Counsel, Intellectual Property

WSP in Canada; Montreal (administrative region); On-site; CAD 104,000 - 137,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work

Top 100 Employer in Canada 2026

Global community of brilliant minds

Job summary

WSP is seeking a Legal Counsel, Intellectual Property in Canada to advise on IP issues across development, deployment, and commercialization of digital solutions, AI systems, and technologies. You will draft, review, and negotiate IP-related contracts and contribute to governance frameworks in collaboration with Legal, IT, Procurement, and business teams.

Qualified to practice law in Quebec or similar jurisdiction, you bring 3–5 years of IP experience, a practical business mindset, and strong

Qualifications

• Qualified to practice law in Québec or another relevant jurisdiction.
• Approximately 3 to 5 years of IP legal experience, in private practice or in-house, ideally including commercial law, AI-related matters, privacy, and/or technology law.
• Sound understanding of IP principles, including ownership, licensing, use restrictions, and the protection of proprietary rights, with the ability to apply them in a practical business context.
• Strong knowledge of IP applicable to a global organization, including interpreting and applying legal and regulatory requirements.
• Exposure to legal issues relating to artificial intelligence, digital technologies, software, data use, IP, and innovation initiatives.
• Comfortable using AI tools, including generative AI, in day-to-day legal work, with an interest in developing internal solutions.
• Ability to analyze complex legal issues, identify risks, and provide clear, practical and business-oriented advice.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively across functions and geographies.
• Ability to work independently, manage a varied workload with growing autonomy, and prioritize deadlines.
• Strong judgment, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience supporting multinational corporations or global legal, privacy, or compliance programs is an asset.
• Relevant certifications or additional training in IP or technology law are an asset.
• Experience with trademark clearance, patent administration, IP management platforms or global IP programs is an asset.
• Strong contract drafting skills and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Advise on IP issues arising from the development, marketing, deployment, use and commercialisation of digital solutions, AI systems, and other technology.
• Advise on IP issues arising from trademarks, patents, copyrights, and trade secrets related to engineering services, solutions, and technologies provided and used by WSP.
• Draft, review and negotiate IP-related contract provisions and related legal documents, including SaaS agreements, EULAs, end-user notices and AI DISCLAIMERS, working from existing templates and playbooks.
• Support the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of policies, standards, guidance, and governance processes relating to Intellectual Property.
• Support the Principal Legal Counsel, Commercial & IP, in advising regional legal teams on the management of intellectual property matters in their respective regions, including liaising with external counsel, as relevant.
• Contribute to IP due diligence on digital solutions, covering ownership, third-party rights, open-source software, code validation and the documentation a product needs before it reaches a client.
• Support the day-to-day administration of WSP’s IP portfolio on our IP management platform, including trademark clearance and registration, patent filings, invention intake and the protection of trade secrets and know-how, and help coordinate external counsel where specialist input is required.
• Support IP transfers, and intercompany licensing and distribution arrangements.
• Help monitor competitive IP activity to identify third-party filings, market developments, risks and opportunities that matter to our teams.
• Contribute to the development of internal templates, playbooks, negotiation guidance, and knowledge resources.
• Deliver training and practical resources that make good IP practice the easy option across the business.
• Work effectively across functions and geographies in a complex global environment, including with Tax, Finance, and Procurement.
• Perform other duties relevant to the position, as assigned and required.

Skills

IP strategy

IP governance

Contract drafting

AI/tech law

Cross-functional collaboration

Analytical skills

Communication

Independent work

Risk assessment

Multinational experience

Legal tech/AI tools

Regulatory knowledge

Job description

Job Description

What if you could redefine what’s possible? With us, you can. You want Purpose. Growth. Opportunity. People who get it. We are the home of ambitious, passionate, and innovative world shapers. With an unmatched breadth and depth of engineering, advisory and science-based expertise, our global minds unite to power local solutions. We are pathfinders and impact makers. We are Visioneers. We are WSP.

The Opportunity

Help shape how WSP protects, uses, and commercializes intellectual property across a complex global organization. As Legal Counsel, Intellectual Property, you will support legal, compliance, and risk management matters relating to intellectual property and work with the Principal Counsel, Commercial & IP. You will help design and implement governance frameworks, contractual safeguards, and internal processes relating to intellectual property. Working closely with Legal, Digital, IT, Information Security, Procurement, and business stakeholders, you will provide practical legal advice on the development, deployment, use and commercialization of technology, data-driven, and AI-enabled solutions across the organization.

