About
James Burns has served as Agios's chief legal officer since January 2022. He joined Agios in 2016 as a senior attorney and the company's first head of compliance, after which he served as senior vice president and general counsel.
He has more than 19 years of legal and compliance experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Before Agios he held roles of increasing responsibility at EMD Serono, culminating as associate general counsel for commercial, and began his legal career as a corporate attorney at Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault and Goodwin Procter. He holds a B.A. and a J.D. from Seton Hall University.
Roles
Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Chief Legal Officer · Current role
Jan 2022–present
Agios Pharmaceuticals
SVP & General Counsel; head of compliance · Joined Agios in 2016 as a senior attorney and first head of compliance before becoming chief legal officer.
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EMD Serono
Associate General Counsel for Commercial · Held roles of increasing responsibility.
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Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault / Goodwin Procter
Corporate attorney
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Testa, Hurwitz and Thibeault; Goodwin Procter
Corporate Attorney · Began his legal career as a corporate attorney at these firms.
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Fixed Compensation
FY 2025
All other compensation
$15,961
Performance Compensation
Data from FY 2025
Cash incentive
Non-equity incentive plan compensation
$237,274
Stock awards
Also at Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.