Senior Counsel, Global Alliance - China
AbbVie
August 06, 2026
Remote friendly (North Chicago, IL)
United States
$160,500 - $305,000 USD yearly
Corporate Functions
Responsibilities:
- Align legal strategy with portfolio objectives and support collaborative decision-making across the product lifecycle.
- Advise on and track U.S.-China legal/regulatory/policy frameworks affecting pharmaceutical collaborations and China-involving drug development (e.g., China HGR regulations, U.S. BIOSECURE Act, DOJ Bulk Data Transfer rules, outbound biotech investment restrictions, and U.S./China foreign investment frameworks); translate updates into actionable guidance.
- Develop/support training and guidance on relevant frameworks.
- Advise on alliance/collaboration matters with China-based pharmaceutical/biotech partners, providing practical legal solutions for governance, execution, and long-term value.
- Interpret/analyze complex strategic agreements (licenses, collaborations, co-development, etc.) and advise business leadership on issues across partnered R&D, manufacturing, supply, and commercialization.
- Draft/review/negotiate amendments, governance documents, dispute resolutions, and operational agreements for the post-execution collaboration lifecycle.
- Partner with Transactions Legal and business development to evaluate, structure, and negotiate new China-based collaborations (structuring, due diligence, risk assessment, drafting, integration planning).
Qualifications:
- J.D. and currently admitted to the bar in at least one U.S. state; licensed where you will work.
- Experience at an Am Law 100 firm or in-house at a major pharma/life-sciences company.
- 5+ years relevant experience (9+ preferred) in: (1) life-sciences/pharma transaction drafting/review/negotiation; (2) advising on global collaborations/alliance governance/contract interpretation/amendments/disputes/partner management; and/or (3) advising on pharma R&D, regulatory, manufacturing, supply, or commercialization.
- Strongly preferred: experience with China-based collaborations/cross-border transactions/global alliance management.
- Required: substantive knowledge of U.S.-China regulatory frameworks affecting China-involving pharmaceutical collaborations/drug development.
- Preferred: Mandarin proficiency.
- Preferred/Required: scientific background (or demonstrated interest in biology/chemistry/drug development); understanding of early/late-stage scientific, development, regulatory, operational, and commercial concepts.
- Must be able to work autonomously, collaborate across functions/geographies, and demonstrate strong legal analysis and counseling/communication.
Benefits:
- Paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick); medical/dental/vision insurance; 401(k) to eligible employees.
Application instructions:
- N/A (not provided).
- Align legal strategy with portfolio objectives and support collaborative decision-making across the product lifecycle.
- Advise on and track U.S.-China legal/regulatory/policy frameworks affecting pharmaceutical collaborations and China-involving drug development (e.g., China HGR regulations, U.S. BIOSECURE Act, DOJ Bulk Data Transfer rules, outbound biotech investment restrictions, and U.S./China foreign investment frameworks); translate updates into actionable guidance.
- Develop/support training and guidance on relevant frameworks.
- Advise on alliance/collaboration matters with China-based pharmaceutical/biotech partners, providing practical legal solutions for governance, execution, and long-term value.
- Interpret/analyze complex strategic agreements (licenses, collaborations, co-development, etc.) and advise business leadership on issues across partnered R&D, manufacturing, supply, and commercialization.
- Draft/review/negotiate amendments, governance documents, dispute resolutions, and operational agreements for the post-execution collaboration lifecycle.
- Partner with Transactions Legal and business development to evaluate, structure, and negotiate new China-based collaborations (structuring, due diligence, risk assessment, drafting, integration planning).
Qualifications:
- J.D. and currently admitted to the bar in at least one U.S. state; licensed where you will work.
- Experience at an Am Law 100 firm or in-house at a major pharma/life-sciences company.
- 5+ years relevant experience (9+ preferred) in: (1) life-sciences/pharma transaction drafting/review/negotiation; (2) advising on global collaborations/alliance governance/contract interpretation/amendments/disputes/partner management; and/or (3) advising on pharma R&D, regulatory, manufacturing, supply, or commercialization.
- Strongly preferred: experience with China-based collaborations/cross-border transactions/global alliance management.
- Required: substantive knowledge of U.S.-China regulatory frameworks affecting China-involving pharmaceutical collaborations/drug development.
- Preferred: Mandarin proficiency.
- Preferred/Required: scientific background (or demonstrated interest in biology/chemistry/drug development); understanding of early/late-stage scientific, development, regulatory, operational, and commercial concepts.
- Must be able to work autonomously, collaborate across functions/geographies, and demonstrate strong legal analysis and counseling/communication.
Benefits:
- Paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick); medical/dental/vision insurance; 401(k) to eligible employees.
Application instructions:
- N/A (not provided).