Regional Counsel, SEA

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Company Overview:
At Abbott, we are committed to helping people live their best possible life through the power of health.  For more than 130 years, we have brought new products and technologies to the world – in nutrition, diagnostics, medical devices and branded generic pharmaceuticals. These products create more possibilities for people at all stages of life. Today, over 107,000 of us are working to help people live not just longer, but better, in the more than 160 countries we serve.
            

Employer of Choice:

Abbott Legal offers interesting, challenging, and rewarding work that encompasses a diverse portfolio of products – from consumer products to innovative medical technologies.  We provide the opportunity to interact with customers and colleagues from around the world. Like the Abbott businesses we support, Abbott Legal is a dynamic organization; and we are committed to developing our employees to meet the evolving needs of the company.  

Abbott is regarded as an employer of choice for our commitment to workplace excellence. Our employees are given the tools to succeed, lead and grow, with challenging opportunities and work that makes a difference. Discover a world of opportunities at Abbott.

Job Summary:
This role will be responsible for providing legal advice and support to business divisions and support functions in Asia Pacific with particular focus on South East Asia (SEA) countries and Korea. He/She will report to the Head of Legal, Asia Pacific, Abbott International Legal Operations.

Duties will include analysis of risks and provision of legal advice focused on compliant and business-oriented solutions on a wide range of matters, including general commercial, distribution, manufacturing, research & development, procurement, e-commerce, privacy, cybersecurity, competition and consumer law, disputes/litigation, industry codes, and employment.  This role will also assist in developing Legal services support systems for the businesses and in educating business and support function teams on legal-related issues.

Core Job Responsibilities:

• Acts as a senior team member of the Abbott International Legal Operations in Asia Pacific
• Sets standards, processes and procedures for legal matters 
• Identifies legal and compliance issues relating to business transactions or operations and proposes pragmatic solutions 
• Leads negotiations regarding significant matters and areas of importance to management
• Draft, review and negotiate contracts 
• Develop a thorough understanding of and familiarity with Abbott business, its people, products, markets, facilities, customers, and competitors and use this knowledge in providing guidance and counsel to Abbott’s business
• Resolves complex legal matters including managing disputes, litigation and government enforcement actions
• Keeps abreast of changes in laws that affect Abbott operations; communicates such changes to relevant business and legal colleagues; provides appropriate updates or training to the businesses and support functions
• Represents Abbott externally to customers, suppliers, competitors, industry associations and government agencies 
• Selects and directs the work of external counsel, defines project objectives, manages costs and manages project in line with business expectations
• Develops and maintains effective work relationships with key local and regulatory authorities 
• Supports Head of Legal, APAC on critical regional projects 
• Maintains the Legal SharePoint sites and creating contents for those sites
• Creating self-service contract templates

Accountability/Supervision

• Advises Head of Legal, APAC and appropriate Corporate legal teams of significant project developments and matters in a timely manner
• Trains, develops and motivates the local legal team to ensure professionalism, competencies and performance
• Leads and coordinates corporate, area and local projects and communications
• Advises Country, Area, Division Management, and Affiliate General Managers, Directors and Managers
• Operates within appropriate budget(s).  Develops budgets for assigned legal matters where necessary

Qualifications:  
Required: The following items are required for this position:

• Law degree obtained from a reputable university in a Commonwealth country.  
• Called to the Bar in at least one jurisdiction in Asia Pacific or in the UK or US 
• At least 10 years post qualification experience with multinational/Fortune 500 company and/or law firm 
• Fluent in written and spoken English 
• Expertise in Microsoft Office products and Adobe Acrobat
• Experience in supporting regional SEA businesses 
• Energetic, highly efficient, proactive and business oriented
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills, with attention to detail
• Superior drafting, negotiation and communication skills
• Effective project management skills 
• Excellent judgment and commitment to delivering results
• Demonstrates strong commitment to ethics and integrity
• Willingness and ability to travel 
• Ability to work well both independently and in a team environment

Preferred: Any or all the following items would add to the candidate’s qualification:

• 3-4 years of commercial legal and/or regulatory experience, and, medical device, pharmaceutical or other health care business experience, and/or hospital/health system experience
• Experience in supporting distribution markets
• Understanding or experience in general corporate law, data privacy/cybersecurity law, product promotion, competition law, trade compliance/ anti-bribery legislation
• Experience maintaining SharePoint sites including creating and editing contents
• Experience in providing legal support to businesses in Korea
• Ability to read and write at least one of the key languages (other than English) in SEA
   

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