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Executive Director- Legal / International IP

Ireland - Dublin, Ireland - CorkLegal & ComplianceRegular
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Job Description

About Gilead

Gilead Sciences, Inc. is a research-based biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, and commercializes innovative medicines in areas of unmet medical need. Gilead strives to transform and simplify care for people with life-threatening illnesses around the world. Gilead's portfolio of products and pipeline of investigational drugs includes treatments for HIV/AIDS, liver diseases, cancer, inflammatory and respiratory diseases, as well as cardiovascular conditions.

Our portfolio of marketed products includes a number of category firsts, including complete treatment regimens for HIV infection available in a once-daily single pill and the first oral antiretroviral pill available to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV infection in certain high-risk adults, and the first antiviral to treat COVID-19.

Not only does Gilead develop innovative medicines but it also aims to advance global health through efforts such as supporting healthcare infrastructure, education, and access. At the core of its values is a conscientious and inclusive attitude, which underpins all of the work we do at Gilead.

As an IP owner, Gilead Sciences Ireland UC (“GSIUC”) is a key member of the Gilead group and manages or performs a number of key roles / functions with respect to its IP, such as protection & maintenance. GSIUC is the MA holder for Gilead’s EU Marketing Authorisations and the GSIUC International IP function leads on ex-US IP issues including policy. GSIUC also provides financial and shared services activities as well as manufacture and distribution activities related to medicinal products that are distributed across the world. GSIUC is the holding company for most Gilead affiliate entities around the world and is responsible for their governance.

The Position
Gilead is a globally recognized leader known for its commitment to excellence in intellectual property protection. We are currently seeking an accomplished and strategic Executive Director for International Intellectual Property Litigation to lead our legal efforts beyond the United States. An experienced IP lawyer with ex-US experience will lead the GSIUC Legal and International IP function.

As the Executive Director of Intellectual Property and Legal, you will serve as the legal authority responsible for safeguarding, optimizing and strategically managing our intellectual property assets ex-US. You will not be responsible for prosecution or docketing. This role is pivotal in aligning intellectual property strategy with our business objectives and ensuring compliance with intellectual property laws and regulations. Based in Dublin, Ireland, this role will also consist of overseeing the GSIUC legal team, consisting of GSIUC Country Counsel, the GSIUC Company Secretariat team (both in Cork, Ireland), GSIUC Dublin Central Lead Counsel and overseeing and managing the International IP Attorney team which leads Gilead’s ex-US IP enforcement and policy initiatives, based in Dublin and Hong Kong.

Job Duties Include

Global IP functions

  • Overseeing ex-US IP litigation, you will develop and lead the organization's international intellectual property litigation strategy.

  • Ensure alignment of litigation efforts with our global business goals and intellectual property protection objectives

  • Oversee and manage all aspects of intellectual property litigation outside the United States, apart from prosecution and docketing.

  • Collaborate closely with legal teams, external counsel, and international stakeholders to navigate complex legal landscapes

  • Ensure legal compliance with international intellectual property and antitrust laws and regulations

  • Assess and manage legal risks associated with global intellectual property litigation, providing strategic guidance to mitigate potential liabilities

  • Liaise with ACE (Australia, Canada, Europe) and the Intercontinental Region (ICR) affiliates on IP issues affecting those entities, including loss of exclusivity planning and execution, as well as submissions for tenders and pricing and reimbursement negotiations

  • Sitting on the Global Litigation & Investigations Leadership Team, you’ll ensure consistency and alignment with respect to execution, risk assessment, and other legal matters

  • Sitting on the GSIUC Board of Directors, you’ll work to ensure strategic leadership of GSIUC intellectual properties issues.

  • Develop a strong relationship with the IP Leadership Team to ensure consistency and alignment with the IP team, globally

  • Develop, craft, and lead the organization's international intellectual property policy, ensuring it aligns with our global business goals and objectives and in coordination with Government Affairs

GSIUC Governance functions

  • Membership of the Board of Directors of GSIUC.

  • Overseeing GSIUC’s legal function including the GSIUC Country Counsel and their team and the GSIUC Company Secretarial team, as well as the Dublin Central Lead Counsel.

  • Overseeing and managing the International IP legal team, based in Dublin and Hong Kong.

  • Acquiring an in-depth understanding of GSIUC’s financial and shared services and manufacturing and distribution operations, together with GSIUC Country Counsel.

  • Responsibility for the governance of all Irish entities. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:

  • Maintaining governance for all Irish and GSIUC subsidiary entities.

