Legal Counsel ANZ

The Legal Counsel ANZ role at MSD Australia & New Zealand is based in Macquarie Park, Sydney, Australia. The successful candidate will handle legal and compliance matters arising from businesses in the Markets or as designated by and under the supervision of the Director, Legal & Compliance. As a member of the Asia Pacific Legal and Compliance team, the Legal Counsel will work closely with the Human Health Business Practice Officers (BPOs) in the Markets and with other APAC legal and compliance colleagues, external counsel, and relevant headquarters and subsidiary staff as needed.

• Support the legal and compliance needs of key stakeholders in areas of law such as privacy, anti-corruption/anti-bribery, fair competition, and trade practice legislation, plus related policies and local industry guidelines.
• Commercial and Contractual Matters
  • Advise on day-to-day commercial transactions and business undertakings.
  • Advise on business development, marketing and initiatives, government reimbursement issues; review and draft/negotiate related agreements including procurement agreements.
  • Advise on human health, animal health, biopharma and technology businesses from R&D through product commercialization.
  • Advise on commercial/corporate matters and, where needed, negotiate with external parties on behalf of the company.
  • Advise on innovative solutions with a focus on patient programs, digital, technology and data analytics.
• Regulatory Requirements
  • Monitor changes in the regulatory environment; advise local management and develop appropriate strategies.
  • Provide advice and legal support on authorizations, permits, and licenses needed for local operations (including importation, listing/reimbursement, marketing, clinical trials, adverse events, and product recalls).
  • Support interactions with regulatory and government agencies and develop strategies for issue resolution.
• Promotional Review
  • Provide internal legal review of promotional materials according to local laws and policies; collaborate with Medical and business colleagues on regulatory/competitor challenges.
• Business Standards & Compliance
  • Develop and implement compliance and risk management strategies; work with divisional compliance, BPOs, and local management.
  • Conduct training where appropriate and ensure local business standards align with local laws and US laws (e.g., FCPA), industry codes, and company policies.
• Disputes/Litigation
  • Support initiation, defense, negotiation, settlement and management of litigation and disputes arising from business operations.
• Intellectual Property
  • Coordinate with headquarters IP attorneys and local external counsel on filings and IP information; advise on local IP enforcement actions in collaboration with global IP attorneys.
• Internal Investigations
  • Participate in internal investigations remediation teams and provide legal and compliance perspectives as appropriate.
• Others
  • Conduct internal investigations where necessary, in collaboration with Global Investigations, HR, and Global Security; coordinate remediation actions with Corporate Audit and Finance/HR.
  • Collaborate with external counsel as needed and provide inputs/oversight.
  • Support a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace; actively support DEI principles.
  • Ensure adherence to company policies, values, standards, and applicable laws; ensure proper handover of compliance when transitioning roles.

What should you have

• A degree in law or equivalent; admitted to practice law in Australia (additional NZ bar admission advantageous).
• 7–9 years of post-admission experience.
  • Skills
    • Strong English language proficiency; ability to work largely independently in the Markets.
    • Ability to distill and communicate HQ compliance positions to local markets; identify legal/compliance risks and advise leadership.
    • Ability to challenge the status quo while upholding fundamental legal and compliance principles and enterprise standards.
    • Ability to provide practical, commercially focused solutions with integrity and professionalism.
    • Ability to balance local market needs with enterprise direction; proactive and responsive; strong communication and interpersonal skills.
    • Knowledge & Experience
      • In-house legal and compliance experience in a multinational organization in Australia and/or New Zealand; or
      • In-house experience in a pharmaceutical or highly regulated industry in Australia and/or New Zealand; or
      • Commercial practice experience in a law firm in Australia and/or New Zealand.
    Who We Are
    

We are Merck & Co., Inc., known as Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) outside the United States. We are a global company focused on medicines and vaccines and advancing health solutions worldwide.

Your future team is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and values diverse perspectives. If you are curious and collaborative, you can contribute to our mission to improve lives.

• Requisition ID: R362389
• Employment type: Full-time
• Job posting end date: 09/22/2025
• Location: Macquarie Park, Sydney, Australia (plus APAC responsibilities)

Relocation: Not indicated; VISA Sponsorship: Not indicated; Travel: Not indicated; Hybrid work arrangement in place.