Division Counsel 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.

Division Counsel, Medical Device

What You’ll Work On

This position reports into the Medical Devices, DVP & Associate General Counsel. Reporting directly into this position are Directors/ Sr Counsel level attorneys with indirect staff to include other attorneys and paralegals. This role is responsible for mentoring, coaching and directing assigned attorneys and support staff; serves as a role model and as a champion of the legal department through work ethic, attitude, interpersonal skills and successful results. This role manages a legal department with full people management and budgetary responsibility, and plays a key role in selecting, recruiting and developing attorneys and support staff. Responsible for succession planning for individual department and legal division.

The position routinely advises General Counsel on business management of critical projects and provides advice and counsel to Division Vice Presidents and Officers. Recognized by these clients as both expert in substantive area and relied upon for individual advice. Manages legal department’s internal and external budgets. Serves as a recognized resource for both management and other attorneys on innovative ideas in highly complex areas of the law.

The Opportunity 

This position will lead the legal department within on of Abbott’s Medical Device divisions. Key responsibilities are:

•    Identifies highly complex legal issues; recommends solutions and directs implementation of the resolution
•    Resolves highly complex legal matters in practice area independently
•    Leads cross-functional projects
•    Possesses in-depth knowledge of Abbott’s businesses and knowledge of the broader business impact
•    Keeps abreast of changes in laws that affect client areas
•    Regularly negotiates independently with customers, suppliers or government agencies on matters of strategic importance that affect a substantial portion of Abbott’s business or areas of significant importance to senior management
•    Selects and directs the work of outside counsel, defines project objectives and manages project
•    Identifies unmet needs and future legal issues and proactively proposes strategies to optimize outcomes and results for the company
•    Provides support and input to the General Counsel in the management of the Legal Division
•    Helps General Counsel develop overall legal strategy
 

Minimum Experience/Training Required

•    Minimum 15 years of experience practicing law in a highly regulated industry, ideally healthcare, with some knowledge of the manufacturer and/or provider legal landscape
•    Experience in device market/product/technology
•    Diverse exposure to, and understanding of, a broad range of technologies and medical issues
•    Knowledge and experience of legal issues that relate to corporate structure, transactional structure, intellectual property, anti-trust and litigation, including pre-litigation dispute and settlements

•    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)
•    Demonstrated expertise in drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements relating to procurement, sales, licensing, marketing, co-promotion and research collaborations
•    Experience in advising and counseling clients on a range of business transactions and operational matter related to selling to health care professionals, retailers and consumers
•    Experience with mergers & acquisitions and general corporate matters is strongly preferred
•    Experience in personnel management in a matrix environment
•    Cross-cultural experience / knowledge is highly desirable
•    In addition to top-notch legal skills and a strong ethical center, excellent interpersonal, strategic thinking, communication and organizational skills

Minimum Education
Possess a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school, demonstrate a strong academic background, and be admitted to a US state bar in good standing or have, or be able to obtain, appropriate licensure to practice law in California

The base pay for this position is $211,600.00 – $423,200.00. In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.