Legal Counsel

To provide a wide range of legal, compliance, company secretarial support and advice to the Rayner Group of companies as required and necessary. To take on all the duties and responsibilities reasonably to be expected of Group Legal Counsel as a member of a small team in a PE-backed, diverse commercial and international business.

Rayner is a leading developer and manufacturer of ophthalmic implants and pharmaceuticals with global headquarters in Worthing, UK. We specialize in the design and manufacture of intraocular lenses (IOLs) and related products, such as OVDs and pharmaceuticals used in cataract and refractive surgery. Since the manufacture of the world’s first IOL by Rayner in 1949, we have continuously pioneered IOL design with a goal of improving vision and restoring sight worldwide. The first ever FDA- approved IOL was a Rayner lens. Today, over 26 million IOLs are implanted around the world every year, and it is globally the most performed elective surgical procedure. Our mission is simple: to deliver excellent visual outcomes for patients and surgeons.

In June 2021 Rayner was acquired by CVC, an international Private Equity business with substantial funds under management. CVC has already shown itself to be an excellent partner to Rayner and has demonstrated its commitment to grow the business internationally. With CVC as our partner, we have the resources to make further investments in ophthalmology.

Since Rayner was founded in 1910, we have established a reputation for innovation and product excellence. Rayner has over 400 employees in the UK, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, US, Canada, Malaysia and India.

Rayner Surgical Inc and Omeros Corporation completed the transfer of Omeros’s ophthalmology assets, including OMIDRIA and the teams to support the product to Rayner in  December 2021. Today, Rayner has offices in New York, Memphis and Seattle serving a combined MedTech business that continues to go from strength to strength.

Key Activities & Responsibilities:

To work with the General Counsel, the Rayner Group Legal Team and across the business to advise on all legal issues of material importance arising in the business. Responsibilities include:

*        Supporting the management, maintenance and exploitation of the Rayner Group’s IP assets.

*        Provision of accurate, relevant, and timely advice to senior management and other members of staff on a variety of legal topics that relate to the business sector and their products or services.

*        Drafting, reviewing, negotiating and advising on a wide variety of commercial agreements including distribution, supply, agency, collaboration agreements and IP licensing / assignment.

*        Supporting the management and mitigation of legal risks across the Rayner Group by reviewing, refining, designing and implementing company policies and procedures.

*        M&A support, taking on responsibility for legal workstreams.

*        Support (where necessary) for the Rayner Group’s ‘Go-Direct’ strategy including incorporation of subsidiaries and legal support for the establishment of independent, autonomous trading structures that can become part of the Rayner Group.

*        Communicating with and managing external legal counsel and auditors.

*        Oversight and management of legal training needs and requirements of the Rayner Group.

• Promoting legal compliance and risk management best practice throughout the Rayner Group.

Values:

Ambition: We play to win.

Focus: We put patients first.

Integrity: We keep our promises.

Openness: We are passionate about new ideas.

Respect: We support each other.

Competencies:

*       Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, with an ability to communicate complex legal issues and risks to non-legal colleagues; 

*       Ability to provide prompt, authoritative and clear advice with practical solutions;

*       Excellent negotiating and drafting skills;

*       The ability to build and maintain strong professional relationships across the business;

*       Confident and self-assured, possessing sound judgement and demonstrating self-reliance;

*       Self-motivated, with an ability to work autonomously and on own initiative;

*       Ability to prioritise and work effectively in a fast-moving, deadline driven environment;

*       Experience in interpreting legislation and complex legal rules into practical application;

*       Experience in training and communicating legal requirements and procedures;

*       Discretion, tact and diplomacy;

• Strong analytical skills and experience analysing complex issues.

Qualifications:

*  Qualified solicitor entitled to practise in Ireland

*  Excellent academic track record

*  Experience of working as in-house counsel (desirable)

*  Experience of working in healthcare sector (desirable)

*  Experience of IP portfolio management for multi-national business (essential)

*  Experience of working in or with a range of legal providers to secure appropriate, cost-effective advice (essential)

*  3 - 5 years’ PQE, either gained in-house or from a reputable law firm*

 
*It is envisaged that candidates between 3 - 5 years’ PQE will have the relevant skills and knowledge for this position, however this is a guide only and applicants who fall outside this range but have the required experience will be considered.