Legal Lead, International Partner Markets

About the role

The Legal Lead – International Partner Markets is a strategic leadership role, providing broad legal oversight, guidance and counseling to the International Partner Markets management team. This position shall support the mission of driving a robust corporate culture that embraces integrity in our operations, consistent with the core values and principles of Biogen´s Code of Conduct.

This is a leadership role with high exposure at the Intercontinental, Europe and Global Leadership level and country level. This is also an operational role as a legal advisor and business partner to the applicable leadership, requiring a hands-on approach and “business partner” mentality. You will work well cross-functionally with different business partners/level within the organization and within Legal & Compliance to develop global standards and processes for the engagement of distributors at the regional and country level.

The role reports to the Chief Commercial & International Counsel.

Location: Baar, Switzerland (working 50% from the Baar office as per our hybrid policy)

What you'll do

• You serve as the lead legal counsel for the Company’s distributor market and geographic expansion efforts, including establishment of global processes, framework, and contracting for engagement with distributors.    
• You advise the business on developments in pharmaceutical law, regulations, corporate policy and governance in the engagement and ongoing management of distributor partners.  Prepare, negotiate, and review agreements (e.g. distributor agreements, clinical trial, distribution agreements, vendor and supplier agreements,  services  agreements,  HCP/HCO  agreements,  etc.)  and  act  as  interface  with  Contract  Management team.  
• Review and assess new business initiatives and projects and provide risk -mitigating strategies to enable and facilitate such business activities while reviewing and advising as needed on promotional/non promotional concepts, initiatives and material.  
• Ensure legal training and education is given to all employees (e.g. competition law, FCPA, internal business conduct policies and rules).
• You support in managing applicable litigation and investigations as may arise in the course of the company’s work with the distributor partners and markets. Advise and closely collaborate with the Compliance/S&G functions and Data Privacy Office (DPO) on compliance and risk pertaining to the commercialization of specialty pharmaceutical products, as well as medical affairs, healthcare services and digital activities. Support preparation and submission of topics to regular governance and other relevant corporate compliance meetings.

Who you are

You gained prior pharmaceutical experience and general legal corporate I commercial experience in an international environment. Ability to operate at a high level of autonomy in a complex area of responsibility. Superior judgment, confidence and authority in working through complex issues, including those with potential strategic risk to the company. Ability to apply judgment to areas outside of core competency. Effectively and practically deliver legal and business advice that mitigates risk. Influence people and defend recommendations throughout the company. Capable of acting as a project team leader on cross-functional, multi-disciplinary projects. Represent legal on country-wide or region-wide strategic initiatives and highly complex cross-geography business transactions.

• Education: Juris Doctorate (equivalent) required.
• Minimum  of  10  years  working  in  legal  department  (in- house or law firm) with coordinated experience working in Compliance. A minimum of 5 years in the life sciences industry. International experience contracting with distributor and distributor models is strongly preferred.
• Ability  to  influence  others  to  drive  action  and  unlock problems, without creating disruption and while defending recommendations throughout the company.
• Effective communication and presentation skills directed t sophisticated and front-line junior audiences, including the ability to synthetize complex information into executive messages.
• Ability to integrate partial information from different sources and make sound judgment even with ambiguity
• Experience working in and being comfortable with matrix organization and reporting lines, and cross-functional teams without clear single leadership.
• You are able to operate at a high level of autonomy and have proven that your able to very competently lead a complex area of responsibility or department that requires significant experience
• Proven   judgment   in   working   through   complex   issues, including those with potential strategic risk to the company.
• Effectively and practically deliver legal and business advice that mitigates risk.
• Able  to  represent  legal  on  country-wide  or  region-wide strategic initiatives and highly complex cross-geography business transactions.
• Fluency in English

Why Biogen?

We are a global team with a commitment to excellence, and a pioneering spirit. As a mid-sized biotechnology company, we provide the stability and resources of a well-established business while fostering an environment where individual contributions make a significant impact. Our team encompasses some of the most talented and passionate achievers who have unparalleled opportunities for learning, growth, and expanding their skills. Above all, we work together to deliver life-changing medicines, with every role playing a vital part in our mission. Caring Deeply. Achieving Excellence. Changing Lives.

At Biogen, we are committed to building on our culture of inclusion and belonging that reflects the communities where we operate and the patients we serve. We know that diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives make us a stronger and more innovative company, and we are focused on building teams where every employee feels empowered and inspired. Read on to learn more about our DE&I efforts.