Head of Legal, France

Job title:Head of Legal, France

• Location: Paris

• Travel to be expected

• Job type: Permanent

About the job

Our Team:

The Legal Ethics and Business Integrity (LEBI) team at Sanofi is a strategic business function with a leadership role in driving the company’s purpose of chasing the miracles of science to improve people’s lives. As an up-to-date in-house legal department of a leading pharmaceutical global company, we aspire to provide strategic legal counsel as proactive business owners with an innovative and external focus that can ultimately represent a true value creation center for Sanofi.

The Legal Head of France leads a legal team of four lawyers and two paralegals in the midst of transformation, working closely with the local Business Unit leaders for Specialty Care, General Medicines, Market Access and other corporate functions in the home country of the company. In addition, the Legal Head of France will work very closely with the Head Legal for Key Markets and the rest of the Key Markets Legal Leadership Team (KM-LLT) to drive its strategy for the country.

The role:

• Lead, manage and develop a team of lawyers to serve as strategic partners to the Sanofi business.

• The Head of Legal is responsible for establishing the strategy for the legal support of business units (Specialty Care and General Medicines) and providing legal support to the business functions in the country, including Market Access and other corporate functions.

• S/he also ensures appropriate and compliant management of all corporate affairs in the country, which have a significant relevance in France as Sanofi’s headquarters are based in Paris. Proactively counsel the Country Lead and Country Council, whilst serving as enterprise connector and ensuring a strong collaboration with the Ethics, Business Integrity team as well as all other relevant internal functions. 

• The Head of Legal will manage highly complex and sensitive legal and business issues and advise internal colleagues in a manner that advances the company’s strategy while addressing legal and regulatory risks and preserving and protecting the company’s integrity and reputation.

• In addition, the Head of Legal will be expected to provide prompt, strategic, pragmatic and thorough input to internal clients and senior management regarding complex and wide-ranging legal matters, particularly in the area of advertising and promotion, competition law and other applicable healthcare laws. 

• Further, the Head of Legal will be expected to take an active role in the development and growth of attorneys on the team, managing others to maximize their potential and their value to Sanofi.

• This role requires a strong passion to understand the Sanofi business strategy, across different business units, building trustful relationships with its key stakeholders while connecting global and local realities.

• Dimensions / scope: The Head of Legal France will be based in Paris being in charge of all legal aspects for the French affiliate (supported sales of + €1B), managing 4-5 direct reports

Main responsibilities:

• Member of the Key Markets Legal Leadership Team (KM-LLT), responsible for establishing and advancing the Key Markets Legal Strategy and the continuous development of the legal function in the region

• Monitor and influence legal developments: ensure that the business considers legal trends and risks in the business strategy

• Represent Sanofi Legal to external stakeholders, including the government and industry associations

• Proactively follow local regulations and deals proposed to happen with thoughtful risk taking approach: with a clear understanding of risks, establishing a clear mitigation plan and monitoring approach with all the relevant stakeholders

• Ensure external focus by strengthening an external network of professionals to help advance the Sanofi Business Strategy by appropriately influencing the external environment

• In collaboration with the Sanofi IP team, conduct relevant risk assessments regarding IP protection whilst enforcing and defending the Sanofi IP rights in the country

• Management of litigation matters instituted by or against the Sanofi business in France and ensure cost effective management

• When required, appropriately engage and manage external counsel in accordance with internal procedures, budget and business objectives

• Monitor and interpret the legislative environment in which the different Sanofi businesses operate to ensure the leaders understand and meet all relevant legal obligations

• In coordination with the KM-LLT, ensure continuous development of the talent in the country

About you

Education and professional Experience

• French Law degree

• Extensive pharma legal experience: 15+ years combined in house experience and/or law firm

• Solid knowledge of pharma regulations

Skills

• Very strong communication skills

• High EQ, flexibility and agility to adapt to changing circumstances

• Project management skills and ability to influence an international matrix organization

• High level Leadership qualities: inspiring leader to build and motivate a strong team of legal professionals and being a passionate ambassador of the Sanofi Legal function both internally and externally

Languages

• French

• English

• Others (a plus)

Pursue Progress. Discover Extraordinary.

Better is out there. Better medications, better outcomes, better science. But progress doesn’t happen without people – people from different backgrounds, in different locations, doing different roles, all united by one thing: a desire to make miracles happen. So, let’s be those people.

At Sanofi, we provide equal opportunities to all regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, or gender identity.

Watch our ALL IN video and check out our Diversity Equity and Inclusion actions at sanofi.com!

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