Head of US Litigation and Investigations

Sanofi•Cambridge, MA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Ready to push the limits of what’s possible? Join Sanofi in one of our corporate functions and you can play a vital part in the performance of our entire business while helping to make an impact on millions around the world. Position Summary: Reporting to the North America General Counsel and Head of Legal, Global Specialty Care, the Head of U.S. Litigation & Investigations is responsible for leading and overseeing all aspects of litigation and investigations across Sanofi’s U.S. operations. This role provides strategic direction, leadership, and oversight for a broad portfolio of matters, including government investigations, internal investigations, regulatory and administrative proceedings, and complex civil litigation. The position is accountable for ensuring effective and efficient management of litigation and investigations, with an emphasis on achieving favorable outcomes while managing risk and controlling costs. The individual in this role must possess deep knowledge of the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries and demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively across Legal and diverse functional and operational areas and translate complex litigation matters to non-legal audiences. This role requires the ability to analyze complex situations, develop and communicate clear strategies, and drive execution. This role also requires significant focus on driving simplification and efficiencies in litigation matter and budget management via digital and AI solutions. The Head of U.S. Litigation & Investigations will serve as a trusted advisor to senior management on significant legal risks and will help shape enterprise-wide approaches to litigation and investigations.

Requirements

J.D. degree from an accredited law school
Admission to at least one State Bar
15+ years of litigation and/or government investigation experience in a law firm, government, or in-house legal department
Significant healthcare and/or pharmaceutical industry experience, including overseeing litigation on areas encompassing product liability and false-claims act (and state equivalents)
Extensive experience with complex litigation and government investigations
Demonstrated leadership experience managing teams and large, complex legal portfolios
Experience managing outside counsel and legal spend
Strong academic credentials
Strong leadership and interpersonal skills
Ability to work independently and exercise seasoned and sound judgment
Excellent communication and writing skills
Ability to analyze complex situations and develop and implement effective strategies
Extensive knowledge of laws and regulations affecting the pharmaceutical/healthcare industry
Maintains the highest standards of ethics and integrity and respects confidentiality of sensitive matters
Ability to develop and maintain collaborative relationships with cross-functional teams
Ability to handle multiple responsibilities simultaneously while meeting high standards of quality and timeliness
Courage to deliver factually accurate assessments and recommendations
Ability to identify risks and develop practical, innovative solutions
Ability to operate effectively under pressure and manage urgent, high-stakes matters
Ability to build trust and credibility across the organization
Demonstrated ability to develop modernization and digital/AI strategies to streamline efficiency and drive effectiveness of legal teams

Responsibilities

Lead the U.S. Litigation & Investigations function, setting strategy and priorities aligned with company objectives and risk tolerance, including outlining strategies for accelerating utilization of AI and digital technologies to streamline operations and budget management.
Provide strategic advice to senior leadership on significant litigation and investigation matters, including risk assessment and mitigation strategies.
Develop and maintain a comprehensive understanding of the legal and regulatory environment and proactively apply that knowledge to company matters.
Oversee a diverse and complex caseload covering the full spectrum of US litigation and investigations across the company
Ensure consistent, high-quality management of matters, including development of action plans, communication of issues and risks, and execution of strategy.
Advise management of significant developments and recommend appropriate courses of action.
Oversee the conduct and documentation of internal investigations relating to potential violations of company policies, SOPs, or applicable law.
Ensure investigations are conducted in a manner that preserves privilege and aligns with company compliance expectations.
Partner closely with EBI/Compliance, People & Culture, and other relevant functions.
Select, retain, and manage outside counsel.
Establish case strategy in collaboration with outside counsel and internal stakeholders.
Monitor performance and ensure high-quality, efficient delivery of legal services.
Lead and manage the U.S. litigation and investigations budget.
Oversee forecasting, accruals, and cost management.
Drive disciplined management of outside counsel spend and identify opportunities for efficiency.
Lead and participate in cross-functional teams throughout the Company.
Provide direction to employees in other functional areas where there is no direct reporting relationship.
Work effectively with colleagues across Legal, Compliance, Regulatory, Medical, Commercial, Finance, and other functions.
Identify trends and systemic risks across litigation and investigations matters.
Develop and implement strategies to mitigate risk and improve processes.
Support the development of policies, procedures, and training initiatives as appropriate.
Demonstrate Sanofi’s values and commitment to compliance on a consistent basis.
Promote a culture of integrity, accountability, and ethical conduct.
Perform other duties as requested.
This position has overall responsibility for the U.S. Litigation & Investigations team, including direct management of attorneys and other legal professionals.
Responsible for developing talent, managing performance, and fostering a collaborative, future-fit, high-performing team environment.
Leads and participates in cross-functional teams across the Company.
Accountable for the performance and management of outside counsel.
This position has full budgetary responsibility for litigation and investigations spend.