Division Counsel, Commercial - Supply Chain at Abbott Laboratories

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 114,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

Abbott is currently seeking an experienced Commercial Supply Chain attorney to provide legal advice to the Nutrition Division. The attorney will be expected to identify and resolve complex legal issues to support the operations of a global leader in the research, development, manufacturing, sales and marketing of specialized food products. The attorney will be responsible for acting as the day-to-day legal advisor for Abbott Nutrition’s global supply chain function, and for the drafting and negotiation of complex distribution and supply agreements and providing strategic direction on capital expansion projects. This attorney will also coordinate with affiliates and local legal counsel worldwide as needed to support the sales and marketing of Abbott Nutrition’s products.

What You’ll Do

• Drafting, negotiating and reviewing a wide range of agreements, including complex matters relating to procurement, construction, third-party manufacturing, sales, licensing, marketing, co-promotion and research collaborations;
• Reviewing marketing programs and promotional materials to ensure compliance with FTC truth-in-advertising principles, Abbott policies and applicable law;
• Advising and ensuring that internal clients receive sound, practical and timely legal advice on a wide variety of legal matters related to operation of a commercial business that markets to health care professionals, retailers and consumers;
• Resolving legal issues using negotiation skills and legal expertise, including pre-litigation dispute resolution and settlements;
• Assisting in the creation of new template agreements, playbooks and training to support efficient contracting processes for the commercial legal function;
• Developing knowledge of Abbott’s businesses, products and client areas supported;
• Maintaining familiarity with laws that affect client areas to issue spot and provide basic counseling, including those relevant to sales and marketing of products to health care professionals and reimbursement by government programs areas, for example, fraud and abuse (Anti-Kickback Statute, False Claims Act), FDA regulation (Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act), privacy (HIPAA), and anti-corruption (Foreign Corrupt Practices Act);
• Representing Abbott externally to suppliers and customers;
• Experience with and/or willingness to learn how to work with legal systems outside the U.S.; and
• Helping select and manage outside counsel, when specialized legal advice is needed.

Qualifications

• Possess a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school, demonstrate a strong academic background, and be admitted to a U.S. state bar in good standing, and have, or be able to obtain, appropriate licensure to practice law in Illinois.
• 10+ years of experience practicing commercial law in a national law firm or the legal department of a large corporation.
• Experience with a highly regulated industry, health care, consumer goods and/or food products is strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to lead attorneys and/or paralegals, and to perform successfully in cross-functional teams, with the ability to lead and mentor.
• Ability to handle multiple projects in fast-paced global environment and exercise sound commercial and legal judgment.
• Ability to independently handle complex matters with minimal supervision and understand which issues to elevate to senior management and appropriate timing for doing so.
• Top-notch legal skills and a strong ethical center, excellent interpersonal, strategic thinking, communication and organizational skills.

Other Details

• Location of Position:  Abbott’s global headquarters in Abbott Park, Illinois (North Chicago).
• Geography Support:
  • This position supports a global supply chain function and markets outside the U.S. and requires interaction with local legal teams and affiliates located outside of the U.S.
• Reporting/Department:
  • The position will report to the Divisional Vice President & Associate General Counsel, Nutrition.
• Managerial/Supervision Duties:
  • The Division Counsel will manage a small team of lawyers and support staff with responsibility for commercial legal matters related to the Nutrition Division.
• Travel:
  • The position will require occasional travel within the U.S. and internationally.

Critical Success Factors:

• Good Judgment:  Demonstrate expertise and sound judgment, understand how assigned responsibilities support Abbott’s business objectives, and be able to provide practical, risk-balanced advice based upon a thorough understanding of the scope of an issue, taking full advantage of internal networks and external intelligence.
• Collaboration:  Firm understanding of available legal, functional, and business resources and ability to integrate information from a number of sources to achieve business results, including breaking down boundaries to create alignment as necessary, in a complex, global, matrixed environment.
• Anticipation:  Holistic, big picture thinker, who anticipates changes in law, enforcement, and/or business objectives and adapts approach as necessary to manage risks effectively and mitigate issues before they arise.
• Influencing Skills:  Build strong relationships with business partners to tactfully influence and gain their support to drive desired outcomes. Represent Abbott externally to customers, suppliers, competitors, trade associations or government agencies; and resolve legal issues using negotiation skills and legal expertise/engage in external influencing efforts.

The base pay for this position is $184,000.00 – $368,000.00. In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.