Legal Counsel Algeria

To achieve success, the Legal Counsel Algeria will support the Legal Director Algeria and the Legal Department in providing legal advice in all matters that are relevant to the Commercial and Manufacturing & Supply operations of the Algerian affiliate.

The work product and advice of the Legal Counsel – Algeria will need to comply, at all times, with local laws and Group policies and standards.

Responsibilities:

• Provide consistent, careful, constructive and commercially relevant legal and practical advice on a broad range of issues in a timely manner in order to assist the business in meeting its objectives.
• Bring a solid business orientation and focus to problem solving, while upholding strong ethics and integrity across the organization.
• Advise the local management on pharmaceutical industry issues such as promotional and advertising practices.
• Review digital initiatives and social media projects and ensure their compliance with local rules and regulations.
• Safeguard the Company’s legal interests and ensure the progress of the Company’s strategy.
• Draft and negotiate specific contractual clauses and agreements with external entities, as appropriate, and developing contract templates as and when appropriate.
• Deliver training on Group Contract Standard, and create and deliver trainings tailored to specific and relevant areas of law as may be required.
• Advise on disputes, complaints, claims and litigation, and manage where necessary litigation with the assistance of external legal counsel.
• Keep abreast of trends and changes in the law and regulation as reflected in current legislation, cases, and government regulations affecting the Company, and communicate them to the Legal Director Algeria and to management.
• Participate in the review of new legislation requiring contractual compliance, and implement systems required to attain compliance.
• Conduct legal and factual research and data analysis as directed.
• Establish, maintain, process, and/or oversee files, correspondence, databases, records, certificates, and/or other Legal documents.
• Perform miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned by the Legal Director Algeria.

Examples of some specific responsibilities:

• Projects & Initiatives
  • Strongly contributor to the Country Affiliate key projects with high legal expertise, business acumen, leadership, teamwork spirit.
  • Be a true business owner focused on operational solutions to the achievement of business objectives.
• Contracts
  • Draft and/or review and negotiate licenses, partnerships, distribution, manufacturing & supply, services, medical/marketing agreements and other contracts as required by the Country Affiliates, all in accordance with Group Contract Standard, other Group procedures and local legal regulations.
• Litigation
  • Provide legal support on disputes, claims and litigation.
  • Monitor ongoing disputes, claims and litigation under scope and provide reporting to the Legal Director Algeria.
• Corporate
  • Undertake corporate secretarial work of the Country Affiliates as assigned by the Legal Director Algeria (drafting of minutes, preparation of Boards and General Assemblies’ meetings, record and archive minutes, undertake modifications of the Country Affiliates legal documents before competent authorities…).
• Ethical & Business Integrity Leadership
  • Takes personal accountability to use personal experience and knowledge, as well as the training and tools provided by the Company, to maintain a good knowledge and understanding of all ethics and governance relevant to the role (Company’s Policies and Procedures and any relevant legal requirements) and demonstrate personal leadership in applying these to all work undertaken.
  • Escalates any decisions or seek the support of colleagues or management if personal knowledge and understanding is not at the level required to carry out any part of the role.

Key Working Relationships:

• Interna
  • Strong Collaboration with Ethics and Business Integrity.
  • Cross Functional Collaboration with all Business Operations and Corporate Functions including People & Culture, Finance, Internal Control, External Affairs, Communication, Regulatory, Medical, Manufacturing & Supply, R&D, Quality, Pharmacovigilance, etc...

• External: Expected to be involved with:
  • External legal counsels and partners (law firms and legal consultancy firms, notaries, bailiffs, translators…) for outsourced matters assigned by Algeria Legal Department.
  • External government departments and authorities directly linked to Legal support (Trade Registry, registration department…).

About you

Education and experience required:

The Legal Counsel should have a Law Degree from an accredited university in Algeria. Masters of Laws from foreign universities would be an added advantage.

• Experience
  • 6-8 years PQE.
  • a background in a pharmaceutical related sector or FMCG, with a reputable multinational business and / or a leading international law firm is desirable, but not mandatory.
  • an excellent knowledge of compliance procedures within a multinational environment including the laws and regulations relating to F.C.P.A. and UK Anti-Bribery legislations.
  • a solid experience in identifying and dealing with complex business issues, conflicting interests and providing qualified legal advice to senior management.

• Professional/Interpersonal skills: The Legal Counsel should have the following skills and attributes:
  • Unquestioned integrity and ethics in business and personal conduct.
  • Good judgment and maturity.
  • A proven track record of delivering against tight deadlines and under pressure.
  • Result driven, able to drive clear and timely outcomes, while working across diverse operating cultures and working styles.
  • Strong business acumen and ability to understand the commercial drivers of a business.
  • Ability to question and improve status quo.
  • An excellent academic background.
  • Excellent presentation and communications skills.
  • Excellent legal drafting skills.
  • Strong organizational abilities.
  • Mastering of Digital & IT tools.

• Language Skills:
  • Arabic: native or fluent (written and spoken).
  • French: native or fluent (written and spoken).
  • English: fluent (written and spoken).