Patent Counsel

At Henkel, you’ll be part of an organization that’s shaping the future through innovation, sustainability and collaboration. With trusted brands like Persil®, ‘all®, Loctite®, Snuggle®, and Schwarzkopf® and cutting-edge technologies, you’ll have opportunities to explore new paths and grow.

About the role

We are looking for an experienced, business-minded patent attorney to join our legal team supporting our fast-paced Adhesive Technologies business. This hybrid (60% office / 40% remote) role is based in Rocky Hill, CT, and is ideal for a proactive patent attorney who can independently identify and protect innovation, provide practical IP guidance to business and R&D stakeholders, and manage a diverse global patent portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and prosecute U.S. patent applications and manage U.S. and foreign patent counsel.
• Conduct or oversee patentability, freedom-to-operate, validity, and related IP analyses.
• Advise R&D, commercial, and business teams on patent, trade secret, and other IP matters.
• Draft and negotiate confidentiality, development, licensing, research, supply, and other IP-related agreements.
• Provide counsel to business teams and legal colleagues related to IP protection and risk.
• Support IP due diligence, portfolio reviews, and global portfolio strategies aligned with business objectives.

Requirements

• JD or equivalent from accredited US law school; active membership in a U.S. state bar, and eligibility to register as Connecticut in-house counsel.
• Registration to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
• 3 to 8 years of experience as a patent attorney.
• Degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, polymer science, or a related field.
• Experience drafting and prosecuting chemical, materials, manufacturing-process, or related patent applications.
• Working knowledge of freedom-to-operate analysis, trade secret protection, and IP-related agreements.
• Strong judgment, communication, analytical, organizational, and project-management skills.
• Ability to provide practical business advice and manage multiple priorities across global, cross-functional teams.

Benefits

• Health Insurance: affordable plans for medical, dental, vision and wellbeing starting on day 1.
• Work-Life Balance: Paid time off including sick, vacation, holiday and volunteer time, flexible & hybrid work policies, and vacation buy/sell program.
• Financial: 401k matching, employee share plan with voluntary investment and Henkel matching shares, annual performance bonus, service awards and student loan reimbursement.
• Family Support: 12-week gender neutral parental leave (up to 20 weeks for parents giving birth), fertility support, adoption & surrogacy reimbursement, discounted child and elderly care, and scholarships.
• Career Growth: diverse national and international growth opportunities, access to thousands of skills development courses, and tuition reimbursement.

Pay

This range represents the good-faith minimum and maximum wages the Company reasonably expects to offer for this role at the time of posting: $150,000 – $180,000. In addition to base salary, this position may be eligible for incentive pay or other forms of compensation, as applicable.