Associate Director, Corporate Counsel – Research & Early Development

Who We Are
For more than two decades, going our own way has led to countless breakthroughs, bettering the lives of those suffering from rare genetic disease. In 1997 we were founded to make a big difference in small patient populations. Now we seek to make an even greater impact by applying the same science-driven, patient-forward approach that propelled our last 25 years of drug development to larger genetic disorders, as well as genetic subsets of more common conditions. Through our unparalleled expertise in genetics and molecular biology, we will continue to develop targeted therapies that address the root cause of the conditions we seek to treat. Applying our knowledge to make a transformative impact is not just a calling, but an obligation to those who will benefit most. The end goal has always been better lives and now we can reach more.

And the more people we reach, the more our impact can grow. We transform lives through genetic discovery.

Our Culture
Our desire to make a positive impact on our patients extends to our employees and BioMarin is committed to fostering an inclusive environment where every person feels seen, valued, and heard – so employees can thrive in all areas of their lives, in and outside of work. We seek to provide an open, flexible, and friendly work environment to empower people and to provide them with the ability to develop their long-term careers. Ultimately, we want to be an organization where people enjoy coming to work and take pride in our efforts to help patients.

Summary Description:

BioMarin is a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Marin County dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the lives of patients suffering from diseases that are often underserved and ignored.  This position is an exciting opportunity for an attorney to join a fast-paced, dynamic corporate legal department supporting a global biopharmaceutical company. 

As Associate Director/Director, Corporate Counsel for Research and Early Development, you will be the lead attorney strategically advising the Head of Research and Early Development and associated Leadership Team. You will report to the VP, Deputy General Counsel and will be part of the Legal Operations group.  You can expect to be working on a wide range of legal matters designed to support BioMarin’s cutting-edge science. You will also be the legal representative on a number of cross-functional teams that are tasked with the development and eventual commercialization of BioMarin pipeline products.  In addition, a successful candidate will be an accomplished transactional attorney with significant experience in structuring, drafting and negotiating complex licensing, collaboration and strategic transactions (M&A) as you will be supporting our Business Development function in collaboration with the Corporate Legal group. The position requires especially close collaboration with BioMarin’s intellectual property lawyers, other attorneys in the Legal Department including international counsel, as well as other internal functional groups and business partners

Responsibilities:

• Lead attorney supporting BioMarin’s Research and Early Development team, strategically advising the Head of Research and Early Development and associated Leadership Team.
• Lead attorney working closely with Legal Department Contracts Associates on the negotiation and drafting of early research and Business Development term sheets and agreements, including early stage discovery, development and/or commercial-stage collaborations, in-bound and out-bound license agreements, joint venture, non-disclosure agreements, sponsored research agreements, service agreements, material transfer agreements, strategic transaction term sheets and agreements for asset purchases/divestitures and mergers, and other supporting contracts, utilizing BioMarin’s contract lifecycle management system.
• Provide subject matter legal guidance to Contracts Associates on escalated legal matters and contracts for Research and Early Development and Business Development.
• Work closely with BioMarin intellectual property attorneys to help advise the Research and Early Development and Business Development teams on intellectual property issues (patent and trade secret) in contracts.
• Work with Finance and Business Development groups in tracking achievement and payment of milestones, royalties and compliance with contractual obligations under key in-licensing, out-licensing and business development agreements.
• Provide subject matter legal expertise and support day-to-day activities regarding laws related to research activities including the regulation of research and of animal and human protections in research as well as contractual considerations in research.
• Provide ongoing assistance with training/monitoring of the Research and Early Development and Business Development organizations’ compliance with BioMarin policies and procedures, including contracting, financial approval, and signature policies.
• Liaise with internal clients and respond to inquiries regarding contracts and other matters, as assigned.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of the Legal Department contract templates and “playbooks” for contract negotiations.
• Provide support for other Legal Department projects, including legal research and drafting of research memoranda on various issues as requested by senior management of the company or senior attorneys in the Legal Department.
• Appropriately manage a significant workflow, setting priorities with internal clients and meeting deliverable timelines, including by finding efficient ways of working.

Requirements:

• J.D. required from a nationally recognized law school. Current California bar membership or In-House Counsel Certification required.
• Four+ years prior experience in a major law firm/and or in-house law position, demonstrating growth and the ability to succeed.
• Experience drafting, reviewing and negotiating a wide variety of term sheets and agreements, especially for licensing, sponsored research, and strategic transactions.
• Intellectual property or scientific background required.
• Excellent organization and time-management skills required.  Must be able to manage heavy workload and aggressive timelines in a timely manner, prioritize and work under pressure.
• Exceptional written and communication skills required, including strong proofreading and editing skills.
• Must be detail-oriented, self-motivated, a quick learner, and have a strong work ethic.
• Computer skills in database management and documentation preparation (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Microsoft Office) required.

PLEASE NOTE: Absent a Medical or Religious reason that prohibits vaccinations, all our incoming employees must be vaccinated for COVID-19.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.