  • Oversight of GSIUC Board Meetings and shareholder meetings in accordance with the company’s Board Rules, in conjunction with the GSIUC Company Secretariat Team

  • Being point of liaison between the Gilead affiliates who use GSIUC as their contracting party for their transactions. This involves understanding what is entailed by the transactions and being able to explain the risks and benefits of such transactions to the directors of Gilead Sciences Ireland UC (or the relevant Irish entity).

  • Oversight, management and development of GSIUC Country Counsel and team.

  • Designing and providing training to the GSIUC business.

  • Working closely with:

    • GSI’s IP Department in Foster City

    • GSIUC’s other functions, including Finance and Tax

    • Gilead’s International Competition Law, Data Privacy and Information Governance teams

Key stakeholders at Gilead’s global headquarters in Foster City, California, on tax, corporate law, as well as financial, employment, manufacturing and distribution matters

  • Develop strong relationships with external counsel, ensuring the organization consistently engages the most proficient and adept legal counsel for specific matters, selecting and managing these external legal partners

  • Ensure that we receive the highest level of legal expertise and strategic guidance, aligning with our business objectives and legal needs, enhancing our legal capabilities but also optimizes the value we derive from these crucial external collaborations

  • Managing GSIUC’s legal budget, including executing a strategic approach to resource allocation, ensuring financial resources are optimally utilized to support our legal objectives,  prioritize budgetary efficiency, cost-effectiveness, while maintaining a commitment to obtaining the highest quality legal services

  • Helping to organise, attending and/or actively participating in global and regional meetings with Gilead’s lawyers.

  • Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing legal team specializing in international intellectual property litigation

  • Foster a culture of legal excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement

Travel

  • The GSIUC Lead Counsel will be expected to travel globally at short notice, including quarterly trips to Gilead HQ in Foster City, California and roughly bi-monthly trips to Stockley Park. London, UK; as well as trips to affiliates around the world, including any significant meetings to coordinate Gilead’s IP policy position

Experience

  • Qualified to practice law, preferably in an ex-US jurisdiction

  • Significant experience with a BS/BA degree, PhD or equilavent

  • Including a combined experience at top-tier law firm and/or in-house legal department with experience working in a multi-national company

  • Deep experience and proven track record in a complex, highly specialized field, in conducting and managing IP international litigation

Skills

  • Strong emotional intelligence skills, including the ability to manage and oversee successful teams and operate in a matrixed environment

  • Strong leadership skills; able to operate with a high level of autonomy

  • Proactive with the ability to create and execute a strategic vision

  • Strong cultural awareness skills and the ability to work effectively in multiple geographies.

  • The position will require travel (regional and international).

  • Substantive expertise and understanding of ex-US intellectual property combined with excellent project management skills and sound judgment in managing cases and interacting with internal business clients

  • This position requires working within a team extensively, and accordingly, the ability to work collaboratively and efficiently with others is critical.  Candidates must possess strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work well with a variety of different personalities.

  • Flexibility to work hours that allow communication with Ireland and Foster City.

  • High influencing and persuasion skills (proven effectiveness at senior management level).

  • Functional Leadership skills – ability to lead cross-functionally by personality, competence and influence.

  • The successful candidate will be given increasing responsibility.  Accordingly, the applicant must be able to competently carry out and follow through on directives, learn quickly, apply legal analysis in a business context, and work independently to identify issues and goal as well as possessing strong strategic planning abilities.

  • The ability to handle multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment is critical.  The position requires appropriate triaging of a heavy workflow, setting appropriate priorities with clients and delivering results within the reasonable agreed timelines.

  • The candidate must demonstrate ability to think creatively and devise solutions to challenging problems and must exercise mature and reliable judgment.

  • Demonstrated client service orientation; able to recognize and respond quickly and pragmatically to urgent situations and demanding clients.

  • Strong leadership and team management skills with a legal perspective.

  • Exceptional negotiation and legal communication abilities, including exceptional and demonstrated written and verbal communication skills.

  • In-depth legal knowledge of intellectual property laws and regulations.

  • Fluency in English

Behaviours

  • Strong and continuous development ability with members of the team

  • Resilient profile with the ability to deliver in an ambiguous environment

  • Ability to engage and manage multiple stakeholders to achieve the objective

  • Curious with learning agility

  • Operationally excellent

  • Organised with systematic approach to prioritisation

  • Process orientated to achieve the business objective

Gilead Core Values

  • Integrity (always doing the right thing),

  • Teamwork (collaborating in good faith),

  • Excellence (working at a high level of commitment and capability)

  • Accountability (taking personal responsibility).

  • Inclusion (encouraging diversity)

Seniority level

Executive Director