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James Ryan, Chief Legal Officer and Chief Business Officer at BioNTech, joins Scott Brown to discuss the lessons he’s learned leading through one of the most transformative periods in the biotech industry.
In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, James reflects on his journey from scientist to lawyer, before eventually stepping into one of the most influential legal leadership roles in biotech. Joining BioNTech before it became globally recognised, he shares what it was like helping scale a fast-growing research-focused company into a world-leading biotechnology business, while navigating the intensity and pressure that came with rapid global growth and strategic partnerships, including BioNTech’s landmark collaboration with Pfizer.
James’ first lesson focuses on the importance of curiosity. From scientific research to complex legal negotiations, he explains why asking better questions, understanding the client’s objectives, and genuinely engaging with the business leads to stronger advice and deeper trust.
His second lesson is about objectivity. James discusses the challenge lawyers face when businesses want a particular answer — and why legal leaders must remain calm, analytical, and willing to give the advice that needs to be heard, not simply the advice others want.
Finally, he talks about remembering that everyone is human. Reflecting on periods of extreme pressure and workload, James explains why approachable legal teams build stronger businesses, why mistakes need to be surfaced early rather than hidden, and why lawyers need downtime and perspective to perform at their best.
Along the way, James also shares insights into:
- Transitioning from Chief Legal Officer into a broader Chief Business Officer role
- How legal teams earn influence inside high-growth businesses
- Why biotech companies think differently about risk
- The importance of relationships, curiosity, and trust in leadership
- How climbing helps him switch off and solve problems more effectively
This episode is brought to you in partnership with Wordsmith AI — the legal AI platform built specifically for in-house teams.
Guest Recommendations
- Film: Free Solo
- Hobby: Climbing
Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode
- Register your interest in joining The Lodge In-house Legal Community: https://bit.ly/TheLodgebyHB
- ECA: https://www.cpduk.co.uk/courses/heriot-brown-executive-counsel-accelerator-eca-course
- Wordsmith AI: https://www.wordsmith.ai/
Listen to the Podcast
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/
- Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/4
- YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/
Connect with Heriot Brown
About Heriot Brown:
At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities.
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Chapters:
00:00 Intro – James Ryan & BioNTech
03:22 CLO to Chief Business Officer
05:42 BioNTech before COVID
07:21 From s
