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  Legal Counsel DACH - Medical Device Company - Cologne, Germany 

Our client, Align Technology, is an innovative Nasdaq-listed global medical device company. They are dedicated to enhancing lives by transforming smiles and have revolutionized dental and orthodontic treatment options by pioneering and integrating technologies to develop the world's most advanced clear aligner system, Invisalign®, along with iTero® Intraoral Scanners and OrthoCAD® digital services. Align is a highly successful, profitable, and dynamic company that is driving the evolution of digital dentistry, improving patient outcomes and practice efficiencies. They have c.22,000 employees, revenues of c.$4 billion, are now the world's largest manufacturer of custom 3D-printed materials and have helped transform the smiles of nearly 20 million people.

 

After an internal promotion a superb opportunity has arisen for a bright, commercially minded lawyer with life science sector experience to join Align as their DACH area Counsel and DACH Leadership Team member. You will be responsible for managing all legal affairs and potential risks across the region and will report to the Legal Director, Europe, who is also based in Cologne.  This is a high potential position and Align is poised for significant growth. You will provide strategic business advice on a wide range of commercial, corporate, and compliance matters arising from their operations in the highly regulated medical device sector.

In this varied role, you will collaborate with all disciplines and departments supporting the DACH region, manage external counsel and regularly engage on projects with colleagues in Align’s highly regarded legal team both regionally and globally. If you embrace challenges, enjoy working in a dynamic international environment, operate as a proactive, solutions-oriented business partner and appreciate broad responsibilities, then you will likely thrive at Align.

 

Key Responsibilities:

  • Lead responsibility for all DACH region legal matters (Germany, Austria and Switzerland).

  • Provide high quality legal and strategic advice and day-to-day support to the the business.

  • Plan and deliver risk-based training programs including interactions with HCPs, competition law, etc.

  • Anticipate and address critical legal, business and ethical issues.

  • Effectively establish and manage relationships with external counsels.

  • Support Align in public affairs activities and litigation.

  • Work closely with the wider Legal and Compliance teams on risk-based compliance programmes taking account of domestic laws, regulations and culture.

  • Work closely with the local HR teams on HR/employment issues.

  • Advise and keep the Legal Director Europe updated on critical projects and assist in reviewing matters relating to compliance and financial reporting as appropriate.​

Ideal profile:

  • Qualified German lawyer with a solid base of post-bar experience in the life science sector or at a law firm representing such clients. 

  • Strong business acumen and thoughtful, sensitive and persuasive interpersonal skills.

  • Highly motivated individual with initiative, adaptability and integrity.

  • Result-driven, collaborative, focused, strong multitasker, flexible and willing to learn and adapt.

  • Enjoys working in a challenging, fast-paced and dynamic workplace.

  • Confident team player with the ability to develop relationships and networks at all levels.

  • Strong communication skills and ability to communicate effectively with a broad audience including medical, legal and highly specialized technical individuals, with a strong yet diplomatic presence.

  • Strong transactional and drafting skills.

  • Experience advising competition law, data privacy and compliance preferred.

  • Proactive in identifying unmet needs/future challenges and proposing optimum outcome strategies.

  • Fluent in both German and English. Any other language is a plus.

 

This is an excellent opportunity to build your career within a dynamic company with a clear vision, strategy and inspiring leadership.

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Contact / Let's Discuss:

For further details, to discuss in confidence or to apply please contact Align’s retrained recruiter:

Mr Struan Hall at Henderson Hall, Legal and Compliance Recruitment

struan@hendersonhall.com  /  DL: +44 (0) 20 7096 1197  /   M: +44 7968 731 965

Henderson Hall has been retained on an exclusive basis by Align to support on this search.

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Further information

These two short video clips give a good sense of Align and the impact of their products on patients' lives.

 

You can view Align’s website at:  https://www.aligntech.com 

You would be joining a highly respected legal team (c.12 lawyers in the EMEA region and 7 in the US) and here are links to profiles of a few of those you will work with:

 

Juliane Küfe - Director Legal, Managing Counsel Europe, iTero and Special Markets

Former DACH area Counsel until July 2024. This role reports to Juliane who reports to Fleur Herrenschmidt.

 https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliane-k%C3%BCfe-a65390157/

 

Fleur Herrenschmidt - VP & Regional GC Americas EMEA

Based at the Swiss EMEA HQ and reporting to Julie Coletti  https://www.linkedin.com/in/fleur/ 

 

Julie Coletti - EVP, Chief Legal & Regulatory Officer - https://investor.aligntech.com/management/julie-coletti

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