Jason Okazaki

Jason Okazaki, Advisory Board Member

Jason Okazaki is the Chief Legal and Business Officer of Assembly Biosciences, Inc.  Assembly is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing innovative therapeutics targeting hepatitis B virus and diseases associated with the microbiome.

Prior to joining Assembly, Mr. Okazaki served in a series of positions of increasing responsibility in the legal department of Gilead Sciences, Inc. from 2006 through 2020, culminating in his role as Senior Vice President, Legal, and Assistant Secretary.  At Gilead, Mr. Okazaki advised on strategic transactions, corporate governance, SEC matters and operational contracts and led the Asia and Latin America legal organizations.  He also led the legal efforts on all of Gilead’s acquisitions, including its landmark acquisition of Pharmasset in 2011, which resulted in a cure for hepatitis C virus.

Prior to joining Gilead, Mr. Okazaki was a senior associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in New York, where he represented companies in connection with mergers, acquisitions and corporate finance matters.

Mr. Okazaki received a B.A. in Economics from Stanford University and a J.D. from U.C. Hastings College of the Law.  Mr. Okazaki also serves on the Stanford Athletics Board and the Board of the Directors of the International League of Conservation Photographers.  He and his wife, Marielena (founder of Epic 7 Travel), are passionate photographers (both above and underwater) and conservationists who have traveled to 70+ countries.