Ellen Murphy
Krakow,Lesser Poland
Summary
LSE Law graduate with native English and fluent Polish, currently working as an R&D paralegal in a global pharmaceutical company. Experienced in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating clinical and research agreements across the full contract lifecycle, with a strong focus on risk assessment and efficient negotiation. Comfortable operating in international, cross-functional environments and supporting stakeholders on commercially practical legal solutions. Also experienced in template standardisation and contract automation initiatives.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Paralegal – R&D Legal / Contracting
Lundbeck GBS
Krakow, Lesser Poland
2024.05 - Current
- Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of R&D and commercial agreements, including confidentiality agreements (CDAs), consultancy agreements, research agreements, and MSAs
- Manage the full contract lifecycle from initial drafting through negotiation to execution, ensuring alignment with legal, commercial, and operational requirements
- Act as a key point of contact for internal stakeholders (R&D, Clinical, Procurement), advising on contractual structure, key terms, and risk allocation
- Lead negotiations with external counterparties, addressing redlines and balancing legal risk with business objectives
- Identify and escalate complex legal or commercial issues, proposing pragmatic solutions to enable deal progression
- Contribute to the development, harmonisation, and annual update of contract templates to improve consistency and reduce negotiation friction
- Act as technical lead on the implementation of a consultancy agreement automation tool (PowerApps), introducing AI-supported workflows and improving contracting efficiency
- Collaborate closely with Procurement and Contract Management teams, ensuring contracts align with SAP/Ariba-driven sourcing and vendor onboarding processes
- Support GDPR and data protection matters, including risk assessments and coordination of incident response
General Operations Assistant
British International School of Cracow
Krakow, Lesser Poland
2022.09 - 2024.05
- Supported day-to-day finance operations, including processing invoices, tracking payments, and maintaining financial records
- Assisted with procurement processes, including raising purchase requests, liaising with suppliers, and tracking orders through to delivery
- Coordinated with internal stakeholders (teachers, admin staff) to ensure timely and accurate purchasing of materials and services
- Maintained and updated procurement and finance documentation, ensuring accuracy and audit readiness
- Supported budgeting and cost tracking activities by compiling and organising financial data
- Acted as a point of contact for basic supplier and purchasing queries, helping resolve issues efficiently
Tutor
Self-employed
Krakow, Lesser Poland
2021.09 - 2024.05
- Delivered one-to-one tuition in Law, English, and Humanities, supporting students at IGCSE, International Baccalaureate, and undergraduate level
- Supported university-level law students in exam preparation, including explaining complex legal concepts and structuring problem-style answers
- Designed tailored study plans and materials, requiring strong analytical thinking and clear communication of technical content
- Managed an independent tutoring practice, including client communication, scheduling, and lesson planning
- Adapted teaching approach to different stakeholders (students and parents), contributing to measurable improvements in academic performance
Education
Bachelor of Business Administration - Law
London School of Economics and Political Science
London 2019.09 - 2023.06
International Baccalauerate - IB
British International School of Cracow
KrakowSkills
- Contract Drafting & Negotiation
- R&D and Clinical Contracting
- Legal Risk Assessment & Escalation
- Stakeholder & Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Contract Lifecycle Management
- Template Development & Standardisation
- Legal Technology & Automation (PowerApps, AI workflows)
- Data Protection & GDPR Awareness
Languages
English
Native
Polish
Native
Spanish
Advanced
French
Intermediate
German
Intermediate
Timeline
Paralegal – R&D Legal / Contracting
Lundbeck GBS
2024.05 - Current
General Operations Assistant
British International School of Cracow
2022.09 - 2024.05
Tutor
Self-employed
2021.09 - 2024.05
Bachelor of Business Administration - Law
London School of Economics and Political Science
2019.09 - 2023.06
International Baccalauerate - IB
British International School of Cracow