Legal Counsel – Africa

Abbott Laboratories; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 60 000 - 100 000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Legal Counsel for Africa to provide comprehensive legal support across its commercial operations. This role requires a strong legal background with a focus on business-oriented solutions, including negotiation and compliance. You'll manage legal services and budgets while fostering relationships with stakeholders. The ideal candidate will have a law degree and relevant experience in corporate law across multiple African markets. Join a dynamic organization committed to workplace excellence and make a significant impact on the legal landscape in the region.

Qualifications

• Solid experience in litigation and corporate/commercial law.
• 3-5 years of relevant legal experience across African markets.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice on a wide range of matters for Abbott's businesses.
• Manage legal support for commercial projects and budgets.

Skills

Litigation

Corporate/Commercial Law

Negotiation

Compliance

Stakeholder Management

Legal Risk Management

Education

Law Degree

Bar Qualification

Job description

Company Overview:

At Abbott, we are committed to helping people live their best possible life through the power of health. For more than 130 years, we have brought new products and technologies to the world – in nutrition, diagnostics, medical devices and branded generic pharmaceuticals. These products create more possibilities for people at all stages of life. Today, over 100,000 of us are working to help people live not just longer, but better, in the more than 150 countries we serve.

Employer of Choice:

Abbott Legal offers interesting, challenging, and rewarding work that encompasses a diverse portfolio of products – from consumer products to innovative medical technologies. We provide the opportunity to interact with customers and colleagues from around the world. Like the Abbott businesses we support, Abbott Legal is a dynamic organization; and we are committed to developing our employees to meet the evolving needs of the company.

Abbott is regarded as an employer of choice for our commitment to workplace excellence. Our employees are given the tools to succeed, lead and grow, with challenging opportunities and work that makes a difference. Discover a world of opportunities at Abbott.

The Opportunity

The Legal Counsel for Africa is charged with supporting and at times managing legal matters for all Abbott businesses operating across Africa. This role would be based in our Roodepoort Offices.

What will you do?

You will provide legal advice to management on a wide range of matters, with a focus on business-oriented solutions, including managing the negotiation and preparation of an extensive range of agreements, as well as compliance with laws and supervision of all external legal professionals in the region.

Manages the legal support for Africa for Abbott’s commercial businesses, including the following:

• Responsibility for all legal services within the region and the direct management of multiple country level legal organizations;
• Provide legal support for key commercial projects in the region including localization projects;
• Effectively manage legal budgets and legal expenditure on external counsel;

• Supports the business in the achievement of business objectives by communicating advice of the Legal Department and managing legal risks;
• Identifies training needs and assists in development and presentation of training and education regarding legal requirements and developments;
• Develops a thorough understanding of and familiarity with: Abbott business, its people, products, markets, facilities, customers, and competitors and uses this knowledge in providing guidance and counsel to Abbott’s businesses;

• Understands the needs and expectations of internal and external stakeholders;
• Initiates, maintains and tactfully influences relationships with various stakeholders; and
• Possesses sufficiently broad perspective about functional area, business needs, trends and risks to assist in developing strategies related to functional area or business.

Qualifications:

Law degree, Bar Qualification or local equivalent is Essential.

Experience/Training Requirements:

• Solid experience in litigation, corporate/commercial law & agreements (with national and cross-border contracts).
• Commercial legal experience across multiple African markets.
• 3- 5 years of relevant legal experience.
• strong command of English is essential and additionally French would be beneficial.

Understanding and experience in following areas desirable:

• Healthcare regulatory law
• General understanding/experience in Intellectual Property (patents, trademarks)
• Administrative Law, incl. pharmaceutical/drug laws, insurance/reimbursement laws
• Public Tender Law
• National and applicable international antitrust and competition law (specifically re: parallel trade, technology transfer, research & development)
• General Corporate Law
• Criminal Law/Anti-bribery Law
• Ethics & Compliance
• Government Investigations
• Regulated Devices