases, amendments, construction and services agreements, vendor MSAs/SOWs, and facilities operations issues.</li> <li>Draft, review, and negotiate a range of commercial agreements related to the above areas; create and iterate templates and checklists that increase speed and consistency.</li> <li>Monitor and synthesize relevant legal and regulatory developments (e.g., SEC, exchange rules, wage/hour, pay transparency, workplace safety), and translate them into practical guidance and training for stakeholders.</li> <li>Manage outside counsel efficiently, set clear scopes and budgets, and drive toward timely, high‑quality outcomes.</li> <li>Support other matters based on interest and business need.</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><strong>✅  You have...</strong></p> <ul> <li>J.D. (or international equivalent) and active bar membership in good standing.</li> <li>2-5 years of relevant legal experience, preferably in a fast-paced environment, with direct exposure to public company securities, corporate governance and corporate transactions. </li> <li>Strong contract drafting and negotiation skills; ability to balance risk, speed, and business impact with clear, actionable guidance under tight timelines.</li> <li>Clear, concise communicator who can explain complex topics to non‑lawyers and build trust with senior stakeholders.</li> <li>Proven ability to prioritize, create effective processes, and keep cross‑functional partners unblocked in a fast‑moving environment.</li> <li>Ability to work from our Pittsburgh, PA office.</li> </ul> <p style="text-align: center;"> </p> <p><strong>⭐  Exceptional candidates will have...</strong></p> <ul> <li>Strong interest in Duolingo and its mission.</li> <li>Hands‑on experience running ’34 Act reporting cycles, proxy statement preparation processes, annual stockholder meetings, Section 16 and insider trading matters, and disclosure-related workflows.</li> <li>Experience supporting board/committee governance and preparing high‑quality materials and minutes.</li> <li>Experience counseling on and managing international matters.</li> <li>Experience building templates/playbooks and delivering brief stakeholder trainings.</li> <li>Experience drafting, negotiating, and advising on commercial contracts.</li> <li>Exposure to employment and real estate matters.</li> <li>Interest and experience in leveraging AI tools and technology to drive legal…