General Counsel – Remote or Hybrid for Local Candidates

Our client, The Progeria Research Foundation (PRF), is a growing non-profit organization that is on an urgent mission: finding treatments and a cure for Progeria, an ultra-rare, fatal “rapid-aging” disease that afflicts children who, without treatment, die of heart disease at an average age of 14 years. PRF is the only organization in the world dedicated to discovering treatments and the cure for Progeria and its aging-related disorders, including heart disease, through medical research, patient outreach, and education. The organization has spearheaded the development of the first and to date only approved treatment for progeria, lonafarnib, and is actively pursuing additional treatments.

PRF has exclusively retained Solutus Legal Search to assist the executives in their search for a General Counsel to serve as its top legal executive. This position will report to the President and Executive Director, who is fantastic. There will be some in office attendance required for local candidates.  Local candidates are preferred, but our client will consider those who live outside of the area and are willing to travel to the Peabody offices on occasion.

For those seeking to make an impact for one of the most noble missions, this is it.

The ideal candidate will possess at least 7+ years’ legal experience in the following areas: counseling clients in the life sciences/pharmaceutical/biotech industry, with emphasis on Intellectual Property and Contract Law in the areas of patents, patent prosecution strategy, Hatch-Waxman (and analogous biologics), licensing, data ownership, clinical drug trials, drug approval-related activities in the U.S. and abroad, and post approval issues. The General Counsel will enjoy working within a small environment that is mission-driven and results-oriented. S/he will provide strategic guidance, consultation, and support to PRF’s Executive and Medical Teams, as well as the Board of Directors on a range of legal issues involved in carrying out the mission of the organization. S/he will oversee and manage providing legal services to the organization, as well as manage and oversee outside counsel.

Duties and Responsibilities Include:

• Provide legal counsel to PRF’s leadership concerning PRF’s mission-related activities, such as drug development activities – including, but not limited to clinical drug trials; research collaborations; patent procurement, enforcement, and licensing; data ownership; drug approval-related activities in the U.S. and abroad; and agreements related to these activities (e.g., vendor agreements, agreements with PRF research grantees, cell bank recipients, partnering hospitals and academic institutions involved in PRF’s research-related programs).
• Manage PRF’s existing and developing portfolio of intellectual property, including patents and trademarks.
• Work with outside patent prosecution counsel in developing comprehensive, global patent strategies and support such strategies internally.

• Support business development activities focusing on agreements for drug development and/or licensing projects.
• Structure, draft, and negotiate strategic commercial contracts, licensing, sourcing, and other agreements, as well as related transactional matters, or assist in such work with outside counsel.

• Assist in managing and responding to regulatory agency submissions with particular emphasis on FDA drug approval-related activities.
• Work with PRF to select and manage outside counsel.
• Support the Director of Operations concerning any legal-related administrative matters of the organization.

The Ideal Candidate

• 7+ years of proven experience in the life sciences/pharma/biotech industry including Hatch-Waxman/biologic experience.
• Deep understanding of the life sciences/pharmaceutical/biotech industry and related legal issues, including regulatory, medical/clinical development, privacy issues
• Strong business acumen.

• Excellent verbal and written communication, interpersonal, negotiation and collaboration skills.
• Excellent project management skills.
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills.
• Member of the USPTO preferred.
• Massachusetts or other state bar membership in good standing.

Base compensation for this position is targeted between $190,000 – $200,000. Our client offers d benefits including health and dental insurance and paid time off. Retirement plan available after two years of employment.  

Solutus Legal has been exclusively retained as the recruiter of choice for this coveted search. Interested candidates, please submit resumes to search@solutuslegal.com for consideration. Candidates applying directly to our client will be forwarded to Solutus for review.

Ref. #832-SLS