About us
Novugen is a wholly owned subsidiary company of a UAE based group, SciTech International. With over 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry, the company is equipped with vast and successful experience of venturing into strategic healthcare businesses and development of world-class healthcare facilities around the globe. Novugen's passion for science and bold global strategy prepared us to respond to challenges of bringing hard-to-source and technology-intensive pharmaceutical products to the market.
Novugen specializes in niche and difficult to formulate generics for all therapeutic areas of pharmaceutical and oncology drug products while meeting stringent global quality standards. With vertical integration from Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) to Finished Products R&D and manufacturing based in Malaysia, it gives us greater control over the supply chain. Our pharmaceutical and oncology manufacturing facilities in Bandar Enstek, Negeri Sembilan are the first in Malaysia and the only in Southeast Asia with approval from USFDA.
The people behind Novugen are professionals coming from diverse backgrounds and nationalities from all over the world, working together to achieve one common goal. We are committed to ensuring early access to high-quality products that lack robust generic alternatives due to their complexity. Our vision is to be the largest and fastest growing pharmaceutical company in Southeast Asia by 2025, competing in global markets.
About the role
This role will be an integral part of the Legal Affairs team that provides advisory on all legal, contractual and compliance aspects of the business.
Key Responsibilities:-
- To engage and collaborate cross-functionally and effectively with internal stakeholders to effectively understand the needs of internal stakeholders and of the business, and accordingly provide proactive legal partnering on all aspects of such needs in a manner which advances its business and legal objectives while effectively managing relevant legal risks.
- To identify legal, contractual and compliance risks and concerns, drafting risk mitigation strategies, and provide a comprehensive advisory and solutions that are strategic, pragmatic and effective to the internal stakeholders and the business operations across regions.
- To manage and continuously improve the overall contract management system, including advising contractual strategies, and accordingly drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a wide variety of contracts and contract templates such as confidentiality, material sourcing, licensing, consultancy, distribution, joint venture, partnerships, and other varied commercial arrangements with domestic and international entities.
- To identify opportunities to develop and improve, and accordingly lead in the implementation and promotion of any various legal and compliance initiatives and standard operating procedures (and the like) to ensure continuous compliance and awareness of the business efficiently across regions which includes, auditing, creation of knowledge database, and providing trainings to internal and external stakeholders from time to time. Compliance includes without limitation laws and requirements pertaining to anti-bribery, competition, personal data, and pharma compliance.
- To advise and manage the Company trademark portfolio globally which includes:- (i) carrying out trademark searches; (ii) advising on the selection, use and registration approach of new trademarks; (iii) timely filing of all necessary documentation to register and continuously maintain the registration of trademarks; and (iv) advising and handling trademark infringement, oppositions, appeals, revocations, invalidations and assignments.
- To select, engage, instruct, and manage external counsels and attorneys for matters requiring outsourcing of legal activities (such as litigation), and reviewing output of the same with a focus on obtaining cost effective, high quality, pragmatic and timely advice, controlling and approving overall spend.
- To advise on legal aspects of the Company's corporate structure considerations, including assessing and advising on current and future business structures and legal entities.
- To advise and manage all claims, disputes and litigation across regions that Company and itss group may have against third party, as appropriate, and defend the Company and its group against such claims, disputes and/or litigation.
- To keep research and keep updated with changes in laws to ensure that company transactional structures, documentation, policies and contract management processes remain current and commercially appropriate and effective.
- Developing and maintaining relations with key external stakeholders to ensure Novugen's interests are well-represented.
- Develop and implement company corporate governance, policies and procedures to ensure legal compliance and mitigate risks
- Work with HR and external legal to represent the company in industrial court matters / labour disputes as and when necessary.
- Provide legal training and education to employees to ensure awareness of legal issues and compliance requirements.
Supervise Legal Assistant in the following:-
- Draft and review a wide variety of agreements including non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), licensing, consultancy, distribution, tenancy and other varied commercial agreements with domestic and international parties including clients, partners, vendors and users ranging from pharmaceutical and healthcare organizations, research and clinical sites, landlords, subcontractors, and government agencies etc
- Conduct legal research and analysis on corporate policies and compliance matters
- Liaise and coordinate with external legal counsels for any legal related matters
- Manage the trademark portfolio which would include conducting preliminary searches on potential trademarks, filing and prosecuting applications to register trademarks; advising on the use and registration of trademarks; handling trademark oppositions
- Coordinate professionally with internal stakeholders to ensure any legal queries or requirements are addressed
- Organizing, documenting and maintaining legal records and documents.
About you
- Minimum requirement of Bachelor's Degree in Law (LL.B)
- Minimum 5 - 10 years of post qualification experience (PQE) in corporate and commercial work in a law firm or in-house setting.
- Significant exposure and expertise in either intellectual property or pharmaceutical / healthcare is preferable
- Qualified to practice in Malaysia or any other equivalent commonwealth jurisdiction.
- Strong intrapreneurial skills and mindset from start up to established organization
- Hands-on, adaptable, and flexible attitude, with the ability to provide sound commercial judgment, and ability to work under pressure and deliver results in a fast-paced and evolving environment with unexpected and varied demands.
- A commercial and pragmatic attitude to problem-solving and the ability to provide value-add over and above legal advice.
- Proactive, passionate and conscientious at task/work.
- Good interpersonal and communications skills. Able to communicate legal concepts to business colleagues in clear, simple terms.
- Able to effectively deal and maintain relationships with stakeholders.
- Strong contract drafting, review / proofreading and research skills.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
