Job Details
About the roleAs the principal in-house legal advisor to the organization, you will provide strategic leadership and guidance on all legal and compliance matters. Responsible for overseeing all aspects of legal, compliance, legal risk management, contracts, and regulatory affairs. Providing commercial, strategic and tactical legal advice and support across various aspects of business operations, including contract drafting and negotiation, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and litigation management, with a focus on risk mitigation, dispute avoidance, and resolution counselling. You will serve as a hands-on business partner to functional leaders and senior management in working through business matters involving legal, compliance, and risk considerations. Enhancing and protecting the reputation of the Avalere Health Group internally and externally.The role requires an experienced legal professional with a comprehensive understanding of corporate law, contract law, regulatory compliance, corporate compliance programs, and commercial/business operations, with the ability to manage a diverse, and global team.
Legal Strategy : Responsible for developing and implementing the legal strategy at Avalere Health. Collaborate closely with Avalere Health business leaders to understand and inform their objectives and activities from a legal perspective. Ensure the legal strategy aligns with Avalere Health’s values and a culture of “protection & governance”. Embed culture of legal compliance within Avalere Health legal strategy, and generally.
Legal Advice : Oversee provision of legal advice to all areas of Avalere Health. Identify and manage legal and contractual risks. Balance risk identification and mitigation with commercial and operational awareness. Manage disputes to an acceptable outcome.
Leadership: Lead and manage the legal and compliance teams, providing guidance, mentorship, and professional development opportunities. Ensure that team members are effectively supporting the Avalere Health's legal, and compliance needs and objectives.
Compliance: Provide oversight of the Compliance team and program, ensuring that policies, procedures, and controls are in place to mitigate compliance risks. Monitor regulatory developments and industry best practices to enhance the effectiveness of the compliance program.
Contracts and Negotiation: Prepare, review, and negotiate a diverse array of commercial contracts, ensuring alignment with company objectives and risk mitigation strategies. This includes but is not limited to vendor agreements, customer contracts, service level agreements and non-disclosure agreements. Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders to ensure contract terms are accurately reflected and meet business needs while safeguarding Avalere Health's interests. Provide guidance to business units and partner functions on contract terms, risks, and negotiation strategies.
Corporate Governance and Compliance: Provide guidance on corporate governance matters, including the interpretation and application of corporate policies, bylaws, and regulatory requirements. Oversee the preparation of board and committee materials, resolutions, and filings to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations governing corporate entities. Develop and implement processes to monitor and enforce compliance with internal policies and external regulations, conducting periodic audits and assessments as needed.
Legal Research and Analysis: Conduct comprehensive legal research and analysis on a wide range of issues, including regulatory developments, case law, and industry trends, to inform decision-making and strategy development. Synthesize complex legal concepts into actionable insights and recommendations for senior management and cross-functional teams, addressing potential legal risks and opportunities proactively.
Litigation Management: Manage and oversee litigation matters, including disputes, claims, and regulatory proceedings, from inception to resolution. Collaborate with external counsel to develop case strategies, review pleadings and other legal documents, and represent Avalere Health's interests in negotiations. Provide regular updates and reports to senior management on the status of litigation matters, potential exposure, and risk mitigation strategies.
Policy Development and Implementation: Assist in the development, review, approval and implementation of company policies, procedures, and guidelines to ensure legal compliance and promote best practices across the organization. Partner with key stakeholders to assess the impact of new regulations or changes in the external landscape on existing policies and practices, recommending revisions or updates as necessary to mitigate risks and maintain alignment with business objectives.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Build relationships with leaders of other partner functions, collaborating closely to address legal issues and provide timely, practical advice and solutions. Serve as a trusted advisor to internal clients, offering guidance on and hands-on involvement in a broad range of legal matters, including contract interpretation, regulatory compliance, intellectual property rights, employment law, and data privacy and security.
Training and Education: Develop and deliver training sessions, workshops, and educational materials for employees at all levels of the organization to raise awareness of legal risks and compliance requirements among employees at all levels of the organization. Provide ongoing support and guidance to business units on legal matters, conducting periodic reviews and assessments to ensure understanding and adherence to legal standards and best practices.
Compliance Culture: Promote a culture of legal compliance, integrity and ethical behavior through ongoing education and awareness initiatives.
Risk Management and Mitigation: Identify, assess, and mitigate legal risks and actual and potential exposures across the organization, working collaboratively with internal stakeholders to implement proactive measures and controls. Assist in the development and maintenance of risk management frameworks and processes to monitor and manage legal risks effectively, including the implementation of appropriate insurance coverage and risk transfer strategies where necessary. Conduct regular risk assessments and gap analyses to identify areas of potential non-compliance and develop risk mitigation strategies and action plans. Collaborate with business units and functional teams to implement controls and measures to address identified risks and strengthen the overall compliance posture of the organization.
Regulatory Compliance: Monitor changes in laws, regulations, and industry standards relevant to Avalere Health's operations, and ensure timely updates to policies, procedures, and training programs to maintain compliance. Coordinate with internal stakeholders and external advisors to interpret regulatory requirements and assess their impact on business operations.
External Relationships: Cultivate and maintain relationships with external legal counsel, regulatory authorities, industry associations, and other relevant stakeholders to stay informed of emerging legal and regulatory trends and developments.
Continuous Improvement: Drive continuous improvement initiatives within the Legal and Compliance functions, identifying opportunities to streamline processes, enhance efficiency, and optimize resource allocation. Participate in cross-functional projects and initiatives to support business growth and operational excellence, leveraging legal expertise to address complex challenges and drive positive outcomes for the organization.
Policy Development: Develop, review, and update company policies and procedures to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. Work closely with stakeholders to communicate policies effectively throughout the organization.
Investigations and Remediation: Conduct and oversee internal investigations into compliance violations or allegations of misconduct, working closely with human resources and other relevant departments. Recommend corrective actions or disciplinary measures as appropriate. Develop and implement remediation plans and corrective actions to address identified issues and ensure appropriate follow-up and resolution.
English qualified solicitor/barrister, with 10+ yrs PQE
Previous team leadership experience highly desirable
Experience within the Pharmaceutical Industry and knowledge of its regulations highly desirable
Demonstrated experience in providing high-quality legal advice to senior stakeholders: excellent technical, analytical, drafting and negotiating skills
An ability to assess and quantify commercial risk and simultaneously offering innovative solutions to legal, regulatory, strategic and operational challenges; ability to assess risk and offer solutions to key stakeholders in situations featuring ambiguity or uncertainty
An ability to collaborate and influence senior stakeholders including Board of Directors and the Executive Committee
Attention to detail
Ability to work under pressure with limited supervision in a multi-disciplinary environment
Ability to maintain high levels of focused drive and energy, giving above what is required to get the job done within the timeframe
Professional and ethical
Excellent written and oral communication skills
May be required to travel on an ad-hoc basis to various Avalere Health locations, including international travel
Must be prepared to work flexibly (including, when required, out of hours and weekends) to meet the demands of the role
Ability to work remotely, but desirable to be present in Avalere Health’s London and/or Manchester office 2-3 days per week.
What you'll do
About you
