The opportunity

Bird & Bird's rapidly growing Regulatory, Public and Administrative practice is looking to recruit a junior associate with a passion for life sciences. Join us in our mission to support our technology and innovation-driven clients by providing smart, creative legal advice.

The firm

Bird & Bird opens up a world of possible for lawyers everywhere. Here you can advise major enterprises and high-growth businesses on matters that are often transformative in nature, and alongside people who are truly collegiate in the way they work. We are one international firm; over 70% of our work involves cross-border teams, and that is only going to increase. It is this common purpose and shared approach that makes for a more productive, and collaborative place to work.

Our promise

Bird & Bird is committed to maintaining an inclusive working environment and we are an equal opportunities employer. We will actively support and supervise your professional development. For those with the necessary energy and ability, we will ensure that the firm is a first-class platform on which you can develop into an industry leader. We support an agile working environment and are happy to discuss flexible working.

The team

Bird & Bird's Regulatory, Public & Administrative Group in the Brussels office is made up of six dedicated and highly motivated lawyers.

The team provides contentious and non-contentious strategic advice to Belgian and international pharma, biotech, medical devices and food companies. They also advise public bodies as well as national and European industry associations facing complex regulatory frameworks.

Besides this, the practice encompasses day-to-day advice and litigation on Belgian public and administrative law, with a strong focus on public procurement law but also covering town planning and environmental law, public service and constitutional law, mainly in support of the other practices and sector groups of the firm.

What you'll do

You'll provide advice and assistance in the core areas of the practice:

• Legal regulatory support in the life sciences sectors,covering the full lifecycle of products, including product development and market entry strategies, assistance to product authorisation processes, issues on data exclusivity, product compliance, as well as issues on pricing, reimbursement, labeling, and advertising;
• Overall public & administrative law advice and litigation support (on EU and national level) to all practices and sectors of the firm.

What we'll do for you

• Give you responsibility and client contact from day one;
• Involve you in complex national and cross-border matters‎, with a focus on advisory work;
• Create the opportunity to work with team members across Bird & Bird internationally;
• Actively involve you in marketing and business development initiatives;
• Help you develop your legal, business and interpersonal skills through coaching, training and regular feedback;
• Maintain a friendly, inclusive working environment where people genuinely enjoy working together and learning from each other;
• Support you in building your long-term career within the firm;
• Offer an agile working environment where you can balance your time working in the office and at home;
• Organise fun social activities and events, in Brussels and beyond.

Your skills

We are interested in meeting candidates who have up to three years' experience in public and administrative law.

We expect you to have a law degree that's backed up by strong academic results. A postgraduate in public and administrative law or EU law is an advantage.

You are fluent in English, Dutch or French and have at least an intermediate level in the other national language i.e. Dutch or French.

You have strong writing and analytical skills that allow you to identify key issues. You are ready to roll up your sleeves together with our team around the globe, stay up-to-date with the latest innovations our clients are developing, and deliver the high-quality work they expect. You have a strong appetite for business development activities to further develop the practice.

Take the next step

If you think you are the right fit for our Regulatory team in Brussels, send your cv, motivation letter and transcripts to brurecruitment@twobirds.com.

Learn more about our firm at www.twobirds.com. You can find the latest updates from our team on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/bird-&-bird-llp/

For any questions or if you would like more information, please contact our HR manager Anneke Vermeir on annv@twobirds.com.