AbbVie

Senior Counsel, Operations Legal

AbbVie • $130K — $180K *
North Chicago, IL 60064In-Person
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
5 - 7 years of experience
3 weeks ago
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school
  • Active license to practice law in job location
  • 5+ years of relevant in-house experience, law firm practice, or government agency experience
  • Exposure to biopharma, healthcare, or life sciences compliance topics preferred
  • Proven ability to assess legal risk and advise clients
  • Experience managing complex legal matters with autonomy and collaboration
  • Strong communication skills to translate legal concepts into business terms

Responsibilities

  • Serve as a key legal advisor to cross-functional teams on commercial, regulatory, and operational matters
  • Interpret and apply relevant U.S. and global laws in the pharmaceutical or healthcare space
  • Review and advise on contracts and business initiatives for legal compliance
  • Support the development of legal policies and compliance programs
  • Collaborate with partners to manage legal risk and resolve disputes
  • Draft and negotiate various construction and real estate agreements
  • Lead or contribute to cross-functional legal projects

Benefits

  • Comprehensive benefits package including medical/dental/vision insurance
  • Paid time off including vacation, holidays, and sick leave
  • Participation in long-term incentive programs
  • 401(k) savings plan for eligible employees
Full Job Description
Job Description

The Sr. Counsel, Legal Operations will empower business innovation through strategic legal guidance. As a Senior Counsel at AbbVie, you will partner closely with cross-functional teams to shape decisions that bring great possibilities to patients ethically and effectively. This role builds on foundational experience, enabling you to navigate regulatory complexity, assess risk, and influence business outcomes, all while developing leadership capabilities for long-term career growth. The role will support Operations, construction and engineering and real estate stakeholders.

Responsibilities
  • Serve as a key legal advisor to cross-functional business teams, providing proactive counsel on commercial, regulatory, or operational issues Interpret and apply U.S. laws and global regulations relevant to the pharmaceutical or healthcare environment Review and advise on contracts, business activities, and strategic initiatives to ensure legal compliance and alignment with company objectives. Support the development and implementation of legal policies, compliance programs, and training effort
  • Collaborate with internal and external partners to manage risk, resolve disputes, and influence outcomes Provide clear, timely guidance on evolving legal questions in a business-first manner May lead or contribute to legal projects that span geographies, business units, or functions.
  • Draft, review, negotiate, and manage a wide range of construction-related agreements, including design-build agreements, general contractor agreements, construction management agreements, architect and engineering agreements, subcontractor and consultant agreements, and EPC and infrastructure contracts, as applicable.
  • Draft, review, and negotiate purchase and sale agreements, ground leases, commercial leases, easements, licenses, and access agreements, development agreements, and property management agreements.


Qualifications

Required
  • Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
  • Active license to practice law in job location.
  • Minimum of 5+ years of relevant experience practicing in-house at a pharmaceutical company, practicing as a member of a nationally recognized law firm in a life sciences or healthcare practice, or practicing as an attorney for a government agency, or any combination of the above.

Preferred
  • Exposure to biopharma, healthcare, or life sciences compliance topics.
  • Demonstrate ability to advise business clients and assess legal risk in real time.
  • Experience handling complex matters with a degree of autonomy and cross-functional collaboration.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate legal complexity into business clarity.


Additional Information

Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law:
  • The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of thisposting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location,and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.
  • We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.
  • This job is eligible to participate in our long-term incentive programs.

Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission,incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless anduntil paid and may be modified at the Company's sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law.

About AbbVie

AbbVie develops pharmaceuticals and medical devices. They provide products and services to therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology, neuroscience, eye care, virology, women's health, and gastroenterology.

AbbVie Careers

Joining AbbVie means becoming part of a global team dedicated to making a remarkable impact on patients' lives. At AbbVie, our employees are united in the pursuit of groundbreaking innovation and are committed to transforming the future of healthcare with leading-edge science.

Work You’ll Do

At AbbVie, you’ll collaborate with some of the brightest minds in the industry to solve challenging problems that have a high impact on society. Our culture fosters growth and embraces leadership and diversity training, ensuring that every team member can thrive.

Explore Job Opportunities

AbbVie offers a wide range of job opportunities and career paths, providing a platform where professionals can propel their careers forward. From research and development to marketing and sales, the potential to make a significant impact is limitless.

Internship Programs

Kickstart your career with an AbbVie internship. Our programs provide invaluable industry experience and a chance to develop essential skills in a real-world setting. Interns at AbbVie are considered integral members of the team and are given tasks that are both challenging and rewarding.

Professional Growth and Development

We believe in nurturing our team's professional growth through comprehensive training programs, leadership development opportunities, and continuous learning. Our commitment to your career growth is reflected in our robust offerings that enhance your skills and knowledge.

Benefits and Culture

AbbVie is dedicated to supporting our employees' well-being both inside and outside of work. Our benefits package includes health, financial, and social benefits that are designed to support the diverse needs of our employees. Our inclusive culture encourages collaboration and innovation, fostering a workplace where all can excel.

Hiring Process

Our hiring process is designed to ensure a match that will be beneficial both for the company and for your career aspirations. From resume submission to interview, each step is an opportunity to showcase your skills and fit with the AbbVie team.

Networking and Career Advancement

At AbbVie, networking doesn’t just enhance your career; it propels it. We encourage our employees to engage internally and externally to build relationships that foster personal and professional growth.

Join Our Team

Search open positions that match your skills and interests. We are looking for passionate, curious, and innovative team players who are ready to make a difference.

Stay Connected

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Explore AbbVie Jobs

Whether you’re seeking to advance your career in a dynamic and empowering environment, or looking for a place where you can innovate, lead, and contribute to something bigger, AbbVie is the place for you. Join us in our mission to discover and deliver innovative medicines that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow.
Learn more about AbbVie
Size
50,000 employees
Market Cap
$288.5 billion
Industry
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
Net Income
$4.6 billion
Founded
2013
5 Year Trend
+17%
Revenue
$45.8 billion
NASDAQ
ABBV
* Ladders Estimates

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