Associate General Counsel, Transactions

Role Summary

The Associate General Counsel, Transactions will be an integral part of a team of attorneys advising AbbVie’s Business Development and Acquisitions team, along with other key corporate functions. The attorney will draft and negotiate key transaction agreements, including mergers, acquisitions, licenses and collaborations and options to license and acquire, provide clear legal advice on these matters, and anticipate and address issues promptly with a cross-functional client base.

Responsibilities

• Identify and resolve highly complex legal issues and draft and negotiate highly complex corporate transactions.
• Have extensive experience with managing M&A and pharmaceutical licensing and collaboration/joint venture transactions.
• Keep abreast of changes in laws that affect pharmaceutical licensing, and M&A transactions, including antitrust/competition, and other corporate and IP matters.
• Regularly negotiate highly individualized and sophisticated agreements independently with third parties on matters of strategic importance that affect a substantial portion of AbbVie’s business or are areas of significant importance to management.
• Regularly engage in due diligence and independently interpret complex existing agreements and advise on complex situations related to transactions.
• Select and direct the work of outside counsel, including defining project objectives and managing projects.
• Maintain and ensure compliance with applicable corporate and divisional policies and procedures.
• Analyze and clearly communicate legal advice designed to maximize outcomes for patients and for AbbVie on complex, strategic agreements related to pharmaceutical licenses and collaborations and other strategic alliances.
• Assess and counsel on antitrust and competition risks and considerations, and competition filings, with respect to transactions in multiple jurisdictions.
• Provide clear advice to clients, including management, ensuring that advice maximizes the potential of our pipeline.
• Use good judgment in determining whether and when to elevate issues to senior attorneys and senior management.
• Assist senior legal staff on matters of significant importance to AbbVie that affect a substantial portion of AbbVie's business.
• Serve as a recognized source of innovative ideas in complex areas of law, business, or technology.
• Provide legal guidance, supervision, and support to paralegals and legal support staff.

Qualifications

Education Requirements

• Must possess a J.D. degree.
• Must meet the professional licensing requirement of the state in which they practice within a two-year time-period.

Basic Qualifications

• Excellent legal analysis skills and crisp, concise communicator.
• Honed judgment and ability to identify and quickly address critical issues.
• Strong negotiating skills, and an ability to independently manage complex transactions.
• Ability to use legal training to maximize business opportunities.
• Strong sense of urgency and drive for successful business outcome in all activities.
• 15+ years of relevant transactional and/or industry experience.
• Experience in advising on ongoing complex contractual relationships, such as development collaborations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with drafting and negotiating complex pharmaceutical licensing and collaboration transactions.
• Experience in providing legal advice for pharmaceutical research and development.