Chief Legal Officer

Taylor Root is delighted to be the exclusive partner in the search for a Chief Legal Officer (CLO) for one of our clients in the pharmaceutical industry.

The Chief Legal Officer will report directly to the CEO and serves as a strategic partner to the Executive Team and Board, responsible for architecting and executing our clients global legal, compliance, and governance agenda.

This leader will build a scalable legal framework suited to a fast-growing, innovation-driven pharmaceutical business with deep expertise in a niche area within the pharmaceutical industry.The role blends hands-on dealmaking with enterprise risk management, disputes oversight, regulatory stewardship, and the professionalisation of a maturing legal organisation.A central priority will be preparing the business for potential exit pathways, including private equity processes, strategic M&A scenarios, and IPO optionality.

Strategy and Risk Framework

• Design and implement a comprehensive global legal strategy aligned with clients growth objectives.
• Establish and maintain a robust enterprise risk management framework, including formal oversight of disputes, litigation, and contentious regulatory matters.
• Serve as the executive authority on legal risk balancing commercial pace with strategic protection.

Complex commercial transactions

• Oversee the delivery of a scalable, efficient global contracting function capable of handling high-velocity, high-complexity commercial deals.
• Negotiate and close complex agreements, licensing, supply/manufacturing, and collaborative R&D environments.
• Drive standardisation and automation initiatives to increase speed-to-signature without compromising risk posture.

Global regulatory compliance oversight

• Ensure robust compliance across all relevant jurisdictions, with a focus on pharma-sector regulatory requirements, market authorisation pathways, quality systems, and promotional compliance.
• Build effective compliance monitoring, reporting, and training programmes that support a culture of integrity across all regions.

Corporate governance and exit readiness

• Strengthen governance structures, board processes, entity management, and reporting mechanisms across the global footprint.
• Lead legal workstreams tied to exit readiness including data room preparation, corporate housekeeping, and governance uplift.
• Support optionality for multiple exit paths.

Leadership and organisational development

• Lead, mentor, and upskill the legal and compliance teams across multiple geographies.
• Professionalise the organisation by elevating team capabilities, refining roles, and embedding best-in-class processes.
• Coach and develop successor leadership, ensuring long-term functional sustainability.

Strategic transactions and M&A enablement

• Support M&A and partnership activities from due diligence to integration planning.
• Advise on strategic opportunities across the value chain, ensuring alignment with regulatory, commercial, and governance objectives.

As their new Chief Legal Officer , you will have regular interaction with the Board and the leadership team. Our client is has a values-driven, collaborative, entrepreneurial environment; fastpaced and challenging.

The Chief Legal Officer needs to bring a strong experience in:

• Complex commercial transactions
• Litigation and dispute management
• Strong experience within the pharmaceutical industry
• Regulated environment expertise
• Team leadership & mentor attitude
• PE-backed operating environment
• M&A experience
• IPO & Public Company Readiness

Do you want to know more, contact us for a confidential discussion.

The SR Group (UK) Limited is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.