Assistant General Counsel, Intellectual Property

About Balt

Our purpose is to improve the lives of 150,000 patients in 2026. For 45 years, Balt has been leading the way—collaborating with physicians and institutions to develop elegant medical devices. Our products are used by physicians worldwide, and we have 13 offices in 11 countries. We introduced one of the first neurovascular intervention devices in 1977 and now offer the world’s broadest portfolio of medical devices for stroke. As the premier global neurovascular platform, we are expanding into the peripheral vascular space.

Join a passionate team dedicated to making a difference. Working at Balt means giving meaning to your work. We are a close-knit team with a strong mission, vision, and values that guide our day-to-day. Recognition of work, respect, and our multicultural community are key aspects of the employee experience. No matter the country, we take care of you.

About the Role

Reporting to the Chief Legal Officer, the Assistant General Counsel, Intellectual Property (IP) will manage all aspects of the global intellectual property function at Balt. The role involves providing legal advice and counseling related to patents, trademarks, and trade secrets, managing IP disputes, transactions, and due diligence. The successful candidate will have significant experience in IP law within the medical device industry and will serve as a trusted advisor to business and R&D executives.

Responsibilities

• Execute a strategy to safeguard the company’s intellectual property assets.
• Implement and lead IP strategy, establishing positive working relationships with R&D, engineering, and operations functions.
• Manage outside counsel and budget in developing a strategic, global patent and trademark portfolio.
• Conduct patentability and freedom-to-operate assessments.
• Manage the company’s trade secrets program.
• Oversee IP disputes and other non-IP litigation.
• Negotiate and draft complex intellectual property agreements, including patent and technology license agreements, joint development agreements, research collaboration agreements, and university licenses.
• Support Balt’s corporate development activities in IP due diligence and licensing.
• Actively monitor industry and technology areas through competitive surveillance.
• Provide training to employees on all intellectual property matters.

Qualifications

• J.D. degree from an accredited law school and 10+ years of experience, preferably 5+ in an in-house setting.
• Registered Patent Attorney; current member in good standing of a state bar, preferably California and/or Massachusetts.
• BS/MS/PhD in engineering or other technical degree relevant to the medical device industry.
• Experience with patent prosecution, technology transactions, and IP litigation.
• Strong communication, organizational, and analytical skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively across organizational functions.
• Ability to balance and prioritize multiple tasks and respond effectively to rapidly changing priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to travel domestically within the U.S. and internationally (primarily to France) up to 20% of the time. Frequency depends on candidate location; those based in Irvine, CA will travel occasionally.

Skills

• Intellectual Property Strategy: Demonstrated ability to develop, implement, and manage global IP strategies aligned with business, R&D, product development, and commercial objectives.
• Patent Portfolio Management: Extensive experience developing and managing global patent portfolios, including invention harvesting, patentability assessments, patent prosecution strategy, portfolio optimization, and maintenance decisions.
• Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) Analysis: Strong experience conducting and overseeing freedom-to-operate, patent landscape, validity, infringement, and risk assessments.
• Medical Device Industry Expertise: Deep understanding of intellectual property issues affecting medical devices and other highly technical, regulated products.
• Patent Prosecution: Significant experience managing U.S. and international patent prosecution, including directing and managing outside patent counsel.
• IP Litigation and Dispute Management: Experience developing strategy for and managing patent, trademark, trade secret, and other IP disputes and litigation.
• Technology Transactions: Advanced drafting and negotiation skills for patent and technology licenses, joint development agreements, research and collaboration agreements, university licenses, and other IP-related commercial agreements.
• Trade Secret Protection: Experience developing, implementing, and maintaining trade secret protection programs, policies, controls, and employee education.
• M&A and IP Due Diligence: Experience conducting intellectual property due diligence and assessing IP-related risks in mergers, acquisitions, investments, and licensing transactions.
• Competitive IP Intelligence: Ability to monitor competitor patent activity, emerging technologies, and relevant industry developments.
• Cross-Functional Business Partnership: Proven ability to collaborate effectively with R&D, engineering, operations, corporate development, commercial, and executive leadership teams.
• Executive Communication and Influence: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical and legal concepts clearly.
• Leadership and Outside Counsel Management: Demonstrated ability to lead the IP function, manage outside counsel relationships, establish priorities, and oversee legal spend.
• Risk Assessment and Sound Judgment: Strong analytical and strategic judgment with the ability to identify, assess, prioritize, and communicate complex IP and business risks.
• Project and Priority Management: Ability to independently manage multiple complex matters, competing priorities, and time-sensitive projects in a fast-paced, global environment.
• Training and Education: Ability to develop and deliver effective intellectual property training for technical, business, and other employee audiences.
• Global Collaboration: Ability to work effectively across geographic locations, cultures, and time zones, including collaboration with teams in the United States and France.

Work Environment

Working conditions are normal for an office environment.

Pay

$250,000—$275,000 USD