Corporate Counsel - DACH & CEE

The Corporate Counsel will play a critical leadership role, providing legal advice and operational support to one or more business units in Europe, (primarily Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the CEE countries, potentially including other jurisdictions). The role is both strategic and hands-on, requiring the ability to work autonomously while partnering with key business stakeholders at all levels.

Key Responsibilities :

Legal Counsel for European Business Operations:

Serve as legal advisor for the commercial operations in Europe.

Act as a business partner, ensuring strategic legal support for commercial activities.

• Contracts & Commercial Agreements: Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of contracts, including:

Agreements with healthcare professionals and consultants.

Master services agreements and statements of work.

Sales, supply, and distribution agreements, including contracts with wholesalers and hospital tenders.

Regulatory & Compliance Support:

Provide counsel on compliance with EU healthcare regulations , including:

• Pharmaceutical advertising law (EMA regulations).
• Fraud and abuse laws, anti-kickback statutes, transparency laws, and data privacy laws.
• Competition law, pricing and reimbursement regulations, and public procurement rules.

Support Sales, Marketing, Regulatory, Medical, and Market Access teams to ensure legally sound commercial operations.

Manage litigation and dispute resolution processes related to commercial, employment, and regulatory matters.

Work closely with external law firms to ensure strategic and cost-effective legal representation.

Employment & Litigation Law:

Provide legal advice on employment law, including hiring, contracts, disciplinary actions, terminations, and compliance with local labor laws.

Manage employment disputes and litigation, working with external counsel when necessary.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

Work with Medical, Compliance, HR, Finance and Procurement to ensure alignment with corporate policies and EU legal standards.

Serve as a liaison between the EU Legal team and Global Legal functions.

Engage with local industry trade associations and regulatory bodies.

Product Launch & Market Access Legal Support:

Support pricing, reimbursement, and market access initiatives in key EU markets.

Advise on institutional projects involving policymakers and regulatory agencies.

Corporate Governance & Legal Strategy:

Advise on corporate governance, ensuring compliance with legal standards.

Provide strategic legal input on corporate transactions and partnerships.

Background & Experience Required

• 10+ years of relevant legal experience in the biotechnology and/or branded pharmaceutical industries.
• 8+ years in an in-house legal department practicing commercial law, litigation and employment law.
• Deep understanding of EU healthcare, regulatory, employment, and commercial litigation laws, particularly in the DACH region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland and CEE countries).
• Experience working in a multinational and cross-functional environment, supporting business leaders as a primary legal counsel.
• Ability to work independently and take initiative in a global corporate structure.
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, balancing legal risks and business objectives.

Behavioral / Management / Other Skills:

• High-level autonomy with the ability to make decisions and manage complex legal issues independently.
• Strategic mindset, able to align legal advice with business objectives and risk mitigation.
• Strong negotiation and problem-solving skills, with the ability to handle sensitive legal matters.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, capable of simplifying complex legal topics for diverse audiences.
• Ability to influence and collaborate with senior leaders, business stakeholders, and external partners.
• Strong project management skills, balancing multiple priorities in a fast-paced, evolving environment.

Additional Information

This role requires significant interaction with regional and global leadership and offers high visibility within the company. The successful candidate should be comfortable working in a fast-paced, international business environment, demonstrating initiative, adaptability, and a business-oriented mindset. The role involves close collaboration with global Legal colleagues to align on key priorities, share knowledge, and support a cohesive legal strategy. Fluency in German and English is essential to effectively engage with stakeholders across the organization and ensure compliance with local and EU legal frameworks.

Seniority level

Director

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

Legal

Industries

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Retail Pharmacies, and Biotechnology Research

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