JOB SUMMARY

The Legal Counsel reports to the VP, Deputy General Counsel and is responsible for revising and negotiating contracts with clients and vendors; creating, revising and updating corporate policies and employment documents, in each case in accordance with company guidelines and applicable law.  The Legal Counsel also will provide support with corporate governance and compliance functions and legal research to ensure compliance with changes in law.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Contracts:
  • Review and negotiate contracts (Statements of Work, Work Orders and Change Orders), including services agreements, vendor/procurement agreements, confidential disclosure agreements, consulting agreements, staffing agreements;
  • Assist with updates to standard templates on an ongoing basis to reflect changes in laws and best practices;
  • Assist with the maintenance and tracking of all contracts in a centralized location and provide reporting and tracking of contract status;
  • Managing approval processes and escalations; and
  • Assist with managing contract assignment process and shared mailboxes.
• Policies and Processes: Assist in the creation and management of templates, forms and playbooks related to internal contract review, clinical trial agreements, and other documents; assist in creation and maintenance of procedures followed by the Legal Department.
• Data Privacy: Provide legal support for the maintenance of the company’s data privacy program, including compliance with GDPR requirements.
• Advise stakeholders from different jurisdictions, cultures and time-zones.
• Provide employment law support including drafting/revising employment agreements reviewing employee handbooks and advising People & Culture on various employment matters.
• Legal Research: Perform legal research as necessary, including research of newly enacted employment and regulatory laws applicable to the business.
• Liaising with 3rd party external legal advisors, using them to provide expert opinions and to manage workload.
• Assist in managing corporate secretarial duties/requirements.
• Support special projects or initiatives from time to time that improve the efficiency of the Legal team or solve problems facing the organization.
• Participate with Advanced Group Shared Services Department toward corporate objectives as requested by Executive Management.
• Perform other duties as requested by management.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Qualified as a solicitor in Ireland.
• Five (5) to ten (10) years’ experience in a corporate legal department and law firm required, preferably within the life sciences/pharma/clinical research industry, with experience in employment law.
• Experience working with US contracts and an understanding of the main differences between Irish and US contract law.
• Excellent computer skills and proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel) DocuSign and Adobe Acrobat.
• Strong organizational skills, superb attention to detail and ability to set priorities.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with a customer-focused attitude and collaborative approach.

ROLE COMPETENCIES

• Functional Expertise: Thorough understanding of the skills and knowledge relevant to the function. Successful experience in a variety of complex assignments under normal supervision.
• Ability to manage workload and meet deadlines governing the Legal Department review process.