Team size: Two (including law firm secondee supporting the team in 2022/2023)

Key team members: Laurence Doyle and Surabhi Kheta

What are the most significant cases and transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?

The scope of the Advanz Pharma Irish legal team is very wide. We support our operations colleagues across the globe to ensure that our products are manufactured in accordance with the necessary regulations, contractual requirements, and GMP (good manufacturing practice). To ensure a continuous supply to the end patient and full support for our colleagues across the business, the legal team enforces contractual rights and assists in mitigating risks when they arise.

The Irish legal team also supports product M&A across the organisation. In 2022, we were pleased to be involved in the acquisition and integration of a portfolio of anti-infective products from Sanofi. This built on Advanz’s existing hospital and anti-infectives experience and strengthened our business in specific regions.

Another significant achievement by the Irish and wider Advanz legal team in 2022, following external audits in Dublin, London and Mumbai, was the retention of our ISO 37001 Certification for our Anti-Bribery Management System (‘ABMS’) in place across audited locations. This coordinated and overseen by Laurence Doyle and was a testament to the continued work in this area by the legal team and all stakeholders across the business.

What has been the number one challenge that has impacted you over the past year?

One of the key challenges we faced last year no doubt echoed across many legal teams, as our business sought to manage supply chain challenges and keep a handle on price increases due to inflationary pressures. The legal team offered support to our business by enforcing contractual protections and mitigating force majeure claims, ensuring a robust defence of the structures we have in place relating to the costs of goods.

Has the increasing consciousness of climate change and sustainability affected your company and the team’s priorities, and if so how?

Yes, we are increasingly looking to be pro-active about and lead on best practice initiatives in climate change and sustainability. Our customers and commercial partners are much more cognisant of manufacturing practices’ impact on our environment. To this end, the legal team are involved in the development of our ESG strategy and the review of tender applications to ensure we are delivering in in our actions. We are looking to ensure our stakeholders share responsibility when it comes to implementing best practices and we are engaged in the communications with our manufacturers in this area.