Senior Legal Counsel Immunology, International in London

We are a team of dedicated and passionate global lawyers working closely with our Key Markets and Regions, united by a shared commitment to achieving impactful outcomes together. In this role, you will serve as a strategic legal partner to the Immunology Therapeutic Area (TA) at the global level, collaborating across Commercial, Medical Affairs, Value & Access, and Development teams. You will coordinate and steer legal support for Immunology assets along the Development and Commercial value chain, ensuring that the organization is equipped to navigate evolving legal risks and safeguard long term business success. As the lead lawyer for assigned assets, you will guide and align with Regional and Country Legal teams by sharing best practices and driving initiatives that strengthen knowledge and capabilities across the broader Legal community.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Legal Counsel: Be the strategic legal counsel for the Therapeutic Area (TA), its platform and its assets in all matters affecting the business. Proactively manage legal issues via coordination with Product Lawyers, Legal Centers of Excellence, Legal management and other functions, as appropriate. Support legal review of plans, presentations, communications and other materials from TA and related Leadership Teams. Serve as a principal spokesperson for the business on legal issues in scope.
• Risk Management/Compliance: Partner with Global and Country Ethics, Risk, and Compliance to proactively identify and manage potential compliance risks. Ensure compliance with all government regulations and mandates. Contribute to investigations as needed to address potential compliance concerns.
• Agreements/Commercial Contracts: Provide legal counsel and risk management on all contracts supporting TA activities. Lead the drafting and negotiation of various types of complex research, development and commercial contracts, as well as any other agreements required to meet the business needs of the TA.
• B&D L/M&A/Integrations/Alliance Management: Partner with the Transactions Team and support evaluation and due diligence of business development and M&A opportunities as needed. Lead the integration of assets and companies relevant for the TA and coordinate with all relevant stakeholders. Lead the advice for the company’s Alliance Management Team and resolve business issues in all ongoing third party relationships in connection with the TA and specifically assigned assets.
• Regulatory/Promotional Materials Review: Partner with commercial, regulatory, and medical colleagues to ensure timely review of all promotional materials, medical resources, congress materials, public announcements, and investor relations materials. Provide proactive counsel and mitigate potential risks. Ensure coordination with other legal associates supporting other assets/brands to ensure consistency of brand management as appropriate, including competitive claims management (action and defense).
• Innovation: Drive innovation and actively contribute to new strategies supporting TA and Commercial Launch Strategy goals with significant emphasis on product launches and new ways of engagement with our customers (HCPs, Patients, HCs). Pursue calculated risk-taking in a highly complex environment with appropriate contingency planning and mitigation. Drive simplification in the function and for the business.
• Training/Capability Building: Ensure current knowledge of all relevant laws affecting the TA commercial and/or medical activities and or its assets/pipeline. Support legal training and compliance for relevant international associates.
• Governance: Participate as required in Leadership Meetings and Governance Boards for TA/Asset related matters.
• Functional Leadership: Lead lawyer for allocated assets and provide related guidance to the International, Regional and Country Legal Function through sharing of best practice, as well as leading and participating in initiatives to build related departmental knowledge and capabilities.

What you’ll bring to the role:

Essential Criteria:

• Law school graduate & Bar member with extensive post-bar legal experience, preferably within the healthcare or pharmaceutical sector, or alternatively with a top-tier law firm advising healthcare and technology clients.
• Demonstrated business acumen and a deep understanding of the pharmaceutical industry and its associated legal challenges, with a strong interest in comprehending the business beyond legal matters.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a proven ability to influence and negotiate effectively across cross-functional, matrixed organizations.
• Proactive and confident in delivering effective, efficient solutions in partnership with clients, especially in ambiguous or complex situations with a proven track record of maintaining a positive approach when managing tight deadlines and pressure environments.
• Strong commitment to compliance and the highest standards of ethical business conduct.
• Fluency in English.

Desirable Criteria:

• Pharma In-house experience within an international operating pharmaceutical ideally with TA’s.
• Knowledge of any additional language(s) preferred.
• Display experience globally.

Why Novartis: Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supporting and inspiring each other. Combining to achieve breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Ready to create a brighter future together?

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams representative of the patients and communities we serve.