The American Academy of Ophthalmology is the world’s largest association of eye physicians and surgeons. A global community of 32,000 medical doctors, we protect sight and empower lives by setting the standards for ophthalmic education and advocating for our patients and the public. We innovate to advance our profession and to ensure the delivery of the highest-quality eye care.
As an organization focused on healthcare, we bring a scientific rigor to our work. We balance this thoroughness with a relaxed atmosphere that promotes collaboration.
Of course, no single individual will have deep expertise in all of these areas but the General Counsel has substantive expertise in one or more of the areas listed and will have the capacity to ensure that the other areas are covered as needed, through outside counsel and other similar resources.
The General Counsel ensures that legal issues are managed in a cost-effective, client-driven manner, and they oversee the judicious use of outside counsel with these goals in mind. Duties include:
Collaborate with leaders and teams across the organization and respond to legal service requests. This encompasses a wide variety of legal services, such as reviewing and negotiating medical agreements, managing the trademark portfolio including requests for new marks, drafting liability disclaimers and waivers, legal review of press releases and all Academy guidelines, responding to members’ questions or complaints, reviewing and revising Annual Meeting registration/exhibitor materials, drafting infringement cease and desist letters, resolution of billing disputes, reviewing and approving of all contracts, and handling publication issues for Academy journals.
Manage litigation and responses to third party inquires. Respond to requests to produce documents or to other discovery/disclosure requests from private plaintiffs or defendants and from government agencies. For litigation, manage and help select outside counsel, review all pleadings, edit briefs, and monitor outside counsel.
Manage the legal function, including managing legal budgets, reviewing and approving outside counsel bills, and managing, evaluating and selecting appropriate outside counsel and other needed vendors. Actively participate in affinity groups with other medical association counsels, including the Counsel of Medical Specialty Societies.
Project manage special projects with significant legal implications.
Ability and experience reading, understanding, interpreting and writing legal documents, such as contracts, pleadings, law journal articles and client memoranda; undertaking cost-effective and timely legal research and analysis and the ability to apply results to Academy issues; preparing and providing legal training on issues such as antitrust, unfair competition, trademarks, copyrights, contracts, and other topics; spotting and handling potential legal risks to the Academy; creating legal policies and procedures; seeking assistance from outside counsel and managing litigation, including reviewing outside counsel activities and billing, based on significant litigation experience; organizing and implementing the legal function, including overseeing digital contract management, filing and shared support staff; managing organizational change; identifying areas for the General Counsel’s further professional development and finding cost-effective ways to acquire additional legal skills and knowledge; keeping current in relevant legal and health policy topic areas; and reading and understand medical studies and other publications from the Academy in order to spot legal/evidentiary issues and provide feedback to authors.
Current COVID vaccination requiredWith manager approval, this position, which is based in the Academy’s San Francisco headquarters, is eligible for up to 2 days remote work per week.
