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

In the first half of 2023, AstraZeneca completed important deals that helped to further strengthen the company’s pipeline. The most significant was the acquisition of US Nasdaq listed CinCor Pharma which provided AstraZeneca access to its novel aldosterone synthase inhibitor which is in development for blood pressure regulation. In addition, AstraZeneca has completed a number of exciting early-stage research collaboration and in-licensing deals this year with KYM Biosciences, LaNova Medicines, Quell Therapeutics and Cholsegen and acquired a portfolio of pre-clinical rare disease gene therapies from Pfizer, all of which further bolster our access to innovation in our early-stage pipeline.
 

What do you see as an opportunity or risk over the next six months? 

I believe that the fast changing geopolitical, economic, technological and regulatory environment will create new risks, such as new rules and increased scrutiny in the anti-trust, FDI and national security areas, as well as new opportunities, such as generative AI and access to exciting scientific innovations. These changes will significantly impact our industry and business in general, but those who stay informed and understand those risks and opportunities will have a competitive advantage as we navigate the changing environment.
 

Could you share an example of a time when you came up with an innovation that improved how your legal team works and did not come at a large expense? 

Over the last few years, we have worked hard to simplify and automate many activities and to leverage technology and specialised capabilities to work more efficiently. Recently, we established a small team within AstraZeneca’s global shared services function to ensure that all legal template agreements are regularly updated, to drive consistent contracting practices across the business and to leverage tech solutions in the contracting space. Other areas we have automated include e-discovery, TM renewals, service of process and legal hold administration, with many other projects planned.
 

As the legal landscape evolves, what steps are you taking to foster a culture of continuous learning and development within the legal team, ensuring that they are all well-equipped to address future legal complexities? 

In-house legal teams need to be agile, resilient, and continually strengthen their capabilities to thrive in a fast-changing complex environment. This includes developing strong business acumen, a good understanding of data and digital drivers, and acquiring an international perspective. As a company and department, we aim to operate in an inclusive environment where people feel empowered, safe to learn, contribute and challenge the status quo. We empower our team to independently manage complex matters and provide them direct access to senior leaders. We provide coaching, mentoring and encourage team members to take on opportunities outside of their day-to-day to broaden their exposure to different matters.