Senior Legal Counsel

Job Description

A highly motivated mid-level lawyer with strong interpersonal skills who can be a solution-oriented strategic counsel to Pfizer India.  8-10 years PQE.  Provide legal advice and support to relevant business units and divisions at Pfizer on the sales, marketing, manufacturing and distribution of pharmaceutical products in India. 

CORE COMPETENCIES:

Agreements and transactions Corporate Laws Contract Negotiation & Management Litigation Strategy & Execution Merger & Acquisition/Joint Ventures FCPA & Bribery Laws Anti-Trust laws Intellectual Property Laws Drafting Cross-functional Liaison Multiple Jurisdictional Experience Independence & Decision Making Complexity & Problem Solving Analytical skills

Role & Responsibilities in BRIEF:

• Collaborate with senior management to develop effective legal strategies to support business goals
• Implement risk management practices and provide proactive advice on legal matters
• Offer prompt, practical, and business-focused legal solutions
• Assist with joint ventures, strategic partnerships and mergers & acquisitions
• Advise senior management on regulatory, corporate, and compliance matters
• Deliver strategic legal guidance, including support for internal corporate reorganization
• Support the business in initiating or defending litigation and help develop litigation strategies
• Review and negotiate business transactions and ensure thorough evaluation of legal risks
• Manage external counsel, including briefings and oversight of representations
• Develop and enforce corporate legal policies, including employee training programs
• Advise on intellectual property matters and monitor developments in the country.
• Stay updated on legislative changes affecting the company and keep management updated about the implications for Pfizer
• Devise solutions for complex legal challenges
• Foster team capability and share best practices across the legal function
  
  

Role & Responsibilities in DETAIL:

• Advisory: Advise Senior Leaders/ BUs within the Company and work alongside employees in Business Units (BUs), Strategy & Business Operation (SBO) , Corporate Affairs, Human Resource, Regulatory & other enabling functions, on wide range of legal and strategic matters including Drugs & Cosmetics Act, Corporate Laws, Labour Laws, Employment Laws, Trade Body Regulations, Anti-trust & Competition Law, Anti-bribery laws etc.
• Litigation: Support business on framing the litigation strategy and where required initiating/ defending any criminal, civil, property or regulatory related litigation which includes, collating facts, developing litigation strategy & preparing grounds for defense, briefing the external counsels, filing of writ petitions, appeals, stay and follow ups. Managing and ensuring proper representation by outside counsel (while securing case reporting and strategic alignment).
• Business Transaction: Structuring of business transaction, support in reviewing various transactions and evaluate all legal issues involved, so as to ensure to combat the crisis successfully, drafting & negotiation of Contracts & other documents, draft and solidify day-to-day agreements/ contracts and other legal documents to ensure the company’s full legal rights
• Global Projects: Support global projects including cross-border transactions, product launches, privacy law or global policy implementation, need base projects, represent Pfizer India in trademark & patent cases, manage outside counsel, spend budget management, as per the funds allocated to India.
• Independence & Decision Making: act with substantial discretion, balancing several goals at once with idea to minimize risks/costs & maximize benefits/ returns. Ability to make clear-eyed professional judgments and to timely and firmly raise issues with the appropriate decision-maker, for example, the proposed course of action raises issues of compliance with the law.
• Complexity & Problem-Solving: challenge the status-quo and develop innovative solution for difficult, complex & systemic problem that may have precedent setting implications for the Company.
• Legal tools and resources: Contribute to the Legal Department’s tools and resources for clients, to simplify processes and the provision of legal advice.
  
  

REPORTING STRUCTURE:

The position reports to the Legal Lead, India.

EDUCATION/ EXPERIENCE:

• LL.B. degree from a reputed law college in India – Master’s law degree will be an added advantage;
• 8-10 years post qualification experience;
• Experience of working in pharmaceutical MNC
  
  

OTHER SKILLS:

• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written)
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Analytical, Decision-making and Problem-solving skills
• Process and results oriented
• Be a team player yet ability to lead independently
  
  

Pfizer is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable equal employment opportunity legislation in each jurisdiction in which it operates.

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