Overview
A technology company specializing in search and AI platforms is seeking a Corporate Counsel to support the development, protection, and commercialization of its products. This role involves working closely with product and engineering teams from ideation through launch, providing legal guidance on cutting-edge enterprise technology. The position reports to the Vice President of Legal Innovation with dotted line supervision by the Director of Legal Innovation and is open to candidates located in the United States or Canada.
Responsibilities
- Support day-to-day patent prosecution and innovation initiatives, including invention harvesting and patent intake programs.
- Develop a deep understanding of the company’s product technology and roadmap.
- Assist in managing global patent, copyright, and trademark portfolios, including monitoring, clearance, registrations, and deadline tracking.
- Support brand protection efforts such as domain name disputes, social media takedowns, and coordination with outside counsel on pre-litigation matters.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Legal Privacy, Commercial, Information Security, IT) to support product build, release functions, and regulatory governance.
- Manage open-source software licensing and compliance programs, advising on intellectual property rights, AI model licensing, dependencies, and data usage risks.
- Review, research, and draft commercial contract clauses related to AI, IP, product dependencies, and open-source software.
- Assist in updating legal playbooks to reflect evolving industry standards.
- Conduct legal research and organize documentation for technology partnerships, M&A diligence, and legal disputes.
- Provide backup support for trade compliance by analyzing export laws such as the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) in relation to product capabilities.
Requirements
- 2–5+ years of experience in patent prosecution, litigation, intellectual property, or product law, preferably with software industry exposure.
- Bachelor’s or advanced degree in a science or engineering field; software engineering background is a strong plus.
- Admission to the US or Canadian Patent Bar (registration number required).
- JD from a US law school or LLB from a Canadian law school preferred; patent agents are eligible.
- Proven ability to draft, review, and manage patent applications, translating complex technical concepts into clear legal claims.
- Demonstrated interest in Generative Artificial Intelligence and related legal frameworks.
- Proactive, self-starting approach with strong problem-solving and prioritization skills.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills capable of simplifying complex legal and technical issues.
- Strong curiosity and willingness to learn trade compliance frameworks; prior trade compliance experience is not required.
Preferred Qualifications
- Interest in building and improving legal workflows and processes to support scaling.
- Comfortable working across time zones and cultures in a distributed environment.
Compensation & Benefits
- Base salary range: $106,800 to $168,900 USD, with higher ranges ($128,200 to $202,700 USD) applicable in select locations including Seattle WA, Los Angeles CA, San Francisco Bay Area CA, and New York City Metro Area.
- Eligibility to participate in equity plans, 401(k), and other employee well-being benefits.
- Competitive pay based on role and qualifications.
- Health coverage options for employees and families in many locations.
- Flexible work schedules and locations.
- Generous vacation allowances.
- Matching donations up to $2,000 annually.
- Up to 40 hours per year for volunteer projects.
- Minimum of 16 weeks parental leave.
Location
This role is open to candidates located in the United States or Canada. The employer operates as a distributed organization.
Additional Information
Applicants must be eligible to work in the US or Canada and comply with export control regulations. Employment eligibility may require export licenses for nationals or residents of certain sanctioned countries and regions.
The employer is an equal opportunity organization committed to diversity and inclusion, providing accommodations for applicants with disabilities upon request.