【Alexion Japan】Legal Counsel

This is what you will do:

• Reporting to the Regional General Counsel (RGC), you will act as the primary legal partner for your assigned business area, operating with appropriate autonomy under the RGC’s oversight. You will identify, assess, and manage legal risks inherent in strategic initiatives, and work closely with business leaders to enable objectives while ensuring compliance and protecting the company’s interests.

You will be responsible for:

• Providing actionable, business-oriented legal advice across key topics (e.g., commercial agreements, collaborations, distribution, data, competition, promotion/advertising)

• Identifying, evaluating, and designing mitigation for legal risks associated with strategic initiatives, including governance, controls, and pragmatic trade-offs

• Leading the drafting and negotiation of complex or high-value transactions; optimizing the use of external counsel and managing legal spend

• Driving cross-functional collaboration in line with Legal SMT direction (e.g., Compliance, IP, Data Privacy, Tax, Finance) to deliver seamless support

• Developing response strategies and managing progress for disputes, claims, and regulatory inquiries, engaging external counsel as appropriate

• Monitoring legal and regulatory developments; shaping and deploying policies, guidance, and templates

• Advancing legal operations (prioritization, service levels, KPIs/cost management, process improvements) to enhance efficiency and client satisfaction

• Executing special assignments from the RGC or senior legal leadership and providing concise briefings to senior stakeholders

You will need to have:

• Law degree and attorney qualification (in the local jurisdiction or another recognized jurisdiction), with substantial practical experience in-house and/or at a law firm

• Strong, hands-on experience with a broad range of commercial transactions and the practical application of relevant laws in assigned areas

• Business-level English and Japanese required: demonstrated ability to negotiate, draft, and manage stakeholder communications in English and Japanese in a global environment

• Ability to deliver clear, risk-balanced, and business-focused advice to support decision-making and value creation

• Robust project management skills to lead multiple matters, meeting quality standards and deadlines

• Excellent relationship-building, communication, and influencing skills, including comfort engaging senior stakeholders

We would prefer for you to have:

• In-house experience in pharmaceuticals, life sciences, or rare disease; or experience in other highly regulated sectors

• Depth in one or more areas such as competition law, data privacy/cross-border data, healthcare regulations, promotion/advertising, public-private partnerships, or public procurement

• Hands-on experience managing external counsel and handling disputes, investigations, or regulatory engagements

• Track record leading change initiatives (e.g., operating model enhancements, CLM deployment, knowledge management)

• Experience handling matters across multiple jurisdictions and negotiating multi-jurisdictional contracts