Novartis Names Legal Chief from AbbVie Amid Pharma Shuffle

Novartis AG has hired AbbVie Inc. deputy general counsel Karen Hale as its new chief legal officer, less than a month after its former legal chief Shannon Thyme Klinger departed the company to lead Moderna Inc.'s law department.

The company said Monday that Hale will officially join Novartis, based in Basel, Switzerland, on May 15 after eight years with AbbVie, including a six-year stint as chief ethics and compliance officer.

Novartis’ U.S. president and global head of litigation Tom Kendris was named ad interim chief legal officer following Klinger’s departure. He will continue to hold that position until Hale ...