Corporate Counsel, IP

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Oversee the lifecycle of Okta’s IP assets, ensuring alignment with corporate development and business goals.
• Refine and execute offensive and defensive IP strategies to maintain Okta’s competitive edge in the identity market.
• Serve as an advisor on IP-related business risks and emerging legal trends.
• Translate complex IP concepts into business-oriented advice for non-legal stakeholders.
• Refine company-wide IP policies, including invention disclosure programs and patent incentive schemes.
• Partner with engineering and product teams to identify patentable inventions and develop patent literacy among them.
• Collaborate with outside counsel on the drafting and prosecution of high-quality patent applications.
• Develop knowledge of industry’s patent landscape to guide patent strategy and approach to patent drafting.
• Refine Okta’s patent strategy to ensure broad protection of our core technologies and to put forward-looking systems in place to identify and protect our next-generation ideas.
• Advise on strategic trade secret issues and help implement related policies.
• Help provide guidance on software copyright protection and the use of OSS within Okta products, and manage copyright claims.
• Support the protection of the Okta and Auth0 brands through trademark registration and enforcement.
• Advise on interesting legal issues related to API integrations, digital content, professional services and developer agreements, and more.
• Draft, review, and negotiate IP-specific provisions in MSAs, JDAs, vendor contracts, and licensing agreements.
• Conduct IP due diligence for potential acquisitions and draft IP-related closing documents and transition service agreements.
• Assist with IP-related compliance issues and industry standards relevant to SaaS and cybersecurity.
• Deliver training to employees on IP best practices and confidentiality.
• Support all phases of IP litigation.

Qualifications

• Education & Credentials:
• J.D. from an accredited law school and active Bar membership.
• Undergraduate or graduate degree(s) in computer science, electrical engineering, computer engineering, or the like.
• USPTO Registered Patent Attorney.
• Experience:
• 5+ years of IP experience, including software patent prosecution.
• Technical Savvy:
• Experience with SaaS, cloud-based software, or other relevant technology.
• Mindset:
• A "builder" who thrives in fast-paced environments and can balance rigorous legal analysis with practical business needs.
• Flexibility and team mentality.
• Sense of humor.
• Ability and desire to work independently.