Job Introduction

Dechra is a global specialist veterinary pharmaceuticals products business. Our expertise is in the development, manufacture, marketing and sales of high-quality products exclusively for veterinarians worldwide. As a member of the global legal team, this position will be legal counsel for North America (NA), reporting to the Senior Legal Counsel NA. The role requires an individual that can engage with all parts of the North American business (USA, CA, MX), the Global Product Development and Regulatory Affairs teams, and assist the UK Group legal team with projects across the globe to help facilitate delivery of Dechra’s growth strategy.

The Legal Counsel NA shall be responsible assisting the Senior Legal Counsels NA with the delivery of timely and commercially-focused legal support to all parts of the NA Dechra Group which currently comprises manufacturing sites in Pomona (California), Fort Worth (Texas) and Melbourne (Florida); sales and marketing organizations in the US, Canada and Mexico; Business Development, Product Development and Regulatory Affairs teams globally; and the NA infrastructure functions (HR, IT, Finance).

This role will suit a junior lawyer who wishes to be exposed to a wide-variety of interesting commercial work as part of the global team, but with the support and supervision of two experienced US-based Senior Legal Counsels.  Some work will naturally be new and challenging so the individual should have curiosity, common sense, and resilience.

Dechra is a friendly, collaborative and people-focused business and so the applicant needs to be confident working with colleagues across the globe.  The applicant will need good listening skills, cultural awareness and to enjoy working with others.

Dechra is part of the FTSE100, listed on the London Stock Exchange, with revenue of approximately £680 million. Dechra has seen rapid growth over the last 5 years. Since 2015, the Group has completed 30 acquisitions worldwide.  Learn more at Dechra.com.

Role Responsibility

Commercial

Assist Senior Legal Counsel NA with the following:

• Draft and negotiate external manufacturing agreements with contract manufacturers and work closely with the External Manufacturing Director
• Draft and negotiate supply chain and procurement contracts
• Draft and negotiate inward manufacturing agreements with Dechra as manufacturer
• Draft and negotiate warehousing and logistics contracts
• Draft and negotiate capital equipment contracts
• Draft legally compliant rebate schemes and contracts with corporate accounts and buying groups
• Review and approve promotions, sponsorships and donations
• Advise on general commercial contracts such as wholesaler and distribution agreements, warehousing and logistics contracts, licensing agreements, KOL agreements, consultancy agreements, KOL agreements, MSA’s, NDA’s, etc.
• Provide NA leadership with internal legal advice and assist with litigation (with the assistance of Senior Legal Counsel and/or external legal counsel as appropriate)
• Upkeep of standard legal template contracts and forms to ensure they are fit for purpose and regularly updated to reflect new legislation and best practice
• Support all NA Dechra support functions (HR, IT, Finance, Marketing)
• Review and approval of all advertising and promotional materials from a legal perspective, including trademark usage

Product Development and Regulatory Affairs

Assist Senior Legal Counsel NA with the following:

• Draft and negotiate Sponsored Research and Clinical Trial Agreements with contract research laboratories, universities, vet clinics and networks 
• Draft and negotiate external manufacturing agreements with contract manufacturers during product development
• Draft and negotiate MSAs, Consulting agreements, and NDAs
• Training business on use of templates
• Advise Regulatory Affairs on copyright and trademark usage in labelling
• Collaborate with Regulatory Affairs on state licensing applications and renewals

Compliance

Assist Senior Legal Counsel NA with the following:

• Responsible for ensuring NA compliance with all anti-bribery and corruption risk
• Assist the UK Group Legal team with auditing of third party network, training of third party network on ABC and refreshing the same at regular intervals
• Ensure compliance by Dechra NA and its third party network with all sanctions and trade laws
• Report all ABC and sanctions compliance to the Group Legal Director
• Responsible for anti-trust compliance and data privacy compliance by Dechra NA
• Provide legal training and support to Dechra employees
• Auditing of contracts required for compliance

The Ideal Candidate

Experience

• Experience resolving legal issues and providing strategic, well-reasoned, constructive solutions
• Ability to effectively communicate legal advice
• Ability to understand complicated laws and regulations and translate them into practical, business-orientated legal advice
• Ability to work collaboratively and effective with key stakeholders and business partners
• Strong organizational and time management skills in order to balance working on multiple projects in multiple time zones in parallel
• Demonstrable challenging and influencing capability
• Strong negotiation, communication, drafting and interpersonal skills
• Self-starter with ability to work independently yet be a team player
• Ability to anticipate risk and be proactive in planning and communicating accordingly including determining who should be informed and engaged

Qualifications

• US qualified lawyer with at least 2+ years’ post-qualification experience
• Active membership in at least one U.S. State bar
• Strong commercial law experience
• In-house experience desirable
• Animal or human health experience desirable
• FDA experience helpful
• Legal compliance experience desirable
• Ability to work in a fast paced environment
• Ability to travel within US and internationally

About the Company

As a people first values-based culture, we provide free weekly wellness sessions focused on our employee's physical and mental wellbeing, and flexible work arrangements. We offer a generous employer 401k match and an employee stock purchase plan for long-term financial wellness. Our full array of health, financial and voluntary benefit programs are what you would expect from a recognized Best Place to Work.

Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC