Group Legal Counsel - Europe Commercial

To responsibly, pro-actively and efficiently facilitate the business of Aspen by providing a full spectrum of specialist commercial contract drafting and focused legal support to the allocated Business Units, which may include  (“BUs”), specifically Group Strategic Development / Mergers and Acquisitions, Group Treasury, Group Tax (including intercompany transactions), Group Digital Technology, Group Commercial, Group Communications, Group Company Secretarial, Group Corporate Services, Group Ethics and Compliance, Group Finance, Group Human Capital, Group Internal Audit, Group Investor Relations, Group Marketing, Group Supply Chain, Group Travel, Group Risk and Sustainability, Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited (as applicable) or similar, and other general legal requirements of Aspen, whilst complying with the Group Legal protocol and Group Legal strategy. The position requires the incumbent to think Group-wide, but act and focus on the work of the Group Head: Legal Counsel M&A & Corporate or similar to which he/she has been allocated.

The below is not exhaustive and includes the following, but is not limited to:

General

• Be responsible for the legal affairs of Aspen;
• To provide expert and strategic legal advice;
• To provide sound operational and general commercial legal advice; 
• Be responsible for dispute resolution and litigation management;
• Further, to ensure that all Aspen business activities are carried out in compliance with applicable laws.

  Commercial Agreements

  
  
• Responsible for drafting and vetting of complex corporate/commercial agreements including inter alia: supply, distribution, manufacturing, service level, software license, software maintenance and services, advertising agency agreements, sales and marketing and other agreements;
• Where required, manage Aspen’s active agreements for the purposes of identifying Aspen’s rights and obligations in terms of these agreements;
• Manage the execution process of agreements through to filing in the ACL repository.

  Legal Opinions – Legal Solutions

  
  
• Identify the risk profile of the allocated Aspen companies with regards to exposure in, inter alia commercial agreements and offering solutions;
• Provide solution-orientated general commercial and other legal opinions so as to facilitate business;
• Update Aspen with legislative amendments, recommend and oversee implementation of any necessary changes;
• Advise on Labour Law requirements and principles.

  Intellectual Property

  
  
• Liaising with the Group Executive: Legal and/or Group Head: Legal Counsel IP on all IP-related matters, when necessary.

  Litigation

  
  
• Decide on litigation process to be followed, prospects of success and whether to proceed;
• Manage litigation process;
• Determine the correct approach to litigious matters by assessing and analysing the merits of each matter.

  Customer Service

  
  
• Follow up, resolve and close all queries in the shortest possible timeframe within the policy framework;

• Sense of urgency;
• At all times have a positive, energetic, business facilitating attitude;
• Display a professional attitude when responding to customer’s needs;
• Propose, develop and continuously update methods for improving customer services;
• Constantly update internal and external customers as to the progress of their queries/instructions.

  Signed Agreement Repository

  
  
• Ensure the safekeeping of all signed Aspen agreements in accordance with the Aspen Group protocol, in the Aspen Group system, ACL.

  Legal Reporting to management and to Group

  
  
• Prepare and submit monthly legal reports indicating activity and manage targets against such;
• Prepare litigation reports and submit same.

  Legislative Compliance and reporting

  
  
• Prepare compliance reports and checklists;
• Explanation of legislation and compliance reports;
• Manage adherence to the compliance framework of the Group;
• Keep up to date with legislation – examine changes / industry trends and changes, raise awareness of changes and implementation of legislation in applicable jurisdictions.

  Learning & Growth

  
  
• Gather information about development needs;
• Negotiate training and development with the Line Manager;
• Identify, propose and implement learning solutions according to ongoing personal and team development plans;
• Encourage best practice to ensure expertise;
• Ensure optimal use of electronic support systems from Group, including the File Management System (FMS), the Aspen Contracts Library (ACL);
• Encourage best practice to ensure expertise. Co-ordinate up-skilling and multi-skilling in line with team development.

Level of Education Required

Bachelor Degree Applicable Degree in Law, qualified as a Solicitor in a European Country, preferably Ireland or England & Wales

Master’s Degree Relevant post graduate qualification an advantage

Experience Required

Language Skills: Excellent corporate written, spoken, and legal drafting English

A Minimum of 5 years legal experience in a corporate/commercial/operational legal environment

Experience in the pharmaceutical sector is preferable -   Sound commercial knowledge and experience

• General business acumen
  Experience in negotiating and drafting legal agreements
  Ability and willingness to work effectively in a team

Technical Skills/Other Requirement     

• Ms office: proficient
• Membership of professional body or law society
• Contract drafting and communication skills
• Positive facilitating approach
• Ability to close matters in shortest possible time
• Time management and keeping
• Problem solving
• Analytical skills
• Solutions orientated
• Service orientation
• Robust interpersonal skills
• Computer literacy
• Communication skills
• Planning and negotiation skills
• Conflict resolution
• Ability to deal with uncertainty – seeking remaining detail

Aspen Competencies

BUSINESS

Performance Driven

Foster Consumer and Customer Commitment

• Multi-tasking
• Results oriented
• Systems thinking
• Planning and organisational skills
• Focus
• Market knowledge
• Aspen knowledge
• Consumer relevancy
• Focus
• Cooperation
• Proactive
• Responsibility & Accountability

PEOPLE

Dealing with ambiguity Embrace Change

Communicate effectively

• Transition management
• Capacity for and resistance to Stress
• Perseverance and tenacity
• Informal communication skills
• Active listening skills
• Writing skills

SELF

Contribute special expertise

Take action with integrity

• Curiosity / learning agility
• Self-awareness
• High standards
• Technical / professional knowledge
• Industry knowledge
• Personal responsibility
• Self-assurance
• Ethical conduct