Senior IP Counsel

$165,000.00 To $200,000.00 Annually

The Senior Intellectual Property Counsel serves as a strategic legal partner responsible for developing, managing, and protecting the company's global intellectual property (IP) portfolio. This role will support research, development, clinical, regulatory, business development, and executive leadership teams to maximize the value of the company's innovations and ensure freedom to operate across key therapeutic and technology platforms.

The ideal candidate will possess deep expertise in biotechnology patents, intellectual property strategy, licensing, and transactions, with experience supporting innovative therapeutics, diagnostics, platform technologies, and related life sciences assets.

Essential Responsibilities:
Intellectual Property Strategy

• Develop and execute comprehensive global IP strategies aligned with corporate and product development objectives.
• Manage and expand the company's patent portfolio, including invention harvesting, patent prosecution, portfolio optimization, and lifecycle management.
• Advise leadership on patentability, freedom-to-operate analyses, patent validity, and competitive IP positioning.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen and leverage intellectual property assets to support business growth and valuation.

Patent Portfolio Management

• Collaborate closely with scientists, research leaders, and external patent counsel to prepare and prosecute patent applications worldwide.
• Conduct invention disclosure reviews and evaluate patent filing opportunities.
• Oversee responses to patent office actions and coordinate global prosecution strategies.
• Monitor competitor patent activities and emerging industry trends.
• Manage outside counsel and budgets.

Transactions and Business Development

• Support licensing, collaboration, co-development, M&A, financing, and strategic partnership transactions.
• Support IP due diligence related to investments, acquisitions, and partnering opportunities.
• Draft, review, and negotiate intellectual property related commercial agreements.
• Evaluate intellectual property risks and opportunities associated with corporate transactions.

Litigation and Risk Management

• Manage IP disputes, oppositions, inter partes reviews, and other IP-related proceedings.
• Coordinate with external litigation counsel when necessary.
• Assess and mitigate risks related to infringement claims and competitive patent challenges.
• Develop strategies to protect company innovations and maintain freedom to operate.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner with R&D, Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, Commercial, and Executive teams on intellectual property matters.
• Educate internal stakeholders regarding IP best practices, invention disclosure processes, and confidentiality obligations.
• Provide strategic counsel to senior leadership regarding intellectual property risks, opportunities, and portfolio value.
• Other duties as defined.

Essential Physical Characteristics:
Reasonable accommodation(s) may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of a job, on a case-by-case basis.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
• Admission to at least one state bar in good standing.
• Registration to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) strongly preferred.
• Advanced degree (PhD preferred; MS considered) in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Immunology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related life sciences discipline.
• 8+ years of intellectual property legal experience, including significant biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry experience.
• Experience managing complex global patent portfolios.
• Demonstrated expertise in patent prosecution, freedom-to-operate analyses, licensing, and IP due diligence.
• Experience supporting siRNA therapeutics or RNA platform technology programs preferred.
• In-house biotechnology or pharmaceutical company experience strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of U.S. and international patent laws and regulations.
• Ability to translate complex scientific concepts into effective intellectual property strategies.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation, analytical, and communication skills.
• Strong business acumen and ability to advise executive leadership.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, evolving environment.

Preferred Experience:

• Experience supporting publicly traded biotechnology companies.
• Experience with licensing and strategic alliance transactions.
• Familiarity with FDA regulatory frameworks and their interaction with intellectual property strategy.
• Required Key Attributes:
• Must be able to work independently as well in cross-functional team settings with supervision as needed.
• Adaptable / Flexible - willing and able to adjust to multiple demands and shifting priorities as well as an ability to meet day-to-day challenges with confidence and professionalism.
• Self-motivated with excellent interpersonal, organizational and communication skills with the ability to take a hands-on approach to work effectively in a dynamic and collaborative, fast-paced environment.

ADARx Pharmaceuticals is an EEO employer committed to an exciting, diverse, and enriching work environment. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.