Senior Counsel, Transactions

Role Summary

The Senior 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. Among other responsibilities, 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

• 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.
• Be capable of regularly negotiating 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.
• Be capable of regularly engaging in due diligence and independently interpreting complex existing agreements and advising on complex situations that may arise 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 recognized source, for both management and other attorneys, of innovative ideas in complex areas of law, business, or technology.
• Provide legal guidance, supervision, and support to paralegals and legal support staff.

Qualifications

• Required: Must possess a J.D. degree.
• Required: 8+ years of relevant transactional and/or industry experience.
• Required: Must meet the professional licensing requirement of the state in which they practice within a two-year time-period.
• Required: Advanced negotiating skills, and an ability to independently manage complex transactions.
• Required: Excellent legal analysis skills and crisp, concise communicator.
• Required: Honed judgment and ability to identify and quickly address critical issues.
• Required: Ability to use legal training to maximize business opportunities.
• Required: Strong sense of urgency and drive for successful business outcome in all activities.
• Required: Experience in advising on ongoing complex contractual relationships, such as development collaborations.
• Preferred: Experience with drafting and negotiating complex pharmaceutical licensing and collaboration transactions.
• Preferred: Experience in providing legal advice for pharmaceutical research and development.