Senior Legal Counsel

What Commercial Attorneys contribute to Cardinal Health

Legal provides the company with strategic, proactive, practical and cost-effective legal advice and services in order to protect the organization's assets, operations and image. This function provides legal counsel related to commercial, corporate securities, intellectual property, labor and employment, and regulatory law, among other areas. This function also litigates all company legal matters, manages outside counsel and manages legal operations.

Commercial attorneys provide legal advice, counsel and services to domestic and international businesses in support of customer, vendor, supplier, and strategic relationships, including drafting and negotiating contracts, participating in and providing input on business strategy, and otherwise acting as primary day-to-day legal contacts for business clients.

Responsibilities

• Provides excellent client service, counsels assigned leaders and divisions on a variety of legal questions and issues, such as contract compliance and confidentiality. Determines appropriate legal actions and projects associated costs for business leaders.
• Drafts initial format and terms for commercial agreements and delivers agreements to customers and vendors to initiate negotiations. Interfaces with Contract Administration teams in order to set-up contracts.
• Meets with external parties to negotiate terms of agreements and to achieve the most favorable terms for the business. Based on combination of legal considerations and business acumen, counsels business leaders on the acceptance or refusal of external party terms.
• Reviews all terms and revisions from external parties and manages the iterations of commercial agreement terms.
• Reviews a variety of marketing and public relations communications in order to ensure the compliance of all product information and messaging.
• In cases when the business’ legal issues do not fall within the purview of commercial and transaction law, identifies and liaises with appropriate Legal and Compliance teams on behalf of the business to achieve a resolution.
• As a trusted partner to the business, proactively identifies legal risks and provides insights on how the business can incorporate risk mitigation into strategic planning.
• When the business engages in litigation, serves as a primary liaison and expert on the business in support of the Litigation team.
• Advises business unit leaders on terms, risks and due diligence during mergers and acquisitions activities.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate degree
• License to practice law in Ohio or active bar license in another state
• Candidates with at least 5 years of experience preferably in a nationally recognized law firm, including at least 3 years of commercial contracting experience for healthcare providers
• Knowledge of healthcare laws and industry, particularly Anti-Kickback Statute, is strongly preferred

What is expected of you and others at this level

• Providing sound, practical judgment in the interpretation and application of relevant laws and regulations, including the Anti-Kickback Statute, the False Claims Act, Stark Law, HIPAA and other laws applicable to manufacturing, selling and distribution products and services within the United States healthcare system
• Demonstrating strong business acumen and ability to draft and negotiate contracts in accordance with good commercial and healthcare regulatory standards.  Strong preference for candidates with prior experience handling physician employment agreements, management service agreements, vendor contracts (e.g. revenue cycle management agreements, electronic medical record vendors) and other complex agreements
• Identifying legal and compliance risks and escalating appropriate
• Understanding complex legal, compliance and business situations and discerning relevant versus non-relevant facts and information
• Effectively communicating with all levels of the Cardinal Health organization and ability to provide business clients with clear and precise guidance on business, compliance, and legal risks
• Identifying and collaborating with subject matter experts from other departments, including the Legal, Regulatory, Labor & Employment, Privacy, and Compliance teams
• Identifying opportunities for process improvements and efficiencies
• Developing and conducting legal training for business clients
• Working under the general supervision of senior attorneys and exercising sound judgment as to matters that require the attention senior leadership