Lead IP Transactions Counsel
About the Role
Location: Basel, Switzerland #LI-Hybrid
With more than 80 transactions opportunities reviewed every year, the Principal IP Transactions Counsel for Novartis has the unique opportunity to lead internal and external IP teams in the management and execution of IP aspects of strategic and complex transactions in close collaboration with IP and Legal management, and Corporate & Business Development (C&BD) colleagues. You will facilitate collaboration and best practices for our team of dedicated and experienced transactions professionals who design and implement the IP strategies needed for the growth of Novartis’s innovative medicines business, all for the ultimate benefit of patients and society!
Reporting to the Head Global IP Litigation and Transactions, the core responsibilities for this role include the following:
• Coordinate and drive the delivery by internal and external IP teams of legal advice and documentation and related workstreams on transactions, including structuring, due diligence, and negotiation, as well as post-closing/integration activities.
• Work with Legal Transactions, C&BD, and other business colleagues to ensure appropriate IP elements are addressed in transaction structuring, terms, and contract drafting.
• Brief and make recommendations to line management, senior management, and other stakeholders (e.g. C&BD leadership) in respect of complex and sensitive IP and commercial issues arising in connection with transaction.
• Drive robust IP due diligence processes, including external IP and legal support, to identify, assess and communicate IP and deal risks and implement appropriate risk mitigation.
• Support the transition of closed transactions to integration/separation IP teams.
• Triage requests for IP diligence support, provides preliminary exclusivity assessments, and ensure that the Novartis Search & Evaluation team can analyze potential opportunities quickly and efficiently.
• Ensure exchange of information and know-how and provide training, with the goal that in-house lawyers take a consistent and proactive approach in effectively dealing with IP transactions, and that stakeholders are advised early of IP issues impacting the business.
With more than 80 transactions opportunities reviewed every year, the Principal IP Transactions Counsel for Novartis has the unique opportunity to lead internal and external IP teams in the management and execution of IP aspects of strategic and complex transactions in close collaboration with IP and Legal management, and Corporate & Business Development (C&BD) colleagues. You will facilitate collaboration and best practices for our team of dedicated and experienced transactions professionals who design and implement the IP strategies needed for the growth of Novartis’s innovative medicines business, all for the ultimate benefit of patients and society!
Reporting to the Head Global IP Litigation and Transactions, the core responsibilities for this role include the following:
• Coordinate and drive the delivery by internal and external IP teams of legal advice and documentation and related workstreams on transactions, including structuring, due diligence, and negotiation, as well as post-closing/integration activities.
• Work with Legal Transactions, C&BD, and other business colleagues to ensure appropriate IP elements are addressed in transaction structuring, terms, and contract drafting.
• Brief and make recommendations to line management, senior management, and other stakeholders (e.g. C&BD leadership) in respect of complex and sensitive IP and commercial issues arising in connection with transaction.
• Drive robust IP due diligence processes, including external IP and legal support, to identify, assess and communicate IP and deal risks and implement appropriate risk mitigation.
• Support the transition of closed transactions to integration/separation IP teams.
• Triage requests for IP diligence support, provides preliminary exclusivity assessments, and ensure that the Novartis Search & Evaluation team can analyze potential opportunities quickly and efficiently.
• Ensure exchange of information and know-how and provide training, with the goal that in-house lawyers take a consistent and proactive approach in effectively dealing with IP transactions, and that stakeholders are advised early of IP issues impacting the business.
Role Requirements
What you’ll bring to the role:
Essential Requirements:
• Law school graduate (common or civil law), common law preferred plus at least a first degree in a life-sciences subject.
• Patent attorney qualification required, or significant legal practice in the IP field.
• Proficiency in English; knowledge other European languages is an asset; must be able to draft complex legal documents and negotiate in English.
• Extensive experience in patent drafting, prosecution, FTO opinions, and litigation, or extensive experience as a life-sciences IP lawyer handling FTO opinions and IP litigation.
• Sound understanding of regulatory exclusivities in major pharmaceutical markets.
• Significant experience executing complex licensing and collaboration, plus public and private merger and acquisition transactions (both buy-side and sell side), with focus on all aspects of IP and regulatory exclusivity and freedom to operate assessments.
• Good experience managing and leading IP transaction teams and processes, and managing stakeholder interests in a corporate environment.
• Ability to understand complex new technologies (e.g. gene therapy, digital), and to apply IP experience thereto, would be an advantage.
• Good basic understanding of related disciplines: Regulatory, Antitrust, Corporate, Tax.
Why Novartis?
Our purpose is to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people’s lives and our vision is to become the most valued and trusted medicines company in the world. How can we achieve this? With our people. It is our associates that drive us each day to reach our ambitions. Be a part of this mission and join us! Learn more here: https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture
You’ll receive:
You can find everything you need to know about our benefits and rewards in the Novartis Life Handbook. https://www.novartis.com/careers/benefitshttps://www.novartis.com/careers/benefits--rewardsrewards
Accessibility and accommodation
Novartis is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to all individuals. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the recruitment process, or in order to receive more detailed information about the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to Write an email and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.
Join our Novartis Network:
If this role is not suitable to your experience or career goals but you wish to stay connected to hear more about Novartis and our career opportunities, join the Novartis Network here: https://talentnetwork.novartis.com/network
Essential Requirements:
• Law school graduate (common or civil law), common law preferred plus at least a first degree in a life-sciences subject.
• Patent attorney qualification required, or significant legal practice in the IP field.
• Proficiency in English; knowledge other European languages is an asset; must be able to draft complex legal documents and negotiate in English.
• Extensive experience in patent drafting, prosecution, FTO opinions, and litigation, or extensive experience as a life-sciences IP lawyer handling FTO opinions and IP litigation.
• Sound understanding of regulatory exclusivities in major pharmaceutical markets.
• Significant experience executing complex licensing and collaboration, plus public and private merger and acquisition transactions (both buy-side and sell side), with focus on all aspects of IP and regulatory exclusivity and freedom to operate assessments.
• Good experience managing and leading IP transaction teams and processes, and managing stakeholder interests in a corporate environment.
• Ability to understand complex new technologies (e.g. gene therapy, digital), and to apply IP experience thereto, would be an advantage.
• Good basic understanding of related disciplines: Regulatory, Antitrust, Corporate, Tax.
Why Novartis?
Our purpose is to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people’s lives and our vision is to become the most valued and trusted medicines company in the world. How can we achieve this? With our people. It is our associates that drive us each day to reach our ambitions. Be a part of this mission and join us! Learn more here: https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture
You’ll receive:
You can find everything you need to know about our benefits and rewards in the Novartis Life Handbook. https://www.novartis.com/careers/benefitshttps://www.novartis.com/careers/benefits--rewardsrewards
Accessibility and accommodation
Novartis is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to all individuals. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the recruitment process, or in order to receive more detailed information about the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to Write an email and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.
Join our Novartis Network:
If this role is not suitable to your experience or career goals but you wish to stay connected to hear more about Novartis and our career opportunities, join the Novartis Network here: https://talentnetwork.novartis.com/network
Why Novartis: Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supporting and inspiring each other. Combining to achieve breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Ready to create a brighter future together? https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture
Join our Novartis Network: Not the right Novartis role for you? Sign up to our talent community to stay connected and learn about suitable career opportunities as soon as they come up: https://talentnetwork.novartis.com/network(link is external)
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