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Eric, Chief Legal Officer at BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.: Advize Career Interview
A career journey from summer construction jobs and a political economy degree to Chief Legal Officer at BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.
A multifaceted role encompassing litigation, contracts, patents, and global compliance, requiring rapid information processing and collaboration with experts.
The work is incredibly varied, demanding, and impactful, improving the lives of children with severe diseases. Success hinges on inquisitiveness, problem-solving, and knowing when to leverage others' expertise, not just relentless work.
BioMarin offers entry-level positions in contract association and government affairs analysis, with potential for diverse career paths.
A political economy background proves surprisingly valuable, teaching the crucial skill of synthesizing complex information. The most important advice?
Follow through; consistent follow-up demonstrates reliability and is key to securing a first job.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Eric Davis
Chief Legal Officer
BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.
U.C. Berkeley
University of San Francisco, Juris Doctorate
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Political Science, American Studies
Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical
Legal
Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Greek Life Member, Student Athlete
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Career Path of a Chief Legal Officer at BioMarin Pharmaceutical
Eric's career path began with a political economy degree and summer construction jobs, transitioning to commercial real estate before law school. After practicing corporate and securities law, including IPOs and M&A work, a large client, BioMarin Pharmaceutical, became their focus for over 20 years, leading to a role as Chief Legal Officer, where they oversaw the company's growth from "170 employees to now just about 3000, 3,500 or so," and expansion into global operations.
Main Responsibilities of a Chief Legal Officer at BioMarin
Eric, BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.'s Chief Legal Officer, manages a broad scope of legal functions including "litigation, contracts, patents, lobbying efforts, government interactions, and global compliance," demonstrating the multifaceted nature of a top legal role in the pharmaceutical industry. This involves "a thousand issues a day," requiring Eric to balance legal and business considerations to facilitate compliant growth.
A Day in the Life of a Chief Legal Officer at BioMarin Pharmaceutical
A Chief Legal Officer's workday is "incredibly varied," both in terms of tasks and location, requiring extensive travel and intellectual agility to navigate diverse legal landscapes. Eric's approach relies on collaboration with experts, focusing on asking "the right questions" to leverage their specialized knowledge rather than possessing encyclopedic legal expertise across all jurisdictions.
Most Important Skills For A Chief Legal Officer At BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc
For a Chief Legal Officer, the ability to "take in, assimilate, organize, understand information very quickly" is paramount. This skill is crucial for efficiently processing vast amounts of information and making sound, timely decisions in a complex environment.
Favorite Parts of Being a Chief Legal Officer at BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.
Eric, BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.'s Chief Legal Officer, finds the greatest fulfillment in "the impact" their work has on patients suffering from orphan diseases, describing the experience of improving the lives of children with "really severe diseases" as "an amazing experience."
Biggest Challenges Faced By A Chief Legal Officer At BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.
Eric, BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.'s Chief Legal Officer, cites "work-life balance" as the biggest challenge, noting the demanding nature of the job and how technology allows work to intrude "at almost any hour of the day." However, this demanding aspect is also what keeps the role "exciting."
Favorite Parts Of Working In The Pharmaceutical Industry As A Chief Legal Officer
Eric, BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.'s Chief Legal Officer, finds the most rewarding aspect of the pharmaceutical industry "being able to help patients," a sentiment complemented by the continuous learning opportunities, describing the experience as "getting an on-the-job science degree" through exposure to complex scientific concepts.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Biopharmaceutical Industry According To A Chief Legal Officer At BioMarin Pharmaceutical
Eric, BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.'s Chief Legal Officer, identifies inquisitiveness and problem-solving skills as crucial for success in the pharmaceutical industry, citing the "complex distribution systems around the globe" and "novel pharmaceutical reimbursement systems" as examples of the persistent challenges requiring these attributes. The ability to "push through those challenges" is key to thriving in this demanding environment, according to Eric.
What a Chief Legal Officer at BioMarin Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Biopharmaceutical Industry
Eric, BioMarin's Chief Legal Officer, wished they had taken science classes in college, commenting "I managed to skate through Berkeley…taking exactly zero science classes," highlighting the unexpected value of scientific knowledge in a legal role within the pharmaceutical industry. This reveals a valuable lesson learned about navigating the complexities of the biotech legal field.
Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Lawyers
BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.'s Chief Legal Officer Eric highlights two entry-level positions: "contract associate," a role ideal for pre-law students where "about half" have gone to law school, and a government affairs analyst position focusing on regulatory monitoring. These roles offer valuable experience and career trajectory options, with some alumni moving into marketing or commercial roles.
Significant Career Lesson From a Chief Legal Officer at BioMarin
Eric, BioMarin's Chief Legal Officer, learned that career success hinges less on "grind[ing]" and more on effective collaboration; the most significant lesson learned is the importance of knowing "when to reach out to folks" and leverage their expertise to achieve better outcomes.
College Experiences That Helped a Chief Legal Officer at BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc Succeed
Eric's political economy major provided "fantastic training" for the Chief Legal Officer role at BioMarin, as it involved synthesizing information from diverse disciplines—similar to "pulling together the science, the legal things from a variety of different countries"—and rapidly assimilating large amounts of reading material. This interdisciplinary approach and developed skillset proved invaluable for their career.
How Identity Has Influenced a Chief Legal Officer's Career at BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.
Eric, BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.'s Chief Legal Officer, advises social science students lacking detail-orientation to prioritize "follow through"—consistently following up after informational interviews and job interviews to demonstrate reliability. This approach, according to Eric, is crucial for convincing employers of one's value as a future asset because it shows "showing up."
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