Associate Director

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Job Description

OVERALL PURPOSE OF JOB:

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Patent Agent/Attorney to join our dynamic team to handle expansive responsibilities related to our client's patent portfolio. The primary day to day focus will be on providing practical and strategic legal advice to business leaders on IP matters and patents.

Candidates should have strengths in teamwork (internal and external stakeholders), quality control, and problem-solving. They must also have strong interpersonal skills to build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Candidates should be experienced in working autonomously/remotely from the team/stakeholders but open to seeking advice from senior team members when needed.

REQUIREMENTS:

• B.E./B.Tech./M.Tech. - Computer Science Engineering, Electronics & Communication Engineering, or Electrical & Electronics Engineering
• Registered patent Agent/Attorney.
• LL.B. (Hons.) from a reputed law school, preferred.
• Active bar registration is a plus.
• -10+ years' experience directly handling and managing global patent practices at a top tier law firm/IP service provider or as an in-house patent agent/attorney.
• At least 10 years of experience in preparing or reviewing patent applications.
• Excellent understanding of US, EP, and India patent laws.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with other professionals in the legal department and business teams.
• Ability to work efficiently under pressure and effectively manage competing priorities.
• Exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently with minimal guidance and direction.
• Ability to resolve ambiguities and provide legal guidance in uncertain situations.
• Strategic thinking to drive efficiencies and provide business advice and solutions.
• Detail-oriented with excellent judgment and analytical skills.
• Ability to juggle multiple tasks - dynamic, and action-orientated, which meets deadlines and makes it happen.
• Ability to work collaboratively with onsite and/or virtual global teams.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, and related software programs.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Working for the Accenture in-house IP function. Accenture would be the priority project as approximately 90-95% of time will be dedicated to the Accenture account for at least 6 months and then decreasing over a longer time period depending on other ULX projects and the duration of the contract with Accenture.
• Accenture account activities under this role:
• Mentoring UL colleagues on various Accenture processes and initiatives.
• Leading the annual Invention of the Year Programme
• Employee IP assignments and legal assessments
• Legal and business IP consultations and IP SME requests outside of patent prosecution/filings. This includes consultations with business and legal teams when our team supports and investigates IP disputes.
• AGSL IP activities, including meetings and trade associations and OSS release reviews, and other non-standard activities that may arise.
• Patent taxonomy strategy and evolution (and how the Vantage IP platform patent dashboards can evolve in the future to capture new categories and provide meaningful insights to the Accenture business)
• Developing new IP guidance, advice, training, counseling, standards and templates on patent and innovation topics, transactions and matters. This includes IP assessments of emerging tech, including AI, and impact/changes to our IP processes and functions required
• Resolving complex legal issues that may arise in the Inventor Award Program, such as review of local counsel's assessment of payments required for local compliance and providing sound legal recommendations to Accenture team.
• Liasing with the client's business and technical stakeholders and providing recommendations and advising future actions.
• Work with client's internal teams to on strategic and organization wide programs related to IP.
• Co-ordinating with partner law firms for patent drafting and filing activities where required.
• Reviewing work products of junior team members.
• Managing and leading a UL team of varying seniority as required.
• Counselling business colleagues on risk and patent strategy, adapting to a variety of communication styles and needs.
• Creating and delivering training to in-house clients where needed.
• Performing other related activities as required.