Senior Legal Counsel

At Life Science Law, we are looking for a highly skilled professional to join our team and work along with one of our clients, as a Senior Legal Counsel – MOW.  

This is an exciting and challenging opportunity to join a leading pharmaceutical company specialising in opioid addiction treatment and other mental health issues. 

This is a contract hybrid role, 4-5 days a week, for a period of 3 to 6 months with in-office collaboration at their Slough office. The company has a culture of supporting a degree of remote working. The Senior Legal Counsel – MOW will work alongside our client’s team of friendly and highly skilled professionals and business partners. 

About Us: 

Life Science Law, an award winning legal, and compliance consultancy firm consists of a team of high-calibre talent. We are committed to providing our team with an environment which values excellence, integrity, independence and ambition. Our unique approach means we can provide our clients with a bespoke service which is tailored to their specific needs, whether that’s providing an outsourced fully fledged legal and compliance department, support on a particular project or temporary resourcing needs. 

Role Overview: 

The Senior Counsel is a valued member of the MOW (Most Of World – global ex US) business management, interacting with all key stakeholders to ensure appropriate risk management from a legal perspective in the growth of the business, and supports and refers directly to the Assistant General Counsel MOW. The Senior Counsel – MOW also supports directly the business teams of all countries in MOW and domestic clients, by providing robust and effective legal support to the MOW management, demonstrating capability in communicating advice that can be easily interpreted and implemented by the business. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Provide legal support for operational and commercial activities, emanating from MOW operations. 
• Support a variety of legal matters, working both autonomously and with other lawyers (internal and externally), providing legal advice to operational management. 
• Be heavily involved in general business operations offering sound practical advice and guidance based on solid legal rationale.  
• Take control of day-to-day management of legal issues for variety of countries within MOW region. 
• Drive effective contract management within MOW via Indivior Contract Management Tools.

Dimensions of Role: 

To manage and assist on various operational and commercial legal matters occurring throughout MOW (including working with and management of local external lawyers). 

Legal support to Commercial Teams in MOW 

• Work with the commercial teams across the MOW, dealing with a wide variety of ad hoc queries and projects associated with operating the MOW business. These include partnering with the business and acting as dedicated counsel to certain affiliates and countries within MOW on all legal issues (involving items such distribution models and agreements, competition law, regulatory and compliance issues, appropriate marketingarrangements).  
• Negotiate and draft legal agreements for various Indivior companies. Provide risk analysis advice and legal opinions. 

Contribution into Corporate Legal Policies and procedures 

• Assist in management of various corporate arrangements including establishing and managing various internal structures/legal entities and intercompany arrangements.  
• Supportdepartmental projects such asrefinement and management ofgeneral compliance arrangements and standard contracts. 
• Leading the development and provision of legal training to MOW employees. 

Legal support to Brand Teams 

• Work with cross functional Brand teams (including Finance, Marketing, Medical, Regulatory and Supply) on various commercial projects. 
• Work with Medical and Regulatory to develop contracts forclinical studies, HEOR research and collaboration agreements. 

Legal Support to Functions  

• First point of contact and business partner for key functions within MOW, including the supply team (covering all aspects of the manufacture, distribution and sale of products across the EUCAN, including work with logistic providers, contract manufacturing organisations), medical, marketing and associated units. 
• Facilitate contract interpretation and the resolution of contract disputes. 
• Awareness and appreciation of scientific and technical knowledge and experience related to life science and healthcare is required. 
• Substantial experience drafting, negotiating and advising upon commercial contracts and the necessary high level of attention to detail and commercial awareness. 

The Senior Legal Counsel – MOW is a member of the global legal team. 

Key Challenges 

• This role requires a balance in applying technical legal risk against practical commercial practice and advising management appropriately. 
• Pragmatic thinking with ability not just to advise on possible risks but recommend solutions and support such recommendations in a practical/business context. 
• Ability and flexibility to effectively interact with different cultures and quickly building businessrelationships of trust. 
• Understanding needs of a rapidly evolving business, including personal drive with a desire to get results. Wide ranging work requires excellent organisational and project management skills and a desire to identify and implement new and efficient ways of working. 
• Awareness and in-depth understanding of European pharmaceutical law and keep up to date on relevant healthcare and medicines laws, rules, codes, industry best practices and the enforcement environment. 

Qualifications: 

• Good academic results. 
• Education to degree level, 2:1 or above  
• Professionally qualified in UK and/or relevant EU jurisdiction. 
• At least ten years post qualification relevant work experience. 
• At least five years of in-house experience in a legal commercial role. 
• At least five years of prior pharmaceuticals experience, preferably in a prescription-based pharmaceutical company. 
• Experience in working within a commercial environment and working with external European based lawyers/consultants. 
• Good grounding in general commercial law. 

Personality Traits:  

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills – specifically including drafting documents and agreements. 
• Ability to handle multiple matters and work under pressure.  
• Strong project management skills & evidence of successfully managing complex inter-related work streams. 
• Flexibility in thinking and pragmatic problem-solving skills. 
• Excellent interpersonal skills, able to influence people of all levels and across various jurisdictions. 
• Energetic, tenacious and goal/results orientated. 
• Proven experience in transactional law and business acumen.Sound business understanding (business drivers, objectives and rationale). 
• Strong track record of delivery, both in quality and speed. 
• Capable of working autonomously. 
• The business language in Indivior is English; therefore, fluency in English is essential. Other languages advantageous.  
• Willing to travel as needed from time to time (about 20%).   
• International outlook. 

If the description fits your experience and has aroused your interest, please apply so we can get in contact with you to join our fast paced, rapidly growing, flexible legal consultancy!