Lead Counsel, Innovation Law

Overview

This role is for a Lead Counsel specializing in Innovation Law, focused on advancing a next-generation approach to patents, trade secrets, and innovation alignment. The position emphasizes innovation portfolio monetization and strategic business value creation by shifting from a technology-driven to a business-prioritized IP strategy. The role collaborates with technology, product, business development, and enterprise teams to establish a modern, defensible, cost-effective, and revenue-generating innovation posture.

This is a remote position with hub locations in Atlanta, GA; Columbus, OH; and Dallas, TX.

Responsibilities

Innovation Strategy & IP Portfolio Monetization

• Lead the transition to a strategy-driven IP program aligned with business priorities
• Prioritize and capitalize on high-value innovation opportunities with commercial potential
• Manage portfolio pruning and rationalization to ensure relevance, cost discipline, and monetization readiness
• Develop and implement business-driven IP strategies including licensing programs, portfolio sales, and strategic partnerships
• Lead patent monetization and licensing efforts, including negotiating license agreements and managing licensing relationships
• Collaborate with business development teams to identify strategic IP opportunities and revenue streams
• Conduct competitive IP landscape analyses to inform business strategy and identify monetization targets

Trade Secrets & NDA Modernization

• Design and implement a focused trade secret program protecting commercially valuable innovations
• Redefine confidentiality posture and streamline NDA usage
• Support adoption and evolution of proprietary NDA automation tools

Freedom to Operate Analysis

• Lead Freedom to Operate (FTO) analyses and clearance opinions, primarily for the NorthStar Rx business
• Manage outside counsel for FTO opinions and competitive patent landscape assessments
• Partner with product and business teams to identify and mitigate third-party IP risks

Business Partnership & Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop communications and training to educate the enterprise on patent and trade secret opportunities, risks, and commercial value
• Serve as a strategic business partner to technology and product leadership on IP-related decisions
• Build and maintain relationships with external IP counsel, licensing partners, and industry contacts

Requirements

• Juris Doctor degree with excellent academic credentials
• Membership in a legal jurisdiction required
• Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in IP portfolio management, patent monetization, licensing, or related IP commercialization fields
• Demonstrated experience with patent licensing, portfolio monetization, IP transactions, or IP litigation support
• Experience in healthcare technology or enterprise technology environments
• Strong business acumen with the ability to translate IP strategy into business value
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with business stakeholders and cross-functional teams
• Expertise in patent monetization and licensing
• Experience in strategic IP portfolio design and commercialization
• Business development and revenue generation through IP assets
• Skills in innovation prioritization and harvesting focused on commercial value
• Strong financial analysis, communication, negotiation, and stakeholder influence skills
• Experience with licensing negotiations, IP transactions, or IP-related dispute resolution

Compensation & Benefits

Details regarding compensation and benefits are not provided in this description.

Location

Remote position with hub locations in Atlanta, GA; Columbus, OH; and Dallas, TX.

Additional Information

• Must be authorized to work in the United States; sponsorship is not available for this position.