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General Counsel MPP - Medicines Patent Pool


Geneva, Switzerland


The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) is an independent public health foundation based in Geneva, Switzerland, established with the support of UNITAID. The mission of the MPP is to bring down the prices of HIV medicines and technologies and facilitate development of better-adapted HIV medicines and technologies, such as fixed-dose combinations and special formulations for children, by creating a pool of relevant patents for sub-licensing and product development.

For more information, please see our website, www.medicinespatentpool.org.

Main Duties/Responsibilities:

The General Counsel will oversee legal aspects of the MPP’s work, reporting directly to the Executive Director. In particular, the General Counsel will form a core part of the licence negotiation team that conceptualises, negotiates and drafts public health-oriented licence agreements. The General 
Counsel will provide critical input into the strategic direction of the MPP, and manage the work of the legal team, legal consultants and outside counsel.

Specific responsibilities include:

a) Working closely with the Business Development Director to devise negotiation strategies and engaging in negotiations with relevant patent holders;
b) Drafting public health-oriented licence agreements;
c) Drafting public health-oriented sub-licence agreements;
d) Ongoing management of licences and sub-licences;
e) Along with MPP’s Policy team, engaging in policy discussions and drafting policy briefs on topics relevant to the MPP's work;
f) Leading the MPP's consultations with its Expert Advisory Group;
g) Representing the MPP at relevant conferences, seminars and other high-profile fora;
h) Providing sound legal stewardship to the MPP, including its Governance Board and its Expert Advisory Group;
i) Managing and strengthening MPP’s legal team, legal consultants and outside counsel;
j) Ensuring MPP compliance with local Swiss law and all of MPP's contractual obligations;
k) Performing other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

Knowledge/Qualifications:

  • The General Counsel will be a recognised expert in the fields of intellectual property and licensing relevant to access to medicines in the developing world;
  • The General Counsel will have a thorough knowledge of intellectual property law and practice, have experience negotiating and drafting complex legal instruments, in particular pharmaceutical patent licensing agreements, and sensitivity to the public health implications of intellectual property provisions in those agreements;
  • The General Counsel will also have a demonstrated track record of relevant high-quality legal and policy analysis.

Personal Qualities:

  • Demonstrable personal commitment to the public health goals of the MPP;
  • Sensitivity to different cultures and work styles;
  • Collaborative and supportive approach to teamwork and people management.

Education and special training:

  • Postgraduate - or equivalent - advanced university degree in law.

Experience (length and nature):

At least 10 years experience practicing law, with substantial intellectual property law experience related to public health in both the commercial and public-interest settings.

Use of Languages:

Native-level fluency in English is required.
Oral and written proficiency in a second language is strongly preferred.

The MPP respects all individuals regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, HIV status or disability.

Please send a cover letter and C.V. to recruitment@medicinespatentpool.org by 15 June 2013.