Legal Director + Regional Counsel – Pharma – Amsterdam

We are retained by a world leading pharmaceutical company on a search for two senior pharmaceutical lawyers for key roles to be based in the Amsterdam area.

Director, Legal & Compliance – Netherlands

This is the lead Country counsel role working as trusted advisor to and member of the local management team. Our client is a leader in the local market and also has substantial international operations based in the Netherlands. You will manage, lead and develop the Legal and Compliance function in the Netherlands, act as Company Secretary and work to ensure full compliance with laws, regulations and policies.

Your responsibilities will include: Commercial (draft/negotiate contracts, advise on commercial transactions, market access, competition law and general commercial/corporate issues); Compliance (train/guide; review/shape programs for the local market; handle proceedings/investigations; identify/mitigate risk; advise on key commercial initiatives; and lead locally on privacy/prepare for GDPR implementation); Regulatory (advise on developments, strategies, maintain authorizations, licenses etc.); Promotional Review approvals and challenges; IP support on local issues; HR support on sensitive situations, documentation and with Works Council management; and Manage a Paralegal, disputes/challenges and external counsels.

Fluent Dutch and English language skills are essential. You should have deep exposure to the pharmaceutical industry and are likely to be qualified in the Netherlands although lawyers qualified in other jurisdictions who are familiar with the Netherlands market are also encouraged to apply. 

Regional Legal & Compliance Counsel

This is a new pan-European ‘special projects’ role without specific Country responsibility. It will involve providing guidance/support on assigned Regional projects, issues or initiatives and on significant Country matters where there is potential for wider regional impact or a pressing need. It will be either a Director or Associate Director level role.

You will take the lead on assigned projects and support on a wide variety of matters such as: strategic and innovative projects in Digital Health; supporting compliance programmes (train, advise on, defend and shape); major commercial transactions/agreements; regulatory issues and strategy; privacy initiatives and supporting regional GDPR compliance; promotional materials and review; supporting on corporate projects/transactions; and managing disputes, regulatory challenges and external counsels.

Your experience should include wide exposure to the pharmaceutical or broader life sciences industry in an international setting. You will be comfortable operating independently and happy to travel regularly. There will be no immediate direct reports. As well as fluent English, it is expected you will have other European language skills. Dutch would be an advantage but is not essential.

Henderson Hall, Corporate Counsel Recruitment has been retained on an exclusive basis to handle these searches.  To apply, please respond in complete confidence via this web site. Alternatively you can contact retained consultant Struan Hall of Henderson Hall, Corporate Counsel Recruitment for a confidential discussion (direct contact info blocked on this site but you can look me up online).