Senior Director, Sr. Corporate Counsel, IP

Overview

This role develops and executes global patent and intellectual property (IP) strategies for the organization’s products, product candidates, platform technologies, and newly acquired or licensed assets. The position also supports corporate development objectives through IP due diligence, integration planning, and strategic portfolio development across acquisitions, licensing transactions, collaborations, and other strategic business opportunities.

The Senior Director, Corporate Counsel, Intellectual Property (IP) serves as a trusted advisor to Corporate Development, R&D, Business Development, and senior leadership, providing sophisticated IP analysis to inform transaction structures, valuation, risk assessment, and post-transaction integration strategies.

Responsibilities

• Act as a critical IP advisor to Corporate Development teams for acquisitions, licensing transactions, collaborations, joint ventures, divestitures, and other strategic transactions.
• Conduct comprehensive IP due diligence for potential acquisitions, in-licensing opportunities, collaborations, and strategic partnerships, including:
  • freedom-to-operate evaluations
  • portfolio strength analyses
  • exclusivity assessments
  • identification of material IP risks and value drivers
• Prepare and communicate clear, actionable diligence findings and recommendations to executive leadership, transaction teams, and legal leadership to support decision-making, valuation, negotiation strategy, and transaction structuring.
• Partner with the Transformation Office and cross-functional stakeholders to develop and execute post-transaction integration strategies, including:
  • patent portfolio optimization
  • ownership alignment
  • prosecution strategy harmonization
  • identification of opportunities to enhance long-term asset value
• Develop and execute sophisticated global patent strategies aligned to business objectives, competitive positioning, and exclusivity goals for both internally developed and externally acquired/licensed assets.
• Build and manage high-value global patent portfolios from invention capture through patent issuance and lifecycle management, aligned with product development and commercialization strategies.
• Provide strategic input into transaction documents, including licensing agreements, collaboration agreements, acquisition agreements, due diligence reports, representations and warranties, IP covenants, and integration-related provisions.
• Build cross-functional partnerships across research, development, commercial, regulatory, business development, and corporate development to deliver practical, business-focused IP advice.
• Conduct freedom-to-operate, infringement, validity, patentability, and competitive landscape analyses; develop risk mitigation strategies in support of business objectives.
• Manage outside counsel supporting patent prosecution, IP due diligence, litigation, opinions, and other strategic matters to ensure high-quality, efficient, and commercially focused outcomes.
• Counsel senior management and cross-functional teams on intellectual property risks, opportunities, exclusivity strategies, competitive positioning, and portfolio optimization initiatives.
• Review publications, presentations, press releases, and other public disclosures to protect patent rights and support external communication strategies.
• Advise on and/or lead contentious and adversarial matters involving company assets, including patent litigation, IPRs, PGRs, European oppositions, and related proceedings.
• Lead and contribute to departmental initiatives to improve IP operations, diligence capabilities, portfolio management processes, and overall organizational effectiveness.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Fully qualified U.S. Patent Attorney or Agent with 10+ years of relevant intellectual property experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, including substantial in-house experience supporting corporate development, licensing, collaborations, mergers and acquisitions, or other strategic transactions.
• Undergraduate degree in biological sciences, biochemistry, chemistry, or another discipline relevant to pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, or life sciences; advanced degree preferred.
• Significant experience leading IP due diligence for acquisitions, licensing transactions, collaborations, venture investments, and other strategic corporate transactions.
• Demonstrated experience evaluating, integrating, and maximizing the value of acquired or licensed patent portfolios and intellectual property assets.
• Deep expertise in patent portfolio development, lifecycle management, exclusivity strategies, freedom-to-operate analyses, and competitive intelligence.
• Ability to work in a dynamic, fast-paced team environment; flexible, responsive self-starter able to operate independently and collaboratively.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills; ability to distill complex legal and scientific concepts into clear business recommendations for senior executives.
• Strategic thinker who anticipates business challenges, identifies opportunities to create and protect enterprise value, and develops creative, practical solutions.
• Proven ability to influence decision-making across cross-functional teams and build trusted partnerships with executives, researchers, commercial leaders, and corporate development professionals.
• Strong project management, prioritization, and organizational skills; ability to manage multiple high-impact initiatives simultaneously.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in patent litigation, post-grant proceedings, oppositions, and other adversarial matters.

Compensation & Benefits (US-based candidates only)

• Full and complete base pay range: $259,200.00 - $388,800.00
• Base pay will depend on qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, and other pertinent factors, with internal equity considerations.
• Potential eligibility for a discretionary annual cash bonus or incentive compensation (depending on the role).
• Potential eligibility for discretionary equity grants in accordance with the organization’s Long Term Equity Incentive Plan.
• Benefits may include medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401k retirement savings plan, and flexible paid vacation.

Location

Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, with research and development laboratories, manufacturing facilities, and employees in multiple countries.