Legal Counsel (Andover, MA)

At Univercells, we are on a mission to make health equally accessible to all. We work every day to reinvent biomanufacturing processes and develop or integrate the next innovative technologies. Through the combination of process development and engineering expertise, we create synergies to deliver game-changing production capacities to achieve our mission: “Biologics available and affordable to all!”

• Univercells SA brings together a group of Belgian and global biotech affiliates working together under a common mission (the “Group”). Each division of affiliates operates a different part of the healthcare value chain, through a distinct business model:
• Exothera is a contract research, development, and manufacturing organization (CRDMO) dedicated to viral vector and nucleic acids production. As a technology-driven company, Exothera provides best-in-class bioprocessing expertise that capitalizes on the best and most innovative manufacturing technologies developed within the Univercells group. The company delivers accelerated discovery services and process development/optimization to rapidly reach GMP clinical and commercial production of viral vectors and nucleic acids. 
• Unizima delivers international project management of technology transfer, alongside operational support services (quality, supply chain, digital) and bioproduction training programs, as well as care centers and diagnostics surveillance centers.
• Quantoom Biosciences is reinventing mRNA production by developing an mRNA production platform (NfinityTM) from sequence up to mass production.
• RLM Consulting thanks to a substantial knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry and a strong scientific background, RLM Consulting provides international regulatory affairs support at all stages of product development, from discovery research through preclinical and clinical testing, up to and beyond submission of the dossier for marketing authorization.

We deliver excellence and strive for innovation thanks to collaborative teams of passionate change-makers. We are driven by 5 core values in everything we do: Accountability, Continuous Improvement, Teach & Lead, Integrity, and Team spirit.

Scope of the Position

We are looking for a full-time LEGAL COUNSEL to join our central Legal team at Univercells SA, the Group’s parent company. The Group Legal team provides legal advice to both Univercells SA as parent company and the Group affiliates in Belgium and abroad. 

Are you passionate about business law and negotiating commercial transactions? Are you qualified to practice US-law? Do you have sound experience in the Life Sciences sector, preferably Biotech or Pharma? Are you a technically strong and solution-oriented lawyer? Do you enjoy working in a fast-paced environment with a team of highly motivated colleagues?

You might be the new colleague we are looking for!

Based in*Brussels, Belgium OR Andover, USA and reporting to the General Counsel you will join a collaborative team full of passionate change-makers. This job is the perfect opportunity to advise a group of various rapidly growing entities in the biotech sector in Belgium and abroad, contribute to our mission and be impactful.

*Remote working is possible though on-site presence at either our Brussels office or our Andover office is preferred.

Main responsibilities

As Legal Counsel, your key responsibilities will be to:

• Provide transactional advice and support for global commercial deals (in particular development partnerships, sales and purchasing deals)
• Analyze and provide advice on envisaged business deals or business models (focusing on commercial legal aspects, IP as well as other business law aspects) in the USA, EU and beyond
• Advise on, negotiate and draft business agreements for and with Univercells’ or UnivercellsAffiliates’ partners (including NDA, Material Transfer Agreements, CDMO Service agreements, (clinical) R&D agreements, tech transfer agreements, IN- and OUT-licensing agreements, purchasing agreements for strategic materials, etc).
• Give accurate and timely counsel to executives and business stakeholders in a variety of legal topics, and particularly on doing business in the USA (e.g. corporate and HR law, corporate compliance, commercial transactions, financing deals, international ventures and partnerships, etc.)

In addition, as Legal Counsel within the Univercells Legal team you will also need to:

• Effectively and efficiently work together with external counsel (e.g. in the event of disputes or litigation)
• Work independently as part of cross-functional teams with a service- and solution-oriented focus.
• Communicate and negotiate with external parties (regulators, external counsel, public authority etc.), creating relations of trust
• Draft, solidify and negotiate legal agreements and documents to safeguard and enforce Univercells’ legal rights and interests
• Support with the preparation of internal governance policies and processes and support with monitoring compliance thereof;
• Deal with complex matters with multiple stakeholders and forces
• Provide clarification on legal language or specifications to everyone in the organization
• Conduct your work with integrity and responsibility

Required qualifications and experience

• Legal professional with a Master of Laws degree – We are looking for a US-law qualified lawyer (our offices are based in the State of Massachusetts), preferably also having a Belgian law or other EU continental law degree or vast experience in these jurisdictions.
• 5-8 yearsof experience in an international law firm or as an in-house counsel in an international environment with commercial and problem-solving skills and sound experience in structuring, drafting and negotiating business deals.
• Demonstrated experience in the USA biotech, pharma or life sciences’ sector. Working understanding of molecular biology, biochemistry, immunology, cellular biology, protein chemistry or the like is a strong asset.
• Excellent in English (both verbal and in writing) - working proficiency in French or any additional language is a +.
• High degree of professional ethics and integrity.
• Technically strong and solution-oriented lawyer with a sound judgement and ability to analyze and synthesize situations and information and build pragmatic solutions. Solid business acumen and strategic mindset.