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Associate General Counsel, R&D Innovation Legal

AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Full time · Legal

Posted Jul 10, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you solved an emerging legal issue with no clear precedent.

What they are checking: Whether they can solve new legal problems creatively and practically when there is no clear precedent to follow.

How do you explain a complex legal risk to senior scientists who want a yes or no?

What they are checking: Whether they can explain legal risk plainly to scientists, giving a practical answer rather than an unhelpful legal hedge.

Tell me about a time you educated other lawyers or business groups on a new legal development.

What they are checking: Whether they share legal knowledge with colleagues and business groups, which raises everyone's ability to spot issues early.

Describe a time you disagreed with a senior leader on legal risk. How did it end?

What they are checking: Whether they will hold a legal position with a senior leader respectfully, which is what makes in-house counsel trustworthy.

What would you do

Regulatory Affairs is preparing a critical filing and wants your input days before it's due. How do you approach the review?

What they are checking: Whether they can prioritize a fast, focused legal review that protects a critical filing deadline without missing real risks.

How would you counsel a team on an FDA meeting where the agency may push back on the development plan?

What they are checking: Whether they can help a team prepare for FDA pushback strategically, so the meeting advances the development plan.

How do you stay inside your lane when an R&D question drifts into promotional or commercial territory?

What they are checking: Whether they recognize when a question crosses into another legal team's area and coordinate, rather than answering beyond their remit.

About the work

How would you advise R&D leaders on how the Inflation Reduction Act affects pipeline decisions?

What they are checking: Grasp of IRA price negotiation and its effect on development strategy.

What does a Most Favored Nation pricing policy mean for R&D choices, as opposed to commercial ones?

What they are checking: Whether they see how pricing policy can change which programs R&D pursues, not only how products are sold commercially.

What emerging laws or regulations do you think will matter most for pharma R&D in the next few years?

What they are checking: Whether they follow emerging laws and regulations affecting pharma R&D, so the company can prepare before rules take effect.

What legal issues come up with expanded access or investigational products?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the legal issues around investigational products and expanded access, which involve patients and regulators directly.

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The full job description

As published by AbbVie.

As an Associate General Counsel in the R&D Innovation Legal group, you will support AbbVie’s R&D organization in navigating enterprise-critical issues in an evolving legal and regulatory environment as we work to bring new, innovative products to patients. This individual will be motivated by the opportunity to address and solve emerging issues with a strategic and creative business-oriented approach and provide expert counsel on decisions impacting our long-term pipeline strategies. Key Responsibilities Develop and provide strategic counsel to senior leaders within the Legal and Regulatory Strategy organizations on legal regulatory issues that impact pipeline development and product innovation. Assigned matters have significant impact to AbbVie overall. This is a role advising the R&D organization and not on FDA promotional considerations or advising the Commercial organization . Provides legal support to Regulatory Affairs on critical and strategic regulatory filings and agency engagements relating to R&D issues impacting our investigational and on-market drug products. Willing to develop an understanding of the Inflation Reduction Act and other “Most Favored Nation” policies to provide strategic counsel to the R&D organization. Educates other AbbVie legal departments and business stakeholders on emerging laws, regulations and industry trends impacting AbbVie portfolio. Proactively identifies highly complex legal issues related to assigned matters, develops creative and alternative solutions, and implements resolution. Adopts a business oriented and creative approach to problem solving. Identifies unmet needs and future legal issues and proactively proposes strategies to optimize outcomes and results for the company. Advises Vice Presidents, Presidents and Officers. Recognized by these clients as both expert in substantive area and relied upon for individual advice. To be successful in this role : • You offer specialized FDA regulatory and drug development experience. You have demonstrated success in providing strategic counsel to leaders within the pharmaceutical industry. • J.D. and currently admitted to the bar in at least one U.S. state. • Minimum of 10+ years (12+ preferred) of relevant experience practicing as a member of a nationally recognized law firm in a life sciences practice, practicing in-house at a pharmaceutical company or practicing as an attorney for the FDA, or any combination of the above (experience working in-house or at FDA is preferred). • Individual will have substantial e xpertise in FDA regulations and guidance around innovator drug development, including on regulatory exclusivities, orphan drug designations, clinical trial design and data requirements and combination products, and have familiarity with policies to advance innovation in the industry. • Experience working for, or having interactions with, government health authorities is highly desirable. • Familiarity with the Inflation Reduction Act, Most Favored Nation and CMS policies and their impact on drug development strategies is a plus . • Knowledge and understanding of pharmaceutical laws and regulations to help business clients assess issues in a highly regulated landscape. • Demonstrated ability to work independently and lead cross-functional teams collaboratively. • Ability to adapt to a changing environment while handling multiple priorities. • Excellent oral and written communication skills. Comfortable presenting complicated information accurately and concisely to senior leaders. • To enable success in the role, an individual must be able to be in the office 3 days/week at our offices in North Chicago, IL or the Washington, DC metro area . Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law: ​ • The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this postingbased on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more orless than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future. ​ • We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.​ • This job is eligible to participate in our short-term incentive programs. ​ Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission,incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paidand may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law. AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community.  Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled. US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more: https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html

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