Description:

Since its founding more than 100 years ago, ITW has become one of the world's leading diversified manufacturers of specialized industrial equipment, consumables, and related service businesses. We place a high premium on developing innovative solutions–most of which are developed in tandem with our customers. And we continue to ensure that our customers receive timely, cost-effective service for our innovative products.

ITW's differentiated business model comprises unique core capabilities: our proprietary 80/20 business process, customer-back innovation, and our well-known decentralized entrepreneurial culture. These capabilities are unmistakably ITW—and key to our longevity and strong performance.

ITW's products and solutions are at work all over the world, in deep-sea oil rigs, aerospace technology, bridges and wind turbines, healthcare, the spaces in which we live and work, the cars we drive, and the mobile devices we rely on. We are never, whether we know it or not, more than a few steps from an innovative ITW solution.

ITW (NYSE: ITW) is a Fortune 300 global multi-industry manufacturing leader with revenue of $15.9 billion in 2024. and employs ~44,000 people operating in 51 countries. Our headquarters in Glenview, IL, features a fitness center at no cost to the employees, a cafe, outdoor volleyball courts, walking trails around the facility, employee resource groups, corporate discounts, dry cleaning services, covered/outdoor parking, and much more. We are just a block away from the nearest Metra station, and it is a quick 20-minute train ride to downtown Chicago, museums, lakefront, and other activities.

More details on our benefits can be found on our website at https://www.itw.com/careers/benefits-compensation/

Reporting to the Chief IP Counsel, the Group Technology Counsel will have responsibility for providing a full range of legal advice and counsel on a variety of intellectual property matters for ITW's Food Equipment Group (“FEG”) and Construction Products (“Construction”) Segments. The successful candidate will have at least fifteen (15) years of experience in intellectual property law, with experience in US and foreign patent and trademark prosecution, client counseling, right-to-practice evaluation, contract preparation and negotiation, transaction due diligence, trade secret protection and enforcement, and IP litigation.

Key Responsibilities:
Specific responsibilities of the Group Technology Counsel will include, but are not limited to:

Principal attorney for intellectual property matters for ITW's FEG and Construction Segments, including responsibility for patents, trade secrets, trademarks, software, domains, and artificial intelligence while working together with Group Technology Counsel based in Europe and China.
Becoming a close business partner to the divisions in the FEG and Construction Segments and learning their businesses, products, and markets.
Meeting and conferring with outside counsel and business leaders on IP strategy, freedom to operate, reducing risk, enforcement, and defense.
Supporting the management of a diverse, worldwide IP portfolio based on a strategy developed with the FEG and Construction Segments, including overseeing outside counsel's preparation and prosecution of patent and trademark applications, and the securing of copyrights, trade secrets, and domains.
Partnering closely with the engineering and product teams to identify and capture new inventions and counsel on competitor IP landscape.
Assisting in the selection and management of outside counsel in the prosecution/defense of various IP legal issues, including freedom to operate and infringement opinions.
Quickly becoming familiar with the patent and trademark portfolios to counsel the businesses and make decisions on securing worldwide protection, annual renewals and enforcement.
Leading IP litigation, including counseling the business, assessing risk and strategy, managing outside counsel and budgets, and negotiating settlements.
Rendering IP-related legal opinions on issues such as artificial intelligence risk, freedom to operate, ownership, infringement, and validity.
Drafting and negotiating IP-related terms and conditions and agreements, such as confidentiality and development agreements, supply agreements, licenses, EULAs, open-source license attributions, consulting agreements, artificial intelligence and sweepstakes and contests.
Interpreting court decisions, conducting legal research, and being knowledgeable about statutes and governmental regulations to provide legal advice on current and pending IP legal developments.
Supporting IP-related due diligence in commercial transactions, such as acquisitions, divestitures, and licensing.
Training business teams on IP-related topics.
Some travel is required to various worldwide ITW businesses to partner with the Innovation, R&D, and Management teams of those businesses and establish/support their IP strategies.

Requirements:

JD degree from an ABA-accredited law school and admission in good standing to the Illinois state bar.
Admission to practice before the USPTO as a registered patent attorney.
A degree in Mechanical Engineering, or another relevant scientific or engineering degree, is required.
Minimum of 15 years of progressively more responsible work experience in intellectual property law, working with businesses with a global footprint. A combination of law firm and in-house experience is strongly preferred.
Practice experience must include US and foreign patent and trademark preparation for a worldwide IP portfolio, client counseling on a broad range of IP issues, opinion work, contract preparation and negotiation, due diligence, trade secrets, and IP litigation.
Ability to work 5 days a week onsite at the Glenview corporate campus, with flexibility on hours.
Ability to provide strategic thought leadership; build strong relationships with superiors, peers, and subordinates; collaborate across the organization; and influence without direct authority.
A candidate must be self-motivated and exhibit a passion for understanding ITW's business and contributing in a meaningful way to its strategy and long-term strategic goals.

Desired Experience and Traits:

Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills.
Solid organizational skills and ability to build consensus with clients.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work well in a dynamic environment with other in-house and outside attorneys and with the Company's technical and business personnel.
Confident executive presence and excellent business acumen.
Demonstrated success managing complex and competing organizational priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Strong leader and collaborator; focused on organizational and team success.
Pragmatic, doesn't overcomplicate, but provides practical solutions and implementation strategies.
Approach this role from a business perspective and demonstrate a high degree of ethics and integrity, as well as strategic/conceptual thinking capabilities.
Personal and professional ‘fit' within ITW's culture is of paramount importance. A low-ego/high-team mentality is crucial.

Compensation Information:
The compensation package for the role offers a competitive base salary ranging from $230k- $260k annually. This position is eligible to participate in the annual incentive plan.

ITW considers various factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience, education and training, geographic location, key skills, as well as market and business considerations.

In addition to a competitive salary, ITW employees in the U.S. are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package. This package includes medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance programs. We also provide a 401k plan with both a company match and additional employer contribution, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Employee Assistance Program, Commuter benefits, Adoption Assistance, and Educational Assistance; Parental Leave, vacation, sick time, and 11 Paid Holidays.

ITW is an equal opportunity employer. We value our colleagues' unique perspectives, experiences and ideas and create workplaces where everyone can develop their careers and perform to their full potential.

As an equal employment opportunity employer, ITW is committed to equal employment opportunity and fair treatment for employees, beginning with the hiring process and continuing through all aspects of the employment relationship.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.