Senior Counsel, Global Alliance - China
AbbVie
August 06, 2026
Remote friendly (Waltham, MA)
United States
$160,500 - $305,000 USD yearly
Corporate Functions
Responsibilities:
- Align legal strategy with portfolio objectives to support collaborative decision-making across the product lifecycle.
- Advise on and track U.S.-China legal, regulatory, and policy frameworks affecting pharmaceutical collaborations and drug development involving China (including China HGR regulations, U.S. BIOSECURE Act, DOJ Bulk Data Transfer rules, proposed outbound investment restrictions on biotechnology, and U.S./China foreign investment frameworks); translate developments into actionable guidance.
- Develop or support training and guidance on these frameworks as needed.
- Advise alliance/collaboration matters with China-based pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners, focusing on practical legal solutions for governance, execution, and long-term value.
- Interpret and analyze complex strategic agreements (licenses, collaborations, co-development arrangements, and other alliances) and provide clear legal advice on issues in partnered R&D, manufacturing, supply, and commercialization.
- Draft/review/negotiate amendments, governance documents, dispute resolutions, operational agreements, and other materials for the post-execution lifecycle.
- Collaborate with Transactions Legal and business development to evaluate, structure, and negotiate new China-based collaborations (deal structuring, due diligence, risk assessment, drafting, integration planning).
Qualifications:
- J.D. and currently admitted to the bar in at least one U.S. state; must be licensed in the state where you will work.
- Experience at an Am Law 100 firm or in-house at a major pharmaceutical/life-sciences company.
- 5+ years relevant experience (9+ preferred) in life-sciences/pharmaceutical transactions and/or advising on global collaborations/alliance governance/contract interpretation/amendments/disputes and/or advising on pharmaceutical R&D/regulatory/manufacturing/supply/commercialization.
- China-based pharmaceutical/biotech collaboration or cross-border alliance management experience strongly preferred.
- Substantive knowledge of U.S.-China regulatory frameworks affecting China-involving pharmaceutical collaborations required (as above).
- Mandarin proficiency preferred.
- Scientific background or demonstrated interest in biology/chemistry/drug development.
- Understanding of scientific/development/regulatory/operational/commercial concepts in early- and late-stage programs.
- Ability to work autonomously, collaborate across functions/geographies, and drive outcomes; advanced legal analysis and counseling skills.
In-office requirement: At least three days/week at Abbott Park (North Chicago, IL) or AbbVie offices in Waltham, MA or South San Francisco, CA.
- Align legal strategy with portfolio objectives to support collaborative decision-making across the product lifecycle.
- Advise on and track U.S.-China legal, regulatory, and policy frameworks affecting pharmaceutical collaborations and drug development involving China (including China HGR regulations, U.S. BIOSECURE Act, DOJ Bulk Data Transfer rules, proposed outbound investment restrictions on biotechnology, and U.S./China foreign investment frameworks); translate developments into actionable guidance.
- Develop or support training and guidance on these frameworks as needed.
- Advise alliance/collaboration matters with China-based pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners, focusing on practical legal solutions for governance, execution, and long-term value.
- Interpret and analyze complex strategic agreements (licenses, collaborations, co-development arrangements, and other alliances) and provide clear legal advice on issues in partnered R&D, manufacturing, supply, and commercialization.
- Draft/review/negotiate amendments, governance documents, dispute resolutions, operational agreements, and other materials for the post-execution lifecycle.
- Collaborate with Transactions Legal and business development to evaluate, structure, and negotiate new China-based collaborations (deal structuring, due diligence, risk assessment, drafting, integration planning).
Qualifications:
- J.D. and currently admitted to the bar in at least one U.S. state; must be licensed in the state where you will work.
- Experience at an Am Law 100 firm or in-house at a major pharmaceutical/life-sciences company.
- 5+ years relevant experience (9+ preferred) in life-sciences/pharmaceutical transactions and/or advising on global collaborations/alliance governance/contract interpretation/amendments/disputes and/or advising on pharmaceutical R&D/regulatory/manufacturing/supply/commercialization.
- China-based pharmaceutical/biotech collaboration or cross-border alliance management experience strongly preferred.
- Substantive knowledge of U.S.-China regulatory frameworks affecting China-involving pharmaceutical collaborations required (as above).
- Mandarin proficiency preferred.
- Scientific background or demonstrated interest in biology/chemistry/drug development.
- Understanding of scientific/development/regulatory/operational/commercial concepts in early- and late-stage programs.
- Ability to work autonomously, collaborate across functions/geographies, and drive outcomes; advanced legal analysis and counseling skills.
In-office requirement: At least three days/week at Abbott Park (North Chicago, IL) or AbbVie offices in Waltham, MA or South San Francisco, CA.