ApiJect Systems Corp., a global injectable platform technology company that revolutionizes how medicines and vaccines are filled, finished, and delivered, has appointed James A. Garrett as its new general counsel and chief compliance officer. This appointment took effect December 7, 2020.
 
Experience
 
Garrett joins ApiJect with extensive legal and strategic business expertise. Since 2012 he served in executive leadership roles at NuVasive Inc., a global public company dedicated to advancing the adoption of less invasive surgery through procedural integration and the use of enabling technologies. As senior vice president for Business and Quality Systems, as well as Government & Regulations Strategy (2018-2020) he delivered strategic direction across multiple business units to support, among other things, the organization's sterile packaging and device traceability solutions and quality management efforts.
 
He previously served NuVasive as vice president, chief risk & compliance officer (2017-2019), and vice president, Associate General Counsel (2012-2017). In these capacities, Garrett expanded risk management capabilities within the legal department, provided strategic management of global litigation, and actively led an extensive network of legal counsel, experts and advisors.
 
From 2001-2010, Garrett practiced law across diverse industries including retail, manufacturing, and biological sciences/healthcare with the firms Brobeck Phleger & Harrison LLP, (Associate, 2001-2003), Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, (Senior Associate, 2003-2008), and DLA Piper LLP, (Of Counsel, 2008–2010). He holds a J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law.
 
Garrett assumes responsibilities from Magdalena Fincham, who served as ApiJect's counsel for Intellectual Property before stepping into the role of interim general counsel. Through her private practice, Fincham will continue to support ApiJect's intellectual property strategy and activities.
 
Comments from CEO
 
In welcoming Garrett to the ApiJect team, Franco Negron, ApiJect's CEO, commented, "As ApiJect continues to execute its growth strategy, Jim Garrett's skills combining business experience with legal judgment makes him a perfect fit for our senior management team. His success in leading risk management and complex business litigation on a global scale is exactly the kind of experience that is an immediate and long-term asset for our company."
 
Negron added, "Jim's expertise will be invaluable as we move aggressively to transform the U.S. and global pharmaceutical supply chain to deliver on our critical mission of producing high volumes of single-dose prefilled syringes for COVID-19 vaccines and other injectable medicines. Jim will lead the way in ensuring our compliance with legal and regulatory systems in the U.S. and overseas. We're excited to have him on board."
 
Garrett remarked, "I am thrilled to join ApiJect at this critical moment in the battle against COVID-19. This talented and experienced group have clearly shown that safe and cost-effective Blow-Fill-Seal technology will be crucial in delivering billions of vaccines in the U.S. and globally in 2021. Joining ApiJect on the cusp of U.S. COVID-19 vaccine approvals is exciting. There are myriad of regulatory agencies, national and global companies and legal frameworks that we must actively navigate, and I am excited to take on this challenge with the ApiJect team."