Legal Counsel

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Job Description:

The Johnson & Johnson Law Department is recruiting for the position of Legal Counsel, Innovative Medicine (IM) India.

As the onsite Legal Counsel, the primary responsibility is to provide broad legal counsel and general legal mentorship in India and also at the operational team level for IM’s India operations. This is an exciting individual contributor role with large exposure to all levels within the business.

This role will be responsible for providing strategic and operational legal advice and counsel in all areas of law to support the business teams and help them achieve their goals, while protecting the company’s rights, interests and reputation. The role requires a team-oriented, solutions-focused and agile business partner who will work with a hands-on approach on extensive and sophisticated legal issues.

This position reports to the Legal Director for IM India.

Key Accountabilities

Proficient at negotiating and drafting of various contracts including, without limitation, supply, distribution, wholesaler, co-marketing, co-promotion, sales, product licensing, clinical trials, post marketing survey, investigator-initiated study, donation, speaker engagement, employment and non-disclosure agreements.

Be able to proactively assess legal and governance risks to the business and work with stakeholders to devise and implement policies and procedures to address and manage those risks including preventative actions, trainings and communications. Coordinating with the global Intellectual Property team on trademark and patent matters pertaining to products commercialized and proposed to be commercialized by the India and the International (South Asia) business team.

• Assisting the business on contractual and legal aspects and labour related matters.
• Management of litigation initiated by and against the company and coordinating with external litigation counsel/ law firms in this connection.
• Advising the Marketing and Medical functions on product labelling, marketing and ethical promotion. Supervising the India legal environment and providing regular updates to the leadership team on relevant legal / regulatory changes.
• Support new business development initiatives (acquisition and licensing transactions) including due diligence reviews, negotiation of transactions and drafting/execution of deal documentation.
• As a solid business partner, actively participate in discussions and decisions and proactively provide legal counsel, strategic mentorship and valuable support to the IM India business.
• Be able to proactively assess legal risks to the business and work with management to devise and implement policies and procedures to address and manage those risks including preventative actions, trainings and communications.
• Possess the communications and other skills in order to be able to positively influence business teams to make well considered decisions and achieve compliant growth.
• Provide sound mentorship on and ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations applicable to the operations of IM India, including relevant industry codes and train business partners on relevant areas of law.
• Challenge the status quo and proactively take leadership of various innovative initiatives, connect relevant stakeholders, craft the strategy, and deliver outcomes satisfactory to collaborators in a timely manner.
• Collaborate with business partners and the Health Care Compliance function to reinforce Credo based decision making in every critical business decision.
• Manage all litigation across various judicial forums throughout India and the rest of South Asia and support any internal and external investigations related to the business of IM India.
• Provide legal input and mentorship to the IM India business on all J&J policies and procedures including the Code of Business Conduct, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Health Care Compliance and Health Care Business Integrity Guide. This includes advising management on any new policies or required changes to existing policies, crafting appropriate training for management and employees on such policies and participating in disciplinary panels related to J&J’s policies and procedures.
• Provide legal counsel and support on legal issues and risk management for all enabling functions of IM India including Human Resources, Operations, Quality, Government Affairs, Research & Development, Supply Chain, Sales, Marketing and Finance (e.g., employment law, procurement, product liability etc).
• Work on various Law Department projects from time to time.
• Proactively partner with and share knowledge and standard processes with other Johnson & Johnson lawyers in India to drive local alignment with cluster, regional and global when providing legal services.
• Assist on brand protection initiatives including trademark support and counterfeit & grey market enforcement activities. Advise business on its copy clearance materials and internet-related activities.
• Show agility in problem solving for innovative proposals from the business with an appropriate risk tolerance and maintaining compliance.
• Strong dedication to the deliverables and the timeline despite time constraint situations.

Key Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in law from accredited law school and admitted to practice law in India
• At least 10 years or more of post-admission of relevant legal experience since qualification.
• Additional professional or academic legal qualification would be helpful.
• Strong drafting and negotiation skills.
• Very strong interpersonal skills, both verbal and written.

Candidates should also possess the following skills and capabilities:

• A strong business partner with a proven track record to proactively engage with the business to find practical solutions and partner with them to implement desired actions.
• Strong leadership skills and the ability to drive projects forward to conclusion along with the ability to proactively engage with colleagues and business partners to maintain appropriate ethical, legal and compliance standards.
• An accomplished legal professional with in-house legal experience with multinational/ leading Indian companies.
• Self starter with strong drive for results & strong sense of ownership but also willing to take direction.
• Business Oriented - ability to proactively engage with business to find practical solutions and partner with them to implement desired actions and build compliant growth for the business.
• Judgment capability, business consultative skills and structural thinking process.
• Ability to work independently and effectively across all levels of a matrixed organization.
• Comfortable working as part of a team and keen to get along with a diverse group of people spanning a broad range of business teams and executives within our client organizations.
• Ability to influence stakeholders at all levels and a comprehensive understanding of the pharmaceutical industry.
• Ability to manage conflicts in an open and constructive manner.
• Able to set an example and ensure high ethical, legal and compliance standards at IM India and be proactive in engaging organization to find opportunities to improve ethics and anti-corruption practices and procedures.
• Strong ability to deal with ambiguity and simplify issues for clients.
• Ability to work innovatively and proactively to support clients.

Johnson & Johnson is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.