Celia Eckert Email & Phone Number

Pasadena, California, United States

•Chief Legal Adviser to all employees and members of Board of Directors to ensure transparent accountability by establishing trust and open communication•Ensure consistent disclosure, compliant with SEC requirements and investor stewardship•Partner with Business Development to close wide range of complex transactions•Oversee Intellectual Property Strategy implementation and maintenance•Built and manage service-oriented, creative, results-driven legal department•Address employment law and compensation matters•Establish consistent system to execute high volume of contracts and procure goods and services in compliant manner•Manage litigation and resolve legal disputes•Launched and support Leadership Development Committee and Affinity Groups to foster employee engagement and career growth•Source and manage outside counsel

Encinitas, California

Greater San Diego Area

•Provided legal leadership to Finance, Business Development and Scientific teams to structure, draft and negotiate complex transactions in connection with organizational structuring, corporate financing, strategic alliances, licensing, acquisitions and sale of intellectual property•Negotiated research collaboration agreements with fortune 100 companies, governmental entities and universities•Partnered with Human Resources to ensure inclusive, collaborative, creative, engaged corporate culture•Negotiated Real Estate transactions for our five leased and owned buildings to provide flexibility

La Jolla, California

• Partnered with colleagues throughout organization to develop and implement strategies to address legal and regulatory requirements and accomplish business goals• Drafted and reviewed SEC filings, marketing material, press releases and other public disclosures, working with departments such as Finance, Human Resources, Marketing and Regulatory to ensure cross-functional alignment• Legal leader to Business Development and Commercial teams in negotiations of wide range of complex domestic and international transactions• Collaborated with Regulatory function to ensure compliance including review of all promotional communication, creation and implementation of policies, procedures and training for sales and marketing and interaction with government agencies • Served as secretary and provided advice to Compensation Committee of Board of Directors

San Diego, Ca

• Structured and negotiated complex transactions such as pharmaceutical product acquisitions, licensing and joint venture agreements, credit facilities and various operational contracts• Partnered with Finance department to draft SEC filings in preparation for IPO prior to acquisition by Nestlé• Partnered with Sales and Marketing teams to develop and train sales force in connection with product launch and distribution of pharmaceutical and diagnostic products • Developed patent life cycle strategies by working with R&D, Regulatory, Marketing and Clinical departments along with external patent counsel• Partnered with Human Resources department and managers to address employee issues• Collaborated with Compliance function through sales force training, audits and investigations • Managed all stages of litigation concerning wide range of subject matter including intellectual property, commercial disputes, products liability and employment issues from preliminary filings through US Supreme Court decision• Represented company in negotiation, due diligence and closing of sale to Nestlé Health Science

• Negotiated sale of company to Lone Star Funds for $296 million • Managed corporate and securities issues with board members and management amidst crisis in mortgage industry• Served as Secretary of Audit, Nominating and Corporate Governance committees of the Board of Directors• Prepared SEC filings and collaborated with investor relations and marketing departments to publicize information in a compliant manner• Structured, negotiated and drafted contracts for all corporate departments including information technology, strategic initiatives, finance, operations and marketing• Negotiated strategic transactions, financings and asset disposition strategies

• Drafted all documents necessary wide range of corporate transactions including financings ranging from early investments to public offerings, mergers and acquisitions and strategic partnerships • Developed strategy for and drafted briefs and pleadings necessary to defense of complex litigation such as stockholder derivative lawsuits and wage-hour class actions• Conducted investigations to support litigation and government investigations• Clients included small private biotech, software and telecommunication startups and large well-established companies such as Pacific Bell, Chevron and Dynegy

• Collaborated with economists to analyze and negotiate federal agency approval of wide range healthcare transactions• Represented clients in complex antitrust litigation and government investigations• Participated in all aspects of discovery leading up to trial, including taking and defending depositions• Supervised a team of over 30 lawyers to conduct nation-wide discovery• Clients included hospital networks, such as Tenet Healthcare and Sutter Health, managed care providers, physician groups and financial institutions

Ba, Political Science

Education record

Jd