Belupo General Counsel Eva Kovacic reflects on her journey from law firm beginnings to steering legal and compliance in the fast-paced pharmaceutical world.
CEELM: Tell us a bit about yourself and the career path you took leading up to your current role.
Kovacic: Currently, I serve as Group General Counsel for Legal and Compliance at Belupo Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics Inc., a pharmaceutical company based in Croatia that operates across multiple EU and non-EU markets. It’s a broad scope, and we’re actively engaged in diverse regulatory environments.
My career began at a law firm though. Private practice days were an invaluable period because I gained experience in various branches of law, representing clients in court and learning to understand the perspective of opposing parties. Combined with my postgraduate studies in European law, this helped my deeper understanding of EU legislation and its implications for businesses – a decision that proved crucial as the European market evolved.
About two decades ago, I transitioned to in-house legal work at a multinational pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline. I started as a junior lawyer and gradually climbed the ranks, taking on increasing responsibilities. Initially, I oversaw the legal needs of the Adriatic region, but over time, my scope expanded to include broader Southeast and Central European regions. This role involved managing legal teams across multiple jurisdictions with the support of external lawyers. We worked well as a virtual team while maintaining strong personal connections through team-building events and on-site visits. My final position at the same company was a global role – working as a lawyer for GSK R&D and supporting a diverse portfolio of products. This position required frequent collaboration across markets as varied as Asia and the U.S., making it both challenging and rewarding.
After years in such a structured multinational setting, I transitioned to Belupo Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics Inc. This move was an opportunity to apply my global experience to a company rooted in my home country, keeping my focus on the pharmaceutical business. Over the past two years, I’ve focused on growing my team, navigating a specific industry and regulatory framework, and learning from new challenges. It’s a fulfilling role with a supportive and collaborative management team. It is a privilege to share our management’s vision and at the same time protect company values.
Mentorship is another passion of mine, especially when it comes to supporting young professionals and advocating for gender equality in the workplace. Some of the people I’ve mentored have risen to impressive heights in their careers, which I find incredibly rewarding. For me, leadership is as much about empowering others as it is about achieving results.
CEELM: What was the biggest shock when transitioning to the in-house world? On the flip side, what was the most pleasant surprise?
Kovacic: Since I worked extensively with in-house teams during my time in private practice, the transition wasn’t particularly shocking. My background gave me a solid understanding of how external counsel could support businesses, so I was able to adjust quickly.
That said, one significant difference between private practice and in-house work is the cultural and operational diversity of multinational companies. Leading teams across jurisdictions with different legal frameworks and cultural nuances was both challenging and enriching. For example, managing legal matters in markets like the U.S., Asia, and Europe pushed me to develop a deeper understanding of regional dynamics. I also appreciated the chance to specialize in pharmaceutical law and compliance, which has been pivotal in shaping my career.
The most pleasant surprise was the collaborative aspect of in-house work, often requiring building multinational teams. This has been incredibly rewarding, as has working closely with business leaders to shape strategy.
CEELM: How large is your in-house team currently, and how is it structured?
Kovacic: Our team is divided into several specialized areas. On one side, we have the core legal team, which handles multiple legal areas and matters. On the other side, we have a compliance group that focuses purely on regulatory adherence. We also oversee corporate security and occupational safety and health, which encompasses aspects of those specific risks, ensuring alignment with group-wide standards.
Given the overlap between legal, compliance, occupational safety and health, and corporate security, we collaborate closely across these functions. This integrated approach ensures that we maintain high standards while addressing complex issues effectively.
CEELM: How do you decide whether to outsource a project or use in-house resources, and what criteria do you use when picking external counsel?
Kovacic: We prioritize using in-house resources wherever possible. Our team is well-equipped to handle most projects, but for highly specialized matters – such as acquisitions or specific regulatory issues – we bring in external counsel. When selecting external lawyers, we prefer firms with deep expertise in the relevant field and a proven understanding of our industry.
We follow a structured procurement process to ensure a fair and thorough selection. This involves specialized procurement documentation related to compliance and experience. Once we gather this information, we evaluate qualifications and select partners based on clear criteria.
We value long-term relationships with external counsel, as understanding each other’s ways of working and the specifics of our industry significantly enhances collaboration. Many of our external partners have supported us for years, which fosters trust and efficiency.
CEELM: What has been keeping you and your in-house team busy over the last 12 months? What about the upcoming 12 months?
Kovacic: Over the past year, we’ve focused on various topics across many different areas of the pharmaceutical industry, including competition law, supporting the launch of new products and markets, executing several strategic projects, driving necessary compliance changes, and much more. We’ve additionally supported the shaping of a new corporate identity, corporate culture, and implemented strategies to drive organizational growth.
Looking ahead, our workload will remain dynamic. We’re keeping a close eye on industry trends and regulatory developments, particularly in the pharmaceutical sector. Ensuring we stay compliant while supporting business strategic goals through innovation, ambitious growth, new markets, and strengthening market position in existing markets will be a major focus. We work hand in hand with every function at Belupo to develop and deliver medicines to patients, where they are needed most. We’ll maintain our profound commitment to do what is right, to act with integrity, and to use our legal expertise and strong voice to shape a framework that governs our business to the benefit of patients.
CEELM: What do you foresee to be the main challenges for GCs in Croatia in the near/mid future?
Kovacic: One of the biggest challenges is managing the sheer complexity of operating across multiple jurisdictions. Balancing the demands of various legal systems, cultures, and regulatory environments requires strong organizational skills and experience especially when starting our strategic business cooperation in new markets. Building a strong team, maintaining good relationships with colleagues in the industry, and staying informed about emerging trends will also be crucial.
Another ongoing challenge is finding a balance between professional responsibilities and personal priorities. As workloads increase, it’s important for GCs to prioritize effectively and create space for strategic thinking.
I am proud to lead an outstanding, highly skilled, and business-oriented Legal and Compliance team and am grateful to every member for playing a critical role in fulfilling our purpose.
This article was originally published in Issue 11.11 of the CEE Legal Matters Magazine. If you would like to receive a hard copy of the magazine, you can subscribe here.
