General Counsel (m/w/d) Europe

We are seeking an experienced Head of Legal to join our growing business in Europe. This role will support our expanding operations across Europe, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations, managing privacy and data protection, advising on government and regulatory affairs, and providing support for employment, commercial, and operational matters.

The ideal candidate will bring strong legal expertise in the life sciences or biotech industry, be well-versed in EU and local regulatory frameworks, and possess excellent legal judgment and business acumen to work cross-functionally in a fast-paced, global company. Experience working for a global company and managing operations in Asia will be a plus.

The successful candidate will work closely with other legal professionals in the company, as well as senior management, finance, and business professionals within the Headquarter. This individual will also interface with outside partners and customers and provide support, legal advice, and training to the business units and operating units, as necessary or requested.

Legal & Compliance Oversight

• Provide legal counsel to senior management, European leadership, and business units on a wide range of issues, including regulatory compliance and corporate governance.
• Identify and mitigate legal risks across the business.
• Ensure company adherence to EU and national regulations, including anti-bribery/anti-corruption and competition laws.
• Oversee preparation, implementation, and management of internal compliance programs, policies, and training.
• Support subsidiary management and internal legal compliance frameworks.
• Select, retain, and oversee external law firms and legal spending, ensuring cost effectiveness and alignment with business goals.

Commercial & Corporate Transactions

• Lead or oversee the drafting, review, and negotiation of a wide range of commercial contracts, including supply, service, research, and collaboration agreements.
• Support corporate development activities including organic growth and M&A in the region.

Regulatory Affairs

• Support engagement with EU institutions and local regulatory authorities, monitoring legislation and policy developments impacting biotech/pharma.
• Ensure compliance with EU and local laws (e.g., GDPR, antitrust, financial regulations).
• Privacy & Data Protection (GDPR)
• Advise on privacy and data protection laws, including GDPR compliance.
• Oversee and ensure the conduct of privacy impact assessments, handling of data subject requests, and managing any data breach incidents in the region.

Employment & Labor Law

• Counsel HR and management on employment-related matters, including contracts, terminations, works council items, workplace investigations, and employee relations across multiple EU jurisdictions.
• Collaborate with external counsel as needed for local employment law compliance.

Ideal Background

• 8-15+ years of legal experience, ideally with time spent in:
• A top-tier law firm with life sciences clients.
• An in-house legal department in a pharmaceutical, biotech, or life sciences company.
• Familiarity with contract research, development, and manufacturing organizations.
• Prior work in a multi-jurisdiction legal environment.
• Experience with regulatory affairs or public policy related to life sciences.
• Experience working with partners and collaborators in different time zones (other parts of Europe and especially US, China)

Qualifications

• Law degree (LL.M or JD equivalent) from an accredited university; admission to practice law in at least one EU jurisdiction.
• 8+ years of post-qualification legal experience, including in-house counsel roles (preferably in biotech, pharma, or life sciences).
• Proven experience advising on EU compliance, data privacy (GDPR), employment law, and commercial transactions.
• Excellent contract drafting and negotiation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally with business teams, external counsel, and regulators.
• Fluency in English. German fluency is preferred, but fluency in other European languages is acceptable.

Skills & Attributes

• Business-oriented mindset and ability to balance legal risk with commercial goals with the ability to present issues and concerns and present potential solutions.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Self-starter, capable of managing multiple priorities in a matrixed, international environment.
• Ethical, pragmatic, and solution-focused approach.
• Can-do attitude and ability to perform under time pressure, multitask, meet deadlines, and manage the expectations of internal and external clients.
• Strong prioritization and organizational skills; excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and interact confidently with management, business development, and operations, as well as external clients.