From the courtroom in the corporation

New position Director Complex Commercial Litigation & Antitrust, Europe

Company Teva Pharmaceuticals

 

Introduce yourself in a few sentences and brief highlights from your career development so far?

My name is Eleonora Mateina, I am 35 years old, mother of twins aged 5. I started my career in 2009 as an intern at a boutique law firm specializing in litigation and public procurement in the healthcare sector. Even during my studies, I gained real practical experience by participating in cases and public procurements for medical devices, while also accumulating experience in corporate law and commercial transactions. In my final year of studies, I participated in a competition for international commercial arbitration held in Vienna, and at that moment I realized that I wanted to work as a lawyer in a corporate firm. After graduating, I continued to work in the field of litigation, as my professional experience expanded to cover insolvency proceedings, disputes between companies, partners, and general commercial disputes, but I needed scale. Thus, in 2015, I became part of the team of the Anglo-American firm Eversheds Sutherland, where I worked until September 2025, just before transitioning to the pharmaceutical industry. The ten years spent at the firm were the most formative period in my professional journey. There, thanks to the managing partners, I had direct access to international clients – leading companies in the pharmaceutical, tobacco, and food sectors. This is the period when I developed as a lawyer uniting highly regulated industries, antitrust, and litigation, while also maintaining my exposure to corporate law, mergers, and acquisitions. I have gone through turbulent periods for the firm, which built in me the ability to work with different people, to adapt, and to be stable and calm when there are upheavals.

What motivates you to take on this new role and what are your main goals in the position?

The decision was not easy, as I have always imagined that I would work as a lawyer. The position of in-house counsel changes perspective, changes responsibility, and makes you part of the solution, while as a lawyer you are more of a part of the risk assessment process, providing opportunities, but the decision always remains outside the lawyer and within the corporation.

This is precisely what attracted me to my new position – the opportunity to work in the pharmaceutical industry, to be useful to the business, to better understand the logic and motivation behind one or another commercial decision. I have always felt good in the pharmaceutical industry, I find it very complex, dynamic, and focused on improving the quality of life for people and their access to timely and quality treatment. Some of the most successful collaborations I have had have been precisely in this sector, and for this reason, the logical step at this stage of my professional path is to be where I am. It is no coincidence that this year I also became a member of the board of the Bulgarian Association of Clinical Trials; working with doctors and pharmacists has always enriched me and has been a true pleasure for me.

What professional or personal qualities do you think will help you succeed in your new position?

In a work plan, I am very predictable and consistent. I love measured risk – finding a legal solution that serves the business in the best way. I always ask a lot of questions. It is important for me to have the big picture, to know the end goal, and to understand the process; if I have that, I feel calm and stable. I rely on the fact that these skills will help me succeed in my new position.

What challenges do you expect to face and how do you approach change management?

Every change is inevitably associated with a healthy amount of stress coming from the unknown. The current one is no different. The first task is precisely this – to get to know the environment, the people, the needs of the business, to reduce the unknowns in the equation; from there will come calmness and focus. A challenge for me will be to change my way of thinking – it is different to offer solutions as an external consultant compared to being part of the effective implementation of those solutions, which has a huge impact on the business and the company's development strategy.

What is your approach to teamwork and building a strong internal culture?

Openness, respect, and visibility. When people are visible to you and you to them, when you have mutual respect and are open in your approach and intentions, there is no way the team won't work well.

What would you like people to say about you in the company after a few months?

I have their trust.