About this role
Associate General Counsel, Tax
Position Summary This position leads planning and implementation of MSD’s tax structure and strategy, including entity structuring, tax structuring of intellectual property and other business transactions, LLC and partnership taxation, and cross-border tax planning across MSD’s U.S. and international operations. Reporting to the General Counsel, the role serves as MSD’s primary in-house tax counsel on legal structuring and planning matters, advising Finance and business leadership on tax strategy and structuring, bringing tax planning and structuring work in-house and reducing MSD’s reliance on outside counsel and tax advisors for this work. This role is distinct from, and works in close coordination with, the Vice President, Tax, who owns tax compliance, accounting, reporting, and the day-to-day management of MSD’s relationship with outside tax advisors and other tax compliance providers. MSD will continue to engage outside tax advisors for tax compliance matters and outside counsel for specialized or complex legal matters as needed. This position ensures MSD’s tax structuring positions and strategy comply with applicable law and regulation.
Duties and Responsibilities Leads legal planning and implementation of MSD’s tax structure, including tax structuring of intellectual property and other business transactions, entity structuring, LLC and partnership taxation matters, and cross-border transactions, with the goal of reducing MSD’s reliance on outside counsel and tax advisors for this work.
Advises General Counsel and CEO on the legal structuring and documentation of intercompany arrangements (e.g., intercompany agreements), partnering with the Vice President, Tax, who owns transfer pricing policy, analysis, and reporting.
Provides legal advice on tax positions and disputes as needed to support the Vice President, Tax, in connection with tax authority audits and inquiries, domestic and foreign.
Advises on the tax implications of commercial agreements, licensing arrangements, and corporate reorganizations.
Monitors changes in tax law affecting entity structuring, LLC/partnership taxation, and cross-border planning, and assesses impact on MSD’s legal structure, coordinating with the Vice President, Tax on broader compliance and reporting impacts.
Advises on tax law matters affecting the structuring of international HR and benefits programs, coordinating with local counsel in MSD’s international jurisdictions as needed (distinct from payroll tax administration, which the Vice President, Tax supports).
Manages relationships with outside tax counsel, engaging outside tax counsel as needed.