Associate Legal Director, Corporate Transactions and Alliances

Associate Legal Director, Corporate Transactions and Alliances

Overview

This role within the Global Legal Team is for a business focused attorney to support transactional matters, including business development and alliance management support, who thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and has a “challenge accepted” approach. This key member of the Legal team reports to the Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Transactions and Alliances and handles a wide variety of business transactions that are core to Alnylam's business and growth.

The role supports a broad spectrum of activities from due diligence, agreement drafting and negotiation, to contract interpretation and navigating partner relationships. The attorney should be experienced in transactional matters, including life science business development transactions, R&D licensing, acquisitions and divestitures, strategic financing transactions and general business contracting, including for manufacturing and technical operations.

This individual also partners with the Intellectual Property, Business Development, and Alliance Management teams in executing transactions and supporting ongoing strategic relationships. The role is for an experienced business focused lawyer who is eager to be independent and creative, and who is ready to roll up their sleeves and work cross-functionally to support Alnylam’s growth in a meaningful way.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide legal support for the successful drafting and negotiation of a broad range of transactions, including complex licensing (in and out) and partnerships (research, development and commercial stage), M&A transactions and early research collaborations and evaluations.
• Provide technical, legal expertise in complex, varied business development transactions.
• Provide guidance that maximizes Alnylam’s interests when negotiating complex agreements; conduct due diligence, support transactions, and interpret complex agreements.
• Collaborate closely with Business Development, Alliance Management, Finance, as well as IP colleagues and other key stakeholders, to ensure the timely management of strategic transactions.
• In collaboration with Alliance Management, become a subject matter expert on Alnylam’s third-party relationships, understanding the intent, strategy and contractual rights and obligations, to advise the business and help manage risk and advance Alnylam’s interests.
• Take advice from and instruct outside counsel when appropriate and independently supervise their work.
• Keep up to date on new laws, regulations and industry trends affecting licensing and M&A generally and ensure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and policies.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree with excellent academic credentials. Applicant must be a member in good standing of the Massachusetts Bar or another Bar in the U.S.
• Minimum of 6+ years of professional experience, the ideal candidate will have at least 4-6 years of experience in transactional practice, both law firm and in-house experience considered, prior law firm experience preferred.
• Representation of life sciences companies preferred.
• Strong technical/analytical skills, combined with a practical, business-oriented and strategic approach to identifying and solving business and legal problems and to provide balanced, solution-oriented guidance.
• Team focused - collaborate and partner effectively across expertise areas (Legal, BD, Alliance Management, Finance, etc.) to provide strong client service in a high volume and fast-paced environment.
• Self-motivated, assertive, and self-confident with the ability to act independently with urgency and passion.
• Proven ability to work with impeccable integrity.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Excellent judgment – ability to assess risks and benefits and determine best path to achieving desired results for Alnylam.
• Strong organizational skills to maintain a high level of productivity, innovation and priority-setting to complete assignments and commitments efficiently and on time.

About Alnylam

We are the leader in RNAi therapeutics – a revolutionary approach with the potential to transform the lives of people with rare and common diseases. Built on Nobel Prize-winning science, Alnylam has delivered the breakthroughs that made RNAi therapeutics possible and are just at the beginning of what’s possible. Our deep pipeline, late-stage programs, and bold vision reflect our core values: fierce innovation, passion for excellence, purposeful urgency, open culture and commitment to people. We're proud to be a globally recognized top employer, where an authentic, inclusive culture and breakthrough thinking fuel one another.

At Alnylam, we commit to an inclusive recruitment process and equal employment opportunity. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their sex, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, religion, creed, physical or mental disability, pregnancy status or related conditions, genetic information, veteran or military status, marital or familial status, political affiliation, age, or any other factor protected by federal, state, or local law. Alnylam is an E-Verify Employer.