Senior Legal & IP Director

LegendBiotech; Dublin; Hybrid; EUR 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Career development

Global collaboration

Job summary

Legend Biotech in Dublin is seeking an experienced Senior Legal & IP Director to join our Intellectual Property team. You will serve as a strategic IP advisor, lead European patent prosecution and litigation, and align patent strategies with business goals.

You will collaborate with Legal, R&D, Regulatory and Business Development, support EU operations, monitor EPO activity, and mentor the Dublin IP Paralegal. Fluent English required; Mandarin a plus.

Qualifications

• European Patent Attorney qualification is required.
• Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences or related scientific discipline.
• Law degree is considered an asset.
• Minimum 10 years patent attorney experience in life sciences.
• Experience with EPO oppositions and UPC litigation is desirable.
• Fluent English; Mandarin a plus.

Responsibilities

• Manage and oversee Legend Ireland’s patent portfolio prosecution with external counsel.
• Provide strategic support for European patent matters.
• Develop and execute patent protection strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Lead European IP litigation matters, including UPC proceedings.
• Conduct freedom-to-operate analyses, due diligence, infringement and validity evaluations.
• Monitor granted patents at the EPO and coordinate observations and oppositions.
• Provide guidance on European patent law to stakeholders and teams.
• Mentor the IP Paralegal in Dublin and collaborate with cross-functional teams.
• Coordinate outside counsel efficiently and cost-effectively.

Skills

European Patent Attorney

IP Strategy

Leadership

Cross-functional Leadership

EPO/UPC knowledge

Education

European Patent Attorney qualification

Biological Sciences degree

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.

What can you expect?

Here’s what you’ll do:

• 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.
• 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.
• 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 isrequired.
• Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences, Immunology, Cell Biology, Cancer Biology, Biochemistry, ora relatedscientific discipline.
• Lawdegree 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 isrequired.
• 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.
• Freedom-to-operate and risk assessment.
• Intellectual property strategy development.

What do we offer you?

• An opportunityto 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.

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.

With over 2,900 employees worldwide, Legend Biotech is the largest standalone cell therapy company and a pioneer in treatments that are changing cancer care for good. We develop and market the CAR-T cell therapy ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel) in partnership with ohnson & Johnson. In the EU, cilta-cel is approved under the brand name CARVYKTI® for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior line of therapy.

Legend Biotech is a fully integrated global organization with manufacturing sites in the United States and Europe. From our sites in Ghent, Belgium, our teams support the clinical and commercial supply of CAR-T therapies across the EMEA region, translating advanced science into real-world impact for patients.

What sets us apart is clarity of purpose. At Legend Biotech Europe, everyone understands how their role contributes to our mission and how their daily work helps bring life-changing therapies to patients who need them most.