Head of Legal, Europe

Head of Legal – WuXi AppTec

We are seeking an experienced Head of Legal to support our growing business in Europe. This role will ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations, manage privacy and data protection, advise on regulatory affairs, and provide support for employment, commercial, and operational matters.

Essential Job Functions

Legal & Compliance Oversight

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

Commercial & Corporate Transactions

• Lead or oversee drafting, review, and negotiation 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

• Engage 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 conduct of privacy impact assessments, handling of data subject requests, and management of any data breach incidents in the region.

Employment & Labor Law

• Counsel HR and management on employment matters across multiple EU jurisdictions.
• Collaborate with external counsel for local employment law compliance.

Qualifications

Ideal Background

• 8–15+ years of legal experience, ideally with time spent in a top‑tier law firm with life sciences clients or 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.

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; fluency in other European languages is acceptable.

Skills & Attributes

• Business‑oriented mindset and ability to balance legal risk with commercial goals.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, influencing 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 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.

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