Senior Legal & IP Director

Legend Biotech; Dublin; On-site; EUR 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Legend Biotech seeks an experienced Senior Legal & IP Director to join its Dublin IP team. You will partner with business units to protect and maximize the value of a cutting-edge cell therapy portfolio across Europe, advising on European patent law, EPO procedures, and UPC litigation.

You will oversee prosecution, risk management, and cross-functional collaboration with R&D, Regulatory, and Legal to translate evolving IP regulations into actionable business guidance.

Qualifications

• European Patent Attorney qualification is required.
• Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences, Immunology, Cell Biology, Cancer Biology, Biochemistry, or related scientific discipline.
• Law degree is considered a strong asset.

Responsibilities

• Manage and oversee patent portfolio prosecution activities in collaboration with external counsel.
• Provide strategic support for all European patent matters.
• Develop and execute patent protection strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Lead European IP litigation matters, including UPC-related proceedings and risk mitigation.
• Conduct freedom-to-operate analyses, due diligence, infringement and validity evaluations.

Skills

IP strategy

Patent prosecution

EPO procedures

UPC litigation

Freedom-to-operate

Stakeholder management

Strategic advisory

Cross-functional collaboration

Team leadership

Education

European Patent Attorney qualification

Bachelor's in Biological Sciences/Immunology/Cell Biology/C Cancer Biology/ Biochemistry

Law degree (asset)

Job description

Work at the intersection of science, law and business, shaping IP strategies that enable the development of life-changing therapies for patients worldwide.

At Legend Biotech, we are transforming the future of medicine through groundbreaking cell therapy innovations. We are looking for an experienced and strategic Senior Legal & IP Director to join our Intellectual Property team in Dublin, Ireland. In this highly visible role, you will serve as a trusted business partner and IP strategist, helping protect and maximize the value of our innovative portfolio while supporting our European operations.

Work at the intersection of science, law and business, shaping IP strategies that enable the development of life-changing therapies for patients worldwide.

At Legend Biotech, we are transforming the future of medicine through groundbreaking cell therapy innovations. We are looking for an experienced and strategic Senior Legal & IP Director to join our Intellectual Property team in Dublin, Ireland. In this highly visible role, you will serve as a trusted business partner and IP strategist, helping protect and maximize the value of our innovative portfolio while supporting our European operations.

What can you expect?

Here’s what you’ll do:

Patent Prosecution

• Manage and oversee Legend Ireland's patent portfolio prosecution activities in collaboration with external counsel.
• Provide strategic support for all European patent matters.
• Develop and execute patent protection strategies aligned with business objectives.

IP Risk Monitoring & Litigation

• Lead and manage European IP litigation matters, including UPC-related proceedings and disputes connected to Legend's European patent portfolio.
• Conduct freedom-to-operate analyses, due diligence assessments, infringement and validity evaluations, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Monitor newly granted patents at the EPO and coordinate third-party observations and opposition proceedings where appropriate.

Providing Advice and Counsel

• Serve as a subject matter expert on European patent law, EPO and UPC procedures, and relevant IP regulations.
• Provide legal and IP guidance, training, and strategic advice to business stakeholders and members of the global IP team.
• Monitor legal developments and translate them into actionable business recommendations.

Collaboration & Leadership

• Collaborate across Legal, R&D, Regulatory, Business Development and other cross-functional teams.
• Support department projects and global initiatives to drive operational excellence and best practices. Foster strong relationships with external counsel, collaborators, and strategic partners.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to the IP Paralegal based in Dublin.

Legal Support for European Operations

• Support a variety of legal matters affecting EU operations, including:
• Commercial contracts, Corporate governance and subsidiary management, Labor and employment matters, Data privacy and GDPR-related issues
• Coordinate and manage outside counsel efficiently and cost-effectively.

Who are we looking for?

Education

• European Patent Attorney qualification is required.
• Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences, Immunology, Cell Biology, Cancer Biology, Biochemistry, or related scientific discipline.
• Law degree is considered a strong asset.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of patent attorney experience within the life sciences sector.
• Significant experience drafting and prosecuting patent applications in a biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or law firm environment.
• Experience with EPO oppositions and UPC litigation is highly desirable.
• Experience in cell & gene therapy, gene therapy platforms or RNA therapeutics is a strong asset.
• Exposure to non-IP legal matters is a plus.

Languages

• Fluent English is required.
• Mandarin is considered a plus.

Strengths

• Excellent communication and influencing skills across all organizational levels.
• Strong business acumen and solution-oriented mindset.
• Ability to remain composed under pressure and navigate complex legal challenges.
• Highly organized with strong project management and prioritization capabilities.
• Collaborative team player with excellent interpersonal skills.
• Strong attention to detail and analytical thinking.
• Comfortable operating in a dynamic, fast-paced global organization.

Expertise

• Patent prosecution and portfolio management.
• European Patent Office (EPO) procedures.
• Unified Patent Court (UPC) litigation.
• Freedom-to-operate and risk assessment.
• Intellectual property strategy development.

What do we offer you?

• An opportunity to make a meaningful impact on innovative therapies that improve patients' lives worldwide.
• A position based in Dublin collaborating with global and local teams in China, US and Belgium.
• The chance to work with highly talented colleagues across Legal, IP, R&D and Business teams worldwide.
• A competitive compensation and benefits package.
• Career development opportunities within a fast-growing global biotechnology company.
• The opportunity to be part of a mission-driven organization dedicated to scientific innovation and patient care.

About Legend Biotech

Legend Biotech is a global biotechnology company dedicated to developing, manufacturing, and commercializing innovative and life-saving cell therapies for the treatment of chronic and life-threatening diseases, such as cancer.

The company was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Somerset, New Jersey. Legend Biotech now employs over 2,400 people across six global manufacturing sites. Two of these sites are in Ghent: Obelisc (Technology Park Zwijnaarde) and Tech Lane (Eilandje Zwijnaarde).

In Ghent, Legend Biotech focuses on the production of advanced CAR‑T cell therapies for the treatment of multiple myeloma, in close collaboration with Johnson & Johnson.

Legend Biotech is a proud equal opportunity/affirmative action employer committed to attracting, retaining, and maximizing the performance of a diverse and inclusive workforce. It is Legend’s policy to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, national origin, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, genetic information, citizenship status, uniformed service member or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Legend Biotech maintains a drug‑free workplace.

You can find more information about how we collect, use, and protect your personal data for recruitment purposes, including your rights under applicable data protection laws, in our Candidate Privacy Notice here: https://legendbiotech.eu/en/candidate-privacy-notice (Dutch: https://legendbiotech.eu/nl/candidate-privacy-notice).