Senior Intellectual Property Counsel - Legal
Automate your job search with Sonara.
Submit 10x as many applications with less effort than one manual application.1
Reclaim your time by letting our AI handle the grunt work of job searching.
We continuously scan millions of openings to find your top matches.
Overview
Job Description
Senior Intellectual Property Counsel
About the Role
We are seeking a Senior Intellectual Property Counsel to serve as a strategic legal partner in developing, managing, and protecting the company's global IP portfolio. This is a high-impact role at the intersection of cutting-edge science and commercial strategy, supporting R&D, Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, Business Development, and Executive Leadership teams to maximize the value of our innovations and ensure freedom to operate across key therapeutic and technology platforms.
The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in biotechnology patents, IP strategy, licensing, and transactions — and ideally has hands-on experience supporting siRNA therapeutics or RNA platform technology programs.
What You'll Do
Intellectual Property Strategy
- Develop and execute comprehensive global IP strategies aligned with corporate and product development objectives
- Manage and expand the patent portfolio through invention harvesting, prosecution, portfolio optimization, and lifecycle management
- Advise leadership on patentability, freedom-to-operate analyses, patent validity, and competitive IP positioning
- Identify opportunities to leverage IP assets to support business growth and valuation
Patent Portfolio Management
- Collaborate with scientists, research leaders, and external patent counsel to prepare and prosecute patent applications worldwide
- Review invention disclosures and evaluate patent filing opportunities
- Oversee responses to patent office actions and coordinate global prosecution strategies
- Monitor competitor patent activity and emerging industry trends
- Manage outside counsel relationships and budgets
Transactions & Business Development
- Support licensing, collaboration, co-development, M&A, financing, and strategic partnership transactions
- Lead IP due diligence related to investments, acquisitions, and partnering opportunities
- Draft, review, and negotiate IP-related commercial agreements
- Evaluate IP risks and opportunities associated with corporate transactions
Litigation & Risk Management
- Manage IP disputes, oppositions, inter partes reviews, and other IP-related proceedings
- Coordinate with external litigation counsel as needed
- Assess and mitigate risks related to infringement claims and competitive patent challenges
- Develop strategies to protect company innovations and maintain freedom to operate
Cross-Functional Leadership
- Partner with R&D, Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, Commercial, and Executive teams on IP matters
- Educate internal stakeholders on IP best practices, invention disclosure processes, and confidentiality obligations
- Provide strategic counsel to senior leadership on IP risks, portfolio value, and business opportunities
What We're Looking For
Required Qualifications
- Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school
- Admission to at least one state bar in good standing
- USPTO registration to practice before the Patent and Trademark Office (strongly preferred)
- Advanced degree in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Immunology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related life sciences discipline — PhD preferred, MS considered
- 8+ years of IP legal experience with significant biotechnology or pharmaceutical focus
- Experience managing complex global patent portfolios
- Demonstrated expertise in patent prosecution, FTO analyses, licensing, and IP due diligence
- In-house biotech or pharma experience strongly preferred
- Strong command of U.S. and international patent laws and regulations
- Ability to translate complex scientific concepts into actionable IP strategy
- Excellent drafting, negotiation, analytical, and communication skills
- Strong business acumen and executive presence
- Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, evolving environment
Preferred Experience
- Experience supporting siRNA therapeutics or RNA platform technology programs
- Background supporting publicly traded biotechnology companies
- Experience with licensing and strategic alliance transactions
- Familiarity with FDA regulatory frameworks and their intersection with IP strateg
Salary
$165,000 - $200,000 / Year
Automate your job search with Sonara.
Submit 10x as many applications with less effort than one manual application.