Your Impact

• Advise on intellectual property issues arising from the development, marketing, deployment, use and commercialisation of digital solutions, AI systems, and other technology.
• Advise on intellectual property issues arising from trademarks, patents, copyrights, and trade secrets related to engineering services, solutions, and technologies provided and used by WSP.
• Draft, review and negotiate intellectual property-related contract provisions and related legal documents, including SaaS agreements, EULAs, end-user notices and AI DISCLAIMERS, working from existing templates and playbooks.
• Support the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of policies, standards, guidance, and governance processes relating to Intellectual Property.
• Support the Principal Legal Counsel, Commercial & IP, in advising regional legal teams on the management of intellectual property matters in their respective regions, including liaising with external counsel, as relevant.
• Contribute to IP due diligence on digital solutions, covering ownership, third-party rights, open-source software, code validation and the documentation a product needs before it reaches a client.
• Support the day-to-day administration of WSP’s IP portfolio on our IP management platform, including trademark clearance and registration, patent filings, invention intake and the protection of trade secrets and know-how, and help coordinate external counsel where specialist input is required.
• Support IP transfers, and intercompany licensing and distribution arrangements.
• Help monitor competitive IP activity to identify third-party filings, market developments, risks and opportunities that matter to our teams.
• Contribute to the development of internal templates, playbooks, negotiation guidance, and knowledge resources.
• Deliver training and practical resources that make good IP practice the easy option across the business.
• Work effectively across functions and geographies in a complex global environment, including with relevant stakeholders such as Tax, Finance, and Procurement.
• Perform other duties relevant to the position, as assigned and required.

The Skills That Set You Apart

• Qualified to practice law in Québec or another relevant jurisdiction.
• Approximately 3 to 5 years of relevant intellectual property legal experience, in private practice or in-house, ideally including commercial law, AI-related matters, privacy, and/or technology law.
• Sound understanding of intellectual property principles, including ownership, licensing, use restrictions, and the protection of proprietary rights, with the ability to apply them in a practical business context and the appetite to deepen the areas not yet covered.
• Strong knowledge of intellectual property applicable to a global organization, including the ability to interpret and apply legal and regulatory requirements in a practical business context.
• Exposure to legal issues relating to artificial intelligence, digital technologies, software, data use, intellectual property, and innovation initiatives, with a clear interest in building depth in these areas.
• Comfortable using AI tools, including generative AI, in day-to-day legal work, with an interest in helping develop practical internal solutions for the legal team.
• Ability to analyze complex legal issues, identify risks, and provide clear, practical, and business-oriented advice, with the judgment to know when to escalate.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively across functions and geographies.
• Ability to work independently, manage a varied workload with growing autonomy, prioritize competing deadlines, and support multiple stakeholders in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong judgment, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience supporting multinational corporations or global legal, privacy, or compliance programs is an asset.
• Relevant certifications or additional training in IP or technology law are an asset.
• Experience with trademark clearance, patent administration, IP management platforms or global IP programs is an asset, not a requirement.
• Strong contract drafting skills and oral communication skills.

How We Will Support You

• You will set priorities with the Principal Counsel, Commercial & IP, who reviews the complex files with you and gives direct, constructive feedback.
• You will start with a working toolkit rather than a blank page: established templates, playbooks and precedents, a dedicated IP management platform, and external counsel when a matter calls for specialist input.
• You will join a global Legal team, with subject matter experts in all relevant fields of Law.
• You will gain early exposure to senior business leaders and to the files that shape how WSP protects and commercializes its technology, with your mandate broadening as your experience grows.

Why Choose WSP?

We exist to shape communities to advance humanity. The brightest engineers, advisors and scientists from across the globe call WSP home. We are Visioneers. We are WSP. As one of the world’s leading professional services firms, we partner with clients across transportation, infrastructure, environment, buildings, energy, water, mining and metals. We pair deep local knowledge with global insights to pioneer solutions designed to leave a lasting, positive impact.

• Proudly Canadian – we are a Top 100 Employer in Canada for 2026.
• A global community of brilliant minds – your next idea, mentor, or opportunity is always within reach.
• Limitless opportunities start here. Whether it’s across the country or around the globe, we help you tailor your role to match your ambition — because your growth drives ours.
• Flexible work, real balance – we recognize the importance of balance in our lives and encourage you to prioritize the balance in yours.

Compensation

• AB, BC, NT, NU, SK & YT: $114,600 - $151,800
• MB & ON: $104,500 - $143,900
• NB, NL, NS, PE & QC: $103,500 - $137,400

Disclosure: The final salary awarded for this role may vary from the above range based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs. The wage range provided in this job posting may be subject to change for business purposes.

About Us: At WSP, we exist to shape communities to advance humanity. It’s why we bring people together who are wired to solve complex challenges—engineers, scientists, advisors, and technical experts who are driven by a common passion—to redefine what’s possible and shape what comes next. We are Visioneers. As one of the world’s leading professional services firms, we partner with clients across transportation, infrastructure, environment, buildings, energy, water, mining and metals. We pair deep local knowledge with global insights to pioneer solutions designed to leave a lasting, positive impact. At WSP, you’ll join a community of brilliant minds that push boundaries every day—applying deep expertise and fuelling innovation to help create a more connected and resilient future. Here, your ideas are valued, your growth is supported, and you are encouraged to bring your authentic self to work. We empower our people to collaborate across disciplines, challenge the status quo, and shape a career with purpose.

Please Note: Health and Safety is a core paramount value of WSP. Given the importance of keeping one another safe it is expected that you comply with our Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) policy at all times as well as client HSE policies when working at client locations. Full details here. Some safety-sensitive positions involve fieldwork and may include work in a variety of environmental conditions, such as remote or isolated areas, working alone, and in inclement weather (within safe and reasonable limits). WSP welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. WSP is committed to the principles of employment equity. Only the candidates selected will be contacted. WSP does not accept unsolicited resumes from agencies. Full details here.