Senior Counsel, Biologics Intellectual Property

About the role

We are seeking an accomplished and highly strategic patent attorney to lead the strategy for our biologics patent portfolio. This role is designed for a senior expert who can operate at the intersection of sophisticated patent prosecution, patent disputes and competitive intelligence gathering.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end IP strategy for our biologic patent portfolio, carefully integrating global prosecution and third-party considerations into a cohesive and forward-looking approach to maximize exclusivity positions.
• Provide legal advice to cross-functional R&D and business teams on a variety of IP-related matters.
• Draft, file, and prosecute strategic patent applications worldwide both directly and through management of outside counsel and in-house IP team.
• Play a central role in third-party challenges and challenge preparation, both offensively and defensively, while coordinating with outside counsel, including European oppositions and appeals, US post-grant proceedings (IPRs, PGRs), and litigation (e.g., US, Europe, China).
• Partner with the Chief IP Counsel on broader portfolio-level prioritization and risk assessment, while maintaining primary ownership of patent strategy.
• Drive competitor intelligence efforts and freedom-to-operate analyses, translating insights into actionable IP strategies.
• Identify gaps, risks, and whitespace opportunities across research and development programs, and ensure coordinated coverage and prosecution.
• Collaborate closely with internal subject matter leads and, where appropriate, provide mentorship or direct management to team members aligned with patent workstreams.
• Review manuscripts, presentations, press releases, corporate disclosures and other publication materials for clearance.
• Support business development, due diligence, and executive-level discussions as a subject matter expert in asset IP.
• Manage and direct outside counsel globally to efficiently deliver high-quality, strategically aligned work product.

Requirements

You hold a Ph.D. in a life science discipline in addition to a J.D. from an accredited US law school and are a member in good standing of a US State Bar. You will have 15+ years of patent experience in the pharmaceutical/biotech sector, with significant in-house experience within a pharmaceutical/biotech company. In addition, you will have deep and creative expertise in biologic patent prosecution, including viral gene therapy, protein biologics and antisense oligonucleotide technologies. Significant experience with patent disputes, including oppositions, IPRs/PGRs, and/or litigation. Demonstrated ability to integrate prosecution and dispute strategies into a cohesive, forward-looking IP approach. Strong understanding of global patent systems. Demonstrated successful experience advising senior management on complex IP issues, including risk assessment and strategic decision-making. Ability to operate as a senior individual contributor and strategic leader, with or without formal people management responsibilities. Superb technical, written and verbal communication skills in English. Ability to write well as evidenced by past patent applications and USPTO responses.

Qualifications

You are registered to practice before the US Patent and Trademark Office.

Skills

Superb technical, written and verbal communication skills in English.

Benefits

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage and mental health support, annual wellbeing reimbursement, and access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Pay

$247,000.00-337,500.00 Annual

Schedule

Hybrid Pay Range