Intellectual Property Counsel
This role develops and executes comprehensive intellectual property strategy across patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret matters for AI-driven companies. The counsel acts as a strategic business partner embedded within product, engineering, and research teams, translating complex technical innovations into forward-looking IP protection that balances competitive differentiation with freedom to operate. They manage the full lifecycle from invention disclosure and patent prosecution to licensing negotiations and copyright risk mitigation, while building scalable IP processes and educating cross-functional teams on IP best practices. What distinguishes this from general corporate counsel is the deep technical fluency required—particularly in AI, machine learning, and emerging technology domains—and the focus on proactive IP harvesting and strategic portfolio development rather than reactive legal defense. These roles typically sit within lean, specialized legal teams at high-growth AI companies where the IP counsel operates with significant autonomy and direct influence over business outcomes.
Skills
What companies are looking for in this role.
Developing and executing comprehensive intellectual property strategy aligned with business objectives and technical roadmap
Managing patent prosecution lifecycle including invention disclosure, filing, prosecution strategy, and grant management
Conducting freedom-to-operate analyses and patent landscape assessments to identify competitive risks and opportunities
Drafting patent applications and technical specifications that translate complex technical innovations into defensible intellectual property
Building and scaling patent harvesting processes to identify patentable innovations early in development cycles
Negotiating and managing intellectual property transactions including licenses, cross-licenses, and IP provisions in commercial agreements
Monitoring competitive patent landscapes and analyzing emerging technology trends to inform strategic positioning
Supporting intellectual property due diligence in mergers, acquisitions, and strategic investment transactions
Managing and overseeing outside counsel across multiple jurisdictions and litigation matters
Evaluating patent and copyright eligibility, novelty, and commercial detectability to build strategically valuable portfolios
Handling complex global intellectual property litigation including copyright, trademark, and patent disputes
Managing global trademark portfolio strategy aligned with product roadmap and international expansion objectives
Managing intellectual property budget allocation and tracking outside counsel performance
Advising on trade secret protection strategies and determining appropriate protection mechanisms for innovations
Providing legal counsel on regulatory investigations, enforcement actions, and compliance matters
Advising on artificial intelligence and machine learning-specific intellectual property considerations including patentability and regulatory landscape
Evaluating copyright risks, fair use implications, and content rights clearance strategies for AI-related technologies
Managing open source software compliance programs including scanning, risk mitigation, and attribution workflows
Evaluating and recommending participation in patent pools and defensive patent alliances that support industry objectives
Collaborating cross-functionally with product, engineering, research, and business development teams to embed IP thinking throughout development
Communicating complex technical and legal concepts to non-lawyer stakeholders and company leadership
Developing and implementing intellectual property policies, workflows, and training programs for engineering and product teams
Staying current on evolving laws, regulations, and industry trends related to AI, copyright, and intellectual property
Building and leading intellectual property teams from the ground up including hiring, process design, and scaling
Administering inventor recognition and incentive programs to encourage innovation disclosure
Technology
The tools and technologies that define this role.
Open Jobs
7 open Intellectual Property Counsel jobs across 5 companies.
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