Senior Legal Counsel 1

Who we are
In a life without sound, our work provides meaning. As a leading provider of innovative hearing care solutions, we are not just a company that makes products: we are a team on a mission to help people enjoy the delight of hearing. To enable a life without limitations, we – through our core business brands Phonak, Unitron, Hansaton, Advanced Bionics and AudioNova – develop, manufacture and distribute solutions that push the limits of technology and redefine the future of our industry.
Upholding the company values is extremely important to Sonova, we take the health and safety of our employees, patients, customers and their families very seriously. To that end, we have concluded that the best way to ensure the safety of these individuals is to mandate that all of our newly-hired employees be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Therefore, when considering whether to apply for this position, please know that in order to become employed by Sonova (if otherwise eligible), you must provide satisfactory proof, such as a vaccine card or other documentation, that you are fully vaccinated for COVID-19. You will not be required to provide this proof unless and until you receive a formal job offer from Sonova. Please also know that Sonova will provide accommodations to qualified individuals who cannot receive the COVID-19 vaccination because of a sincerely held religious belief or due to a medical issue or pregnancy.

Position Summary

The Senior Legal Counsel supports the audiological care business, primarily the hearing care clinics of Alpaca Audiology, for general commercial areas including M&A activities, lease review, general contracts; and certain regulatory areas.

Key Tasks & Responsibilities  

 •    Provide legal advice and business counsel to the M&A team and manages some corporate transactions from inception to close. Assists with managing and conducting due diligence.  Supports integration of entities post-close. 
•    Experience drafting, reviewing and negotiating wide variety of agreements (i.e., involving purchasing, marketing, vendors, payors and confidentiality).
•    Review and negotiate real estate leases, lease renewals and assignment of leases.  
•    Experience with corporate governance including drafting resolutions, and corporate entity formation.  
•    Experience with healthcare transactions and/or healthcare compliance and regulatory issues is a plus. 
•    Investigate and resolve disputes involving vendor agreements and commercial arrangements involving consumers and customers. 
•    Legal support related to the Sonova Code of Conduct, the Corporate Compliance and Data Protection functions.
•    Identify and analyze legal issues, draft key documents, present clear recommendations and ensure legal compliance as it relates to health law and corporate law.
•    Conduct legal research and analysis on a broad range of matters.
•    Stay current with new developments, best practices and benchmarks to assist internal clients in implementing policies and procedures in response thereto.
•    Maintain a culture consistent with Sonova’s mission, vision and values.

Qualifications    
Basic Education  

•  J.D. from an accredited law school with strong academic credentials and admission, in good standing, to at least one State Bar, preferably Illinois

Work Experience    

• A minimum of 7 years of legal experience across a broad range of general commercial and corporate transactional subject areas; some real estate.
• Healthcare regulatory experience preferred;
• In-house experience

Personal Competencies 

•  Highly motivated self-starter who is interested in learning new areas; exceptional interpersonal and communication skills (written and oral), including strong collaboration skills; superior intellect with pragmatic business acumen and the ability to issue spot; strong creative problem solving skills with the ability to create rapid, practical solutions; demonstrated ability to independently analyze issues and problems and develop appropriate business solutions and plans of action; demonstrates a high degree of ethics and integrity

Social Competencies  

• Personal and professional compatibility within Sonova’s culture; excellent conflict resolution and negotiation skills; able to work with little supervision; a great team player who is willing to “roll up your sleeves” and get things done

Professional Competencies  

• Strong knowledge of relevant state and federal law in corporate law and commercial contracting; proactively seeks innovative ways to streamline operations; ability to handle highly sensitive information with confidentiality and professionalism; ability to prioritize and manage a large volume of complex matters and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Knowledge of healthcare regulation, real estate law

IT skills  

•  Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel)