RITTIKA CHHETRI

• Lead lawyer for the marketing company and business partner for the oncology division. Provide expert legal advice on complex matters for informed decision-making and risk mitigation.
• Advise business development team on new projects. Independently supported BD team an exclusive distribution deal, creating value of over 300 cr for the Company in the year 2024.
• Intellectual Property Litigation/ Prosecution/ Regulatory Support: Advise on IP related matters and manage patent portfolio for AZ India in close collaboration with IP counsel, at both India and Global level.
• Manage litigation of the company before High Courts and lower courts and managing external counsels for various matters across India [e.g.: pricing matters, recovery matters, employment related matters etc.] Negotiated settlements of disputes and litigation.
• Support compliance team on investigations and response strategy
• Support clinical trial teams with legal advice and contract negotiations.
• Advise on employment and labor-related matters, internal investigations, litigation, and legal support to HR functions
• Actively support institutional business team with queries on tender related queries from authorities/institutions.
• Crisis Management - Provide legal support on responses to show cause notices from regulatory bodies and government institutions
• Manage outside counsel effectively, controlling costs while ensuring high-quality representation in specialized areas of law.
• Participated in policy discussions to help shape legislative proposals affecting the company''s industry from a legal perspective.
• Developed SOPs and trained business on (i) Dawn Raids (ii) Good documentation (iii) Guidance on Legal Notices

• Head Legal for the Novartis Oncology division, part of Leadership Team reporting to the Managing Director
• Responsible for all legal support and strategic legal guidance to Oncology team, including contracts, strategy and advice on IP litigation, pricing related notices, commercial matters, advice on employment matters and ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations and Novartis internal guidelines.
• Advised on compliance-related matters, and assisted in investigations/audits, working closely with the Country Head of ERC and the Global Investigations team.

Company Overview: Arcesium is a global financial technology and professional services firm, delivering post -trade technology solutions

• Reporting to Managing Director, I was the sole counsel and legal advisor to the management
• My role included handling end to end legal advisory for the company, including contract drafting and review, policy drafting, training, employment advisory, real estate, legal risk management and ensuring statutory compliances
• Additionally, I supported US commercial team on commercial contracts

• Legal advisor for the Novartis Business Services
• Collaborate with the business on commercial contracts, real estate leasing, employment law, local law compliance and legal advisory
• Acted as ad-interim Head of Legal and a key member of the Leadership Team
• Provide end-to-end advice on employment matters as well as compliance to local labour laws
• Member of Internal Committee under POSH Act, conducted several investigations and actively involved in training as well as preparation of guidance manual
• Provide legal support and advisory to compliance team for conducting investigations and advise on compliance-legal matters
• Supported Novartis AG Procurement team with global contracts for the Novartis group
• Oversee the statutory compliance framework for the Hyderabad site

• Advised stakeholders on relevant legal issues of the business
• Managed risks in business operations and decisions
• Point of contact and managed all procurement contracts and employment advisory
• Acted as Legal point of contact and conducted legal due diligence of key 5 major IT companies in India, wherein Wells Fargo proposed to create a 'third party delivery centre' for Wells Fargo, US
• Advised on various labour/employment matters and helped in drafting internal policies for the organisation
• Managed statutory compliances for the Company including representation before labour authorities
• Initiated 'gap compliance audit' for all third-party vendors on an annual basis to ensure compliances as per local law

• Company Overview: (A Novartis Company)
• Handled activities such as drafting, reviewing and negotiating various types of business agreements
• Provided adequate advice to internal business partners on interpretation of contracts and various issues related to day-to-day business
• Worked with external counsels on various matters viz., reviewed writ petitions, plaints, written statements for filing in court, devising legal strategy
• As a compliance officer for Sandoz, promoted, led and managed the culture and practice of compliance within regulatory requirements and ethical standards consistent with supporting the group's strategic direction and growth aspirations
• Worked in close association with external counsels on transaction relating to sale of assets and trademark for Sandoz commercial business
• Assessed compliance risk companywide including third party due diligence, monitored risk on policies relating to antibribery (FCPA, UK Bribery), data protection and drove completion of necessary remedial actions
• Advised marketing team regarding product claim review, promotional material and artwork to ensure mandatory compliance with industry specific laws relating to the pharmaceutical & healthcare industry, IPR and other general laws
• Worked with global trademark team and external counsels on trademark search, filed opposition and sent notices on alleged trademark infringement
• Legal support on various labour matters, such as: closing of industrial unit, disciplinary action, suspension, termination, workplace harassment issues, formation of trade union by workmen and strikes
• (A Novartis Company)

• Drafting and reviewing of pharma related contracts viz; Supply, Quality, Distribution, Master Services Agreement, Confidentiality Agreement, Contract Manufacturing Agreements, and Agency Agreement and more
• Gained considerable amount of experience in implementing 'Global Contract Management Policy' in India, besides rolling out projects like electronic Legal Contract Management
• An active part of the team that rolled out various policies and global projects in India, Compliance related policies and standards, Global Contracts Policy and SOPs
• Worked closely with secretarial department in M&A deals
• Conducted legal due diligence, reviewed contracts of the Target Company and analysed risk and coordinated with external counsel along with the internal strategy department

• Learnt the fundamentals of commercial contracts management, dispute resolution filings and process, managed legal risk associated with breach of contracts