Veronika Hughes-Bednar

Head of Legal Transactions at Astellas Pharma Europe

Speaker

Veronika Hughes-Bednar is Vice President and Global Head of Legal Transactions at Astellas Pharma, where she leads a multinational team supporting worldwide R&D, M&A dealmaking and enterprise-wide contracting operations.

Prior to joining Astellas, Veronika gained experience with major organisations including GE Healthcare, Johnson & Johnson having started her career at the international law firm CMS.

With a background spanning high‑impact transactional work, cross‑border legal strategy, and operational leadership, Veronika brings a practical, people‑centred perspective to navigating the complexities of the global life sciences landscape. She proudly serves as the Chair of the Governing Board for St. Boniface School in London, underscoring her commitment to community leadership. Veronika is a qualified Solicitor in England and Wales and holds an LL.M. in Global Business Law.