Overview
A Senior Counsel, Intellectual Property is needed to support global business development and mergers & acquisitions activities. This role involves providing intellectual property (IP) guidance for external transactions such as licensing, mergers, acquisitions, investments, and divestments. The position requires collaboration with business development, venture teams, M&A, digital strategic partnering, legal and IP colleagues, technical diligence teams, and senior leadership.
Responsibilities
- Provide clear and pragmatic IP advice grounded in sound legal and business judgment for external transactions
- Collaborate closely with business development, venture, M&A, digital partnering, legal, IP, and technical diligence teams to manage transactions effectively and timely
- Conduct IP diligence including identification of key IP assets, evaluation of ownership, patentability, validity, enforceability, freedom to operate, and review of third-party agreements
- Assess the relative IP position of key competitors
- Advocate for the organization's interests in negotiating IP-related matters with counterparties
- Draft IP-related clauses in term sheets and complex agreements
- Instruct and supervise outside counsel as appropriate
- Recommend post-transaction patent strategy
- Stay informed of new laws, regulations, and industry trends affecting IP and transactions
- Contribute to continuous improvement of team skills and processes
Requirements
- Undergraduate degree in biological or chemical sciences
- Registered US patent attorney with active membership and good standing in the Massachusetts or other state bar
- Minimum of 8 years of patent law experience, either in-house or at a law firm
- Experience providing IP support for synthetic molecules and/or biologics in the biopharmaceutical sector
- Experience with due diligence, agreement drafting, and negotiation
Preferred Qualifications
- Graduate degree (MS, PhD) in biological or chemical sciences
- Experience supporting IP for both synthetic molecules and biologics
- Law firm experience
- Experience with litigation or other adversarial proceedings
- Experience with digital IP matters
Compensation & Benefits
- Compensation will be commensurate with demonstrated experience
- Eligibility to participate in employee benefit programs
- Comprehensive health and wellbeing benefits including high-quality healthcare, prevention and wellness programs
- At least 14 weeks of gender-neutral parental leave
Location
- Position is based in Cambridge, MA, USA
- Occasional travel required (~15%)