What are the most significant cases or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?

Throughout the last year, the legal team in Dublin partnered with international and local teams to provide legal support on a wide range of matters, including corporate governance, compliance, data privacy, commercial and medical affairs, and market access. The continued partnership and effective cross-functional collaboration allowed more patients access to our innovative portfolio of medicines.

In addition, following the successful acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics by Amgen in October 2023, the legal team advised on, and continues to support, the ongoing integration of both companies.

In your role, how do you balance the need to protect the organisation’s interests today while also considering legal implications and opportunities that may arise in the future?

In order to balance the immediate needs of the organisation while assessing long-term legal implications, the legal team works closely with our clients to ensure continued understanding of business goals and objectives. The team also keeps up-to-date on current laws and regulations, while proactively monitoring potential future legal developments and planning for upcoming changes. It is important that we maintain open communication with stakeholders and keep them informed about the legal risks facing the business and the steps being taken to address them. Finally, fostering a culture of transparency and accountability is important to encourage proactive risk management.

How do you see the general counsel role evolving in Ireland over the next five-ten years?

The role of the general counsel involves a broad range of responsibilities, outside of traditional legal advice, which will continue to evolve over the next five to ten years. One such area of evolution will see the general counsel become increasingly involved in advising on tactical business decisions, alongside the more typical areas of advice such as risk mitigation and compliance.

In addition, with the introduction of more stringent ESG regulations and reporting requirements, the general counsel will have an increased focus on ESG considerations including sustainability, diversity and inclusion, and corporate social responsibility.

Finally, given the substantial technological advancements seen in the last decade, the role of the general counsel in the next decade will also include a significant focus on leveraging legal technology tools to enhance efficiency, streamline processes and manage legal matters more effectively.