Associate General Counsel, Employment Law

As a privately-owned, biopharmaceutical company, Ferring pioneers and delivers life-changing therapies that help people build families and live better lives. Our independence helps us cultivate an entrepreneurial spirit and long-term perspective that enables us to achieve growth and scale, while remaining agile and true to our ‘people first’ philosophy. Built on a 70-year plus commitment to science and research, Ferring is relentless in its pursuit of science that drives powerful discoveries and therapies to help people build families, stay healthy, and stand up to the world’s oldest enemy: disease.  

We are seeking an experienced in-house counsel to join Ferring’s Legal team. This Associate General Counsel will serve as Lead Counsel for the company on all employment and litigation matters, including products liability and commercial litigation. This role will be report directly into the US Vice President, General Counsel. The attorney in this role can expect to provide legal counsel to management at all levels, including US President, Chief Human Resource Officer (CHRO), and members of the Executive Leadership Team. This attorney will also provide counsel and guidance to the CHRO and the HR leadership team as it relates to shaping policy and culture around employee initiatives such as Diversity & Inclusion, employee handbook updates, and adverse impact analysis.

With Ferring, you will be joining a recognized leader, identified as one of “The World’s Most Innovative Companies” by Fast Company, and honored by Fortune with inclusion on its “Change the World List,” for addressing society’s unmet needs. Ferring US is also Great Places to Work® Certified, distinguishing it as one of the best companies to work for in the country. 

Responsibilities:  

• Advise HR and business leaders on labor and employment laws including harassment prevention and Diversity and Inclusion initiatives.

• Set strategy and manage all Ferring U.S. litigation matters (excluding patent, trademark).

• Assess and quantify legal risk and provide strategic options for prevention/resolution to litigation.

• Selection, retention and management of outside counsel, as necessary, to assist in claims and lawsuits.

• Advise on relevant laws related to compensation and benefits.

• Provide oversight and guidance for EEO/AA filings, internal reporting and monitoring activities, and other corporate responsibilities.

• Discovery and Data Privacy

• Responsible for document holds, including ex-US, if related to US litigation, claims and investigations

• Discovery, including document production management

• Manage e-discovery arising from potential/pending claims, litigation and investigations

• Member of Investigations Oversight Committee

• Develop and manage litigation budget

Requirements: 

• Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school, with a minimum of 10 years’ experience in law firm and/or in-house; pharma experience preferred.

• Admission to practice law in New Jersey or IHC license.

• Experience with complex litigation including class action and multi-district litigation, jury trials and alternative dispute resolution.

• Experience handling contentious negotiations and settlements.

• Knowledge of products liability, antitrust and US labor and employment law.

• Forming and managing direct relationships and communication with external specialists and internal clients, including senior leadership.

• Background in general corporate and transactional work in the pharmaceutical industry.

• Individual must be a team player, motivate others, able to demonstrate a history of successfully resolving challenging legal issues and able to effectively deliver sound and clear legal advice in a business setting.

• This role is expected to work no less than 4 days at our site in Parsippany, New Jersey, with the ability to work 1 day per week remotely.

Ferring + you    

At Ferring, we offer competitive total compensation along with an exceptional range of flexible benefits, personal support and tailored learning and development opportunities all designed to help you realize your full potential both in life and at work. From working hours that respect your lifestyle, a culture that is welcoming and equitable, and the chance to work with the industry’s most impressive people, these are just some of the ways we live our "People First" philosophy.    

Our Compensation and Benefits   

At Ferring, base salary is one part of our competitive total compensation and benefits package and is determined using a salary range. The base salary range for this role is $260,900 to $290,814, which is the reasonable estimate of the base compensation for this role. The actual amount paid may differ based on non-discriminatory factors such as experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, education and primary work location. Additional compensation for this role will be provided based on competitive annual incentive compensation targets in the form of an annual bonus - payouts are based on individual and company performance.

Benefits for this role include comprehensive healthcare (medical, dental, and vision) with a premium differential, inverse to base salary, to be paid by employees, a 401k plan and company match, short and long-term disability coverage, basic life insurance, wellness benefits, reimbursement for certain tuition expenses, sick time of 1 hour per 30 hours worked, vacation time for full time employees to accrue up to 120 hours in the first four (4) years of employment, and 160 hours in the fifth (5th) year of employment as well as 15 paid holidays per year. We are proud to offer paid parental leave subject to a minimum period of employment at Ferring. 

Work Location: 

This position is classified as a hybrid role, requiring onsite work at the Parsippany office four days per week and remotely for one day per week. 

Ferring is an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local laws.   

Join our team and your voice will be heard, and your contributions will be valued. If you love to come up with new ways to make a positive difference and see them through, you will fit right in.    

We are proud to be an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer (including Disability/Protected Veterans). We maintain a drug-free workplace.