Lead Counsel, Commercial Brand, Gastrointestinal

Takeda • Lexington, MA

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Lead Counsel, Commercial Brand, Gastrointestinal (Senior Director) provides strategic and operational legal leadership for Takeda’s GI portfolio, serving as the primary legal business partner to the U.S. Business Unit (USBU) GI franchise and cross-functional product teams while also acting as the global legal lead. The role is responsible for delivering high-quality, coordinated legal support across global functions, including stewardship of the legal strategy for key GI products. This position advises franchise, product, and lifecycle teams to help shape and execute business strategies that align with both U.S. and global objectives, while ensuring compliance and proactive risk management. The Lead Counsel offers authoritative legal guidance to identify and address enterprise risks and opportunities, driving appropriate mitigation, escalation, and resolution to support both short- and long-term business goals.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school and bar membership in at least one jurisdiction.
• Professional training in corporate/commercial law or pharmaceutical/compliance law, gained at a highly regarded law firm
• Minimum +10 years of experience working in a law firm and as in-house counsel in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry; in-depth knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry and US legal affairs
• Deep understanding of the legal and regulatory landscape in which pharmaceutical companies operate
• Profound knowledge of regulations related to drug development, clinical studies, medical affairs, patient access and patient services
• In-depth knowledge of commercial, compliance and regulatory matters related to the launch, marketing, access, pricing and reimbursement and the commercialization of branded pharmaceutical products and ability to support global functions.
• Experience identifying and addressing strategic, compliance and enforcement risks
• Understands the complexity of the respective business matters and prioritizes tasks within his/her area of expertise

Nice To Haves

• 5+ years of experience of law practice (e.g., in a law firm, solo law practice, Government or Regulatory Agency) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for providing and leading high quality legal support for GI within USBU.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for Legal for GI across Company and coordinate, as necessary, with other relevant Global Legal functions and subject matter experts.
• Provide legal support to sales, marketing, medical, R&D and other personnel including home office and field based personnel.
• Supports relevant lifecycle management strategies and is accountable for legal advice relating to the asset strategy.
• Sets legal strategy for the relevant functions.
• Helps drive cross-functional, cross product strategy development and ensures the strategy is consistent with the legal strategy.
• Conducts and ensures comprehensive legal analysis on complex and high-risk issues for the Company and BU/Functions.
• Provides legal support across GI2 Therapy Area, brands assets and functions, as necessary.

Benefits

• medical, dental, vision insurance
• a 401(k) plan and company match
• short-term and long-term disability coverage
• basic life insurance
• a tuition reimbursement program
• paid volunteer time off
• company holidays
• well-being benefits
• up to 80 hours of sick time, and new hires are eligible to accrue up to 120 hours of paid vacation

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree