Associate General Counsel, Global Alliances Legal

AbbVie · North Chicago, IL, United States

  • Junior
  • Full-time
  • Posted 2026-09-24
  • Confirmed live on 25 September 2026

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Job description

Job Description
As Associate General Counsel, Global Alliances Legal, you will join a team of attorneys who support AbbVie’s global alliances organization. You will help shape AbbVie’s strategic collaborations with China-based pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners by translating legal complexity into strategic opportunity, providing practical, business-minded legal counsel across the full lifecycle of complex R&D collaborations, from alliance governance and contract interpretation to amendments, dispute resolution, partner engagement, and strategic program development.
You will work closely with Global Alliances, R&D, business development, regulatory, intellectual property, data privacy, operations, commercial, and other corporate functions, bridging the legal, policy, and operational worlds to advance AbbVie’s collaboration strategy, drive informed decision-making, and support the development of innovative medicines.
You will also serve as a trusted legal advisor on U.S.-China regulatory and health-authority matters affecting current and prospective collaborations and R&D strategies involving drug development in China, including China’s Human Genetic Resources (HGR) regulations, the U.S. BIOSECURE Act, DOJ Bulk Data Transfer rules, proposed outbound investment restrictions on biotechnology, and U.S. and China foreign investment frameworks. By balancing risk with innovation and building the readiness required to operate in an evolving global environment, this role suits a collaborative problem solver who works at the intersection of science, law, U.S.-China relations, and global partnership management, and who is motivated to make a meaningful impact on patients’ lives.
Responsibilities:

• Advise senior leaders and business partners (including Global Alliances, R&D leadership, asset strategy teams, disease strategy teams, and other stakeholders) on complex legal and regulatory matters that impact collaboration strategy, policy, or enterprise objectives. Lead or co-lead legal strategies for key initiatives to align with portfolio objectives and support collaborative decision-making across the product lifecycle.

• Advise on and track U.S.-China legal, regulatory, and policy frameworks affecting pharmaceutical collaborations and drug development involving China, including China’s HGR regulations, the BIOSECURE Act, DOJ Bulk Data Transfer rules, proposed outbound investment restrictions on biotechnology, U.S. and China foreign investment frameworks, and related requirements. Interpret laws, policies, and enforcement trends to proactively identify risks and opportunities, and translate developments into actionable guidance for Global Alliances, R&D, regulatory, and other stakeholders.

• Develop or support training and guidance on the frameworks described above as needed.

• Advise on alliance and collaboration matters involving China-based pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners, focusing on practical legal solutions that support effective governance, execution, and long-term partnership value. Serve as a connector between Legal and cross-functional groups to ensure alignment across commercial operations and international partnerships.

• Interpret and analyze complex strategic agreements (including licenses, collaborations, co-development arrangements, and other alliances) and provide clear legal advice to business clients and leadership on issues arising from partnered R&D, manufacturing, supply, and commercialization activities.

• Draft, review, and negotiate amendments, governance documents, dispute resolutions, operational agreements, and other documents supporting the post-execution lifecycle of strategic collaborations.

• Manage legal input for high-impact business transactions by collaborating with the Transactions Legal team and business development to evaluate, structure, and negotiate new collaborations with China-based counterparties, including deal structuring, due diligence, risk assessment, drafting, and integration planning.
This role requires in-office presence at least three days per week at Abbott Park in North Chicago, IL, or at one of AbbVie’s offices in Waltham, MA, South San Francisco, CA, Rockville, MD, or Washington, DC.

Qualifications
• J.D. from an accredited law school and currently admitted to the bar in at least one U.S. state is required. Must hold an active license to practice law in the state where you will work.

• Experience at an Am Law 100 firm or in-house at a major pharmaceutical, life-sciences, healthcare, or highly regulated global industry company.

• Minimum of 7 years of relevant legal experience in one or more of the following:
• drafting, reviewing, and negotiating life-sciences and pharmaceutical transactions, including licenses, collaborations, co-development arrangements, and other complex R&D agreements;

• advising business clients and senior management on complex global collaborations, alliance governance, contract interpretation, amendments, disput

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