Legal & Compliance Counsel Global Commercial and Transactions

ES14 (FCRS = ES014) Sandoz Farmacéutica, S.A.; Madrid; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Sandoz is seeking an experienced Legal & Compliance Counsel to partner with global teams on M&A, BD&L, licensing, and alliance management, leading end-to-end legal support for cross-border transactions.

The role requires a law degree with Bar admission, 5+ years in top firms or in-house, fluency in English, and pharma experience; you will advise across regulatory and commercial issues and coordinate with stakeholders.

Qualifications

• 5+ years as legal advisor in top-tier law firm or in-house
• Experience in healthcare/pharmaceutical environment
• Experience advising global/regional commercial teams
• Ability to lead cross-border, cross-functional workstreams
• Strong drafting and analytical skills under time pressure
• Excellent verbal and written communication; ability to influence
• Interest in Sandoz business strategy

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic legal & compliance support for global M&A, divestments, and BD&L
• Support global commercial platforms from launch to lifecycle management
• Lead global transactions with drafting and negotiations, with or without external counsel
• Coordinate with regional teams to ensure governance and risk mitigation
• Identify risks and provide pragmatic recommendations to business partners
• Manage external counsel and legal spend; drive efficiency and harmonization

Skills

M&A experience

Cross-border collaboration

Negotiation & drafting

English fluency

Strategic legal advice

Education

Law degree

Bar admission

Job description

Job Description Summary Our Legal team is hiring! Job Description Sandoz continues to go through an exciting and transformative period as a global leader and pioneering provider of sustainable Biosimilar and Generic medicines. As we continue down this new and ambitious path, unique opportunities will present themselves, both professionally and personally. Join us, the future is ours to shape! As Legal & Compliance Counsel Global Commercial and Transactions you will be the strategic legal partner for global Sandoz legal & compliance function, supporting Sandoz business teams engaging in M&A and BD&L transactions, together with legal & compliance support for global commercial platforms. Responsible for providing end-to-end strategic legal & compliance support to drive sustainable growth at Sandoz, acting as autonomous legal & compliance lead for BD&L transactions, alliance management, commercial platforms, and supporting more senior counsels on highly complex M&A licensing transactions.

Responsibilities

• Key legal partner to the global M&A, divestment and BD&L teams, providing strategic legal advice to drive successful dealmaking and alliance management in the interests of Sandoz
• Key legal and compliance partner to the global commercial platforms, supporting compliant & strategic development, launch and lifecycle planning, commercialization, advertising & promotional review, supply and distribution arrangements, and other priority business initiatives
• Provide end-to-end legal & compliance support for platform-related transactions, including licensing, co-development, co-commercialization, strategic collaboration, supply, distribution, acquisition, divestment and alliance arrangements, as applicable
• Independently lead global transactions, bringing specific transactional legal expertise to drafting and negotiations and in the provision of practical, relevant legal advice
• Demonstrate agility in leading different types of transactions across diverse geographies and across different stages of transactions, from internal coordination on DD and structuring advice through to post-closing and integration/separation or alliance management matters, including efficiently managing disputes
• Lead negotiations and drafting with and without external counsel support, in close alignment with key business partners
• Assess, identify and communicate material risks and recommendations to mitigate in a pragmatic, business-orientated way and proactively implement solutions where appropriate
• Ensure a close coordination between Legal (in-house and external counsel) and key stakeholders, including collaborating with experts across all relevant functions as well with regions/countries to drive consistency and efficiency across Sandoz
• Coordinate legal and compliance support across global, regional and country teams and relevant subject-matter experts to deliver consistent, timely and practical legal & compliance advice on commercial models, market-entry plans, product claims and communications, interactions with third parties, competition-law considerations and other material risks affecting the supported commercial platforms.
• Promote effective governance, early Legal & Compliance engagement and disciplined escalation for global commercial platforms, anticipating emerging issues and helping business teams implement proportionate controls and risk-mitigation measures.
• Monitor and manage external counsel appropriately, properly allocating work between internal and external and actively managing legal spend
• Manage workload and prioritize appropriately with manager support, in close alignment with Sandoz’s risks and opportunities, including simplifying processes and practices where appropriate
• Pro-actively develop and roll out legal resources for transactions, including standardized template agreements, effective trainings and workshops, harmonization of standards and processes to enable simplification and optimise management of risk and resources

What you need to bring to the role

Law school graduate and Bar member Fluent in English essential At least 5 years of experience working as legal advisor in a top-tier law firm and/or in-house, ideally including experience within a healthcare / pharmaceutical environment Transactional experience in an international environment. M&A experience a plus. Experience advising global or regional commercial teams in the pharmaceutical, healthcare or another highly regulated industry, ideally across product launch, lifecycle management, market access, supply, distribution and promotional or non-promotional activities. Demonstrated ability to lead cross-border, cross-functional legal and compliance workstreams, align diverse stakeholders and translate complex regulatory and commercial considerations into clear, practical recommendations. Proven ability to handle a high volume of activity involving multiple, often complex projects simultaneously Strong drafting skills and ability to analyze complex legal issues under time pressure. Strong verbal & written communication skills; together with a high ability to influence and negotiate Ability to analyze complex legal issues and risks and communicate impact and practical recommendations to business and management clearly and succinctly Deep interest in understanding Sandoz’s business, purpose and strategy and passion to add real value in that context Professional & culturally sensitive work ethic Ability to handle detail and keep overview, seeing issues in a broader context

What you’ll receive

Sandoz compensation is determined by job level, qualifications, niche skills, experience, and location within company salary ranges. Fully proficient and highly effective employees can expect a starting salary around market median, with those new to the level or with less functional depth at the lower end of the range and those with sustained superior or niche skills towards the higher end of the range. Internal equity and external market data inform our range placement. Annual salary reviews consider performance outcomes, market alignment, and business needs.

Why Sandoz?

Generic and Biosimilar medicines are the backbone of the global medicines industry. Sandoz, a leader in this sector, provided more than 900 million patient treatments across 100+ countries in 2024 and while we are proud of this achievement, we have an ambition to do more! With investments in new development capabilities, production sites, new acquisitions, and partnerships, we have the opportunity to shape the future of Sandoz and help more patients gain access to low-cost, high-quality medicines, sustainably.

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams representative of the patients and communities we serve. Hiring decisions are only based on the qualification for the position, regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, age and disability.

#Sandoz Skills Desired

Business Development, Business Partners, Career Development, Computer Cluster, Data Privacy, Finance, Internet, Law (Legal System), Legal Advice, Litigation Law, Negotiation Skills, Private Equity, Tax

Our Purpose

Our Purpose here at Sandoz is pioneering access for patients. As the global leader in 'off-patent' high quality medicines, we are able to make medicine more affordable and accessible. Our broad global portfolio comprises of approximately 1,300 quality biosimilar and generic medicines, enabling us to provide more than 900 million patient treatments across 100+ countries per year, and while we are proud of this achievement, we have an ambition to do more! Powered by our talented and ambitious colleagues, who, in return for dedication and skills, experience a flexible, collaborative & inclusive culture where diversity of thought is welcomed and where personal growth is nurtured!