Overview
A Senior Counsel position is available reporting to a Deputy General Counsel, providing legal support focused on sponsored research compliance, research-related contracting, intellectual property (IP), know-how, and technology-transfer agreements. This role supports strategic research initiatives, multi-institutional collaborations, clinical research networks, and large federally sponsored research programs, including consortium governance, research security, data sharing, and international collaborations.
This position offers remote work within approved U.S. locations, excluding California residents unless willing to relocate. Remote employees must travel to the Memphis campus for interviews/orientation and work onsite one week per quarter or as needed.
Responsibilities
- Draft, review, analyze, and negotiate a variety of research-related agreements including sponsored research, clinical and pre-clinical collaborations, IP and technology agreements, data sharing, international research, and large consortium agreements.
- Conduct due diligence and provide strategic guidance on research relationships and collaborations addressing contractual, regulatory, data-use, IP, publication, confidentiality, export-control, foreign influence, research-security, and institutional risk considerations.
- Advise investigators and leadership on federal and institutional research compliance rules, including federal award terms, sponsor requirements, research security, foreign component disclosures, international collaboration, export control, controlled research data, and institutional policies.
- Support development and review of internal policies related to conflict-of-interest management, research security, sponsoring agency requirements, and safe work environments, coordinating with federal agencies as needed.
- Partner with technology development and industry engagement teams to support IP protection consistent with institutional policies, including IP ownership, licensing, invention-related provisions, know-how protection, and data rights.
- Provide legal support to institutional personnel, departments, committees, and cross-functional initiatives.
- Negotiate solutions to complex legal issues involving research collaborations, sponsor requirements, IP/data rights, regulatory compliance, and institutional risk.
- Assist in training and education on legal matters including sponsored research compliance, contracting, data-use terms, IP provisions, confidentiality, publication rights, and research security.
- Advise on ownership and allocation of intellectual property, publication rights, background IP use, confidential information, data ownership/access/use/sharing/retention/protection, and related risk allocation.
- Maintain contract templates, clause libraries, and internal guidance integrating IP, data-use, sponsor compliance, publication, confidentiality, and risk management.
- Prepare and present materials to staff, committees, and leadership on research compliance, contracting, IP/data issues, and related topics.
- Perform other duties including internal risk management and participation in patient care call coverage rotation.
- Maintain regular and predictable attendance.
Requirements
- Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
- Minimum of 10 years of experience in multiple specialized legal areas such as technology, international/foreign law, medico-legal advising, labor and employment, academic programs, clinical research, insurance, privacy/data protection, healthcare compliance, grants and contracting, intellectual property, medical staff relations, non-profit tax, animal care and use, environmental health and safety, and accreditation.
- Strongly preferred experience or knowledge in sponsored research compliance, research contracting, technology transfer, IP provisions in research agreements, data-use agreements, privacy/data protection, federal grant compliance, or healthcare/research regulatory matters.
- Background representing healthcare or academic clients is strongly preferred.
- Proven performance in prior roles.
- Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
- Must obtain a Tennessee law license within nine months of hire or register as in-house counsel within six months.
Compensation & Benefits
- Estimated salary range: $151,840 - $287,040 per year.
- Salary offers consider skill sets, experience, licensure, certifications, and organizational needs.
- Benefits package available.
Location
- Remote within approved U.S. locations, excluding California residents unless willing to relocate.
- Travel to Memphis, Tennessee required for interview, orientation, and quarterly onsite work.
Note: This employer does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities.