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Associate General Counsel, Transactions

AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Full time · Other

Posted Oct 3, 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 the most complex deal you negotiated independently. What made it hard?

What they are checking: Whether they have negotiated complex deals on their own, since this role is expected to run transactions with little supervision.

How do you keep a cross-functional client group aligned during a fast-moving deal?

What they are checking: Whether they keep many internal stakeholders aligned during a fast deal, so the company speaks with one voice at the table.

Tell me about a time you spotted an issue early that saved a deal from a problem later.

What they are checking: Whether they anticipate problems early in a deal, rather than discovering them late when fixes are costly or impossible.

What would you do

The counterparty won't move on a term the business team cares about. How do you find a way through?

What they are checking: Whether they find creative ways through a stalled negotiation, protecting what the business cares about without walking away.

How do you interpret an existing collaboration agreement when a new situation it didn't anticipate comes up?

What they are checking: Whether they can interpret existing agreements for situations they never anticipated and give practical, defensible advice.

How do you balance thoroughness with speed when the business wants to sign this week?

What they are checking: Whether they can balance thoroughness against business speed, knowing which issues truly must be resolved before signing.

About the work

Walk me through the key terms you focus on when negotiating a pharma licensing and collaboration agreement.

What they are checking: Whether they truly command the key economic and governance terms of pharma licensing, which determine value long after signing.

How do you structure an option to acquire, and what are the main risks for the buyer?

What they are checking: Whether they understand how option deals work and where buyers are exposed, since these structures are common in pharma.

What diligence issues most often change how you draft an acquisition agreement?

What they are checking: Whether they turn diligence findings into specific contract protections, so identified risks are actually covered in the agreement.

How do antitrust and regulatory approvals affect deal timing and structure?

What they are checking: Whether they understand how antitrust filings and approvals affect deal timing and structure, which can make or break a closing.

What changes in law affecting pharma licensing are you watching right now?

What they are checking: Whether they follow legal changes affecting pharma licensing, as the posting requires, so deals reflect current law.

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The full job description

As published by AbbVie.

The Associate General Counsel, Transactions, will be an integral part of a team of attorneys advising AbbVie’s Business Development and Acquisitions team, along with other key corporate functions. Among other responsibilities, the attorney will draft and negotiate key transaction agreements, including mergers, acquisitions, licenses and collaborations and options to license and acquire, provide clear legal advice on these matters, and anticipate and address issues promptly with a cross-functional client base. Responsibilities: The Associate General Counsel, Transactions, will be responsible for identifying and resolving highly complex legal issues and drafting and negotiating highly complex corporate transactions. The attorney should: • Have extensive experience with managing M&A and pharmaceutical licensing and collaboration/joint venture transactions. • Be capable of regularly negotiating highly individualized and sophisticated agreements independently with third parties on matters of strategic importance that affect a substantial portion of AbbVie’s business or are areas of significant importance to management. • Be capable of regularly engaging in due diligence and independently interpreting complex existing agreements and advising on complex situations that may arise related to transactions. • Keep abreast of changes in laws that affect pharmaceutical licensing, and M&A transactions, including antitrust/competition, and other corporate and IP matters. • Select and direct the work of outside counsel, including defining project objectives and managing projects. • Maintain and ensure compliance with applicable corporate and divisional policies and procedures. • Additional Responsibilities: • Analyze and clearly communicate legal advice designed to maximize outcomes for patients and for AbbVie on complex, strategic agreements related to pharmaceutical licenses and collaborations and other strategic alliances. • Assess and counsel on antitrust and competition risks and considerations, and competition filings, with respect to transactions in multiple jurisdictions. • Provide clear advice to clients, including management, ensuring that advice maximizes the potential of our pipeline. • Use good judgment in determining whether and when to elevate issues to senior attorneys and senior management. • Assist senior legal staff on matters of significant importance to AbbVie that affect a substantial portion of AbbVie's business. • Serve as recognized source, for both management and other attorneys, of innovative ideas in complex areas of law, business, or technology. • Provide legal guidance, supervision, and support to paralegals and legal support staff. Qualifications: • Must possess a J.D. degree. • Must meet the professional licensing requirement of the state in which they practice within a two-year time-period. • Basic Qualifications: • Excellent legal analysis skills and crisp, concise communicator. • Honed judgment and ability to identify and quickly address critical issues. • Strong negotiating skills, and an ability to independently manage complex transactions. • Ability to use legal training to maximize business opportunities. • Strong sense of urgency and drive for successful business outcome in all activities. • 15+ years of relevant transactional and/or industry experience. • Experience in advising on ongoing complex contractual relationships, such as development collaborations. • Preferred Qualifications: • Experience with drafting and negotiating complex pharmaceutical licensing and collaboration transactions. • Experience in providing legal advice for pharmaceutical research and development. 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 posting based 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 or less 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 long-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 paid and 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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