Associate Corporate Counsel, Intellectual Property

CFA Institute; Charlottesville (VA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 183,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Generous leave

Retirement plans

Flexible work

Wellbeing programs

Professional development

Job summary

CFA Institute is hiring an Associate Corporate Counsel, Intellectual Property to serve as the primary IP advisor across global operations, with emphasis on copyright and content protection. You will work with the IP Paralegal and outside counsel, shaping processes and a new global IP strategy.

The role involves advising on IP risks, negotiating licenses and other agreements, and coordinating with various teams to protect CFA Institute’s content and brands in a fast-evolving tech landscape.

Qualifications

• Active license to practice law in at least one US state with eligibility for Virginia admission.
• Significant IP law experience, especially copyright, in law firm or in-house settings.
• Experience advising on copyright, content protection, and licensing matters