Head of Legal

Location: London, UK / Hybrid

Orchard Therapeutics is a global biotechnology gene therapy company dedicated to transforming the lives of people affected by rare diseases through the development of innovative, potentially curative cell and gene therapies. Orchard has its global headquarters in London and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kyowa Kirin, a Japan-based Global Specialty Pharmaceutical Company.

Job Summary

This senior legal leadership role is responsible for overseeing the company's global legal, corporate governance, compliance, privacy, and risk management functions. The position serves as a key strategic advisor to the business, supporting commercial, clinical, regulatory, employment, intellectual property, and business development activities across multiple jurisdictions. The role also acts as Company Secretary to the Board of Directors and partners closely with internal stakeholders, external counsel, and parent-company teams to support the organization's global operations and growth strategy.

The successful candidate will have significant experience of managing a global legal function within a life sciences company, with demonstrated expertise advising life sciences companies on commercial, clinical, R&D and compliance matters. The role requires a collaborative leader who can work effectively across all functions of an organization. This position is based at the company's headquarters in London.

Key Elements and Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the global legal function, including internal team members, third party vendors and external legal counsel
• Partner cross-functionally across the organization and with parent-company stakeholders on legal, compliance, and governance matters
• Serve as Company Secretary to the Board of Directors, including coordinating Board materials, minutes, and resolutions.
• Oversee corporate governance filings for the company and global subsidiaries
• Lead and support execution of global Compliance, Risk and Privacy programs, including policy development, training, monitoring, incident management working in partnership with Kyowa Kirin's Compliance & Risk, Privacy and Legal team to ensure efficiency and consistency
• Provide legal advice on:
  • Commercial and clinical matters, including contracting, supply chain, consents, reporting, etc.
  • Research and development matters, including licenses, IP, contracting, etc.
• Partner with global regulatory teams to forward programs in a compliant and effective manner and ensure alignment with evolving regulatory frameworks.
• Coordinate responses to all third-party disputes; Assess claims; understand risk tolerance; coordinate responses.
• Advise on employment documentation, worker classification for tax purposes and any related legal matters
• Advise and negotiate on business development and in-licensing and out-licensing transactions.
• Coordinate intellectual property portfolio with ultimate parent company.
• Provide legal support for facilities, laboratory operations and leases

Education, Experience & Knowledge

• UK or European qualified senior lawyer
• Broad legal knowledge and experience in a corporate setting advising on a range of legal topics, such as corporate, commercial contracting, data privacy, competition law, anti-bribery laws, and R&D
• Proven experience in leading and supporting compliance programs and initiatives
• Demonstrated experience working as a trusted advisor to Senior Management
• Proven experience leading and managing a global team.
• Experience working for a multi-jurisdictional life sciences company, preferably with operations in the UK, EU and US.
• Ability to operate effectively in a matrixed, global environment.
• Experience advising life sciences' companies on commercial, clinical and research and development questions.
• Experience managing external counsel and legal budget

Skills & Abilities

• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills with the ability to operate and collaborate effectively across functions, cultures and leadership levels.
• Comfortable operating in fast-paced, innovative and highly regulated environments.
• Action-oriented, "hands on" and proactive, resilient, comfortable managing complexity, and focused on delivering solutions.
• Strong judgement and a practical and pragmatic approach to problem solving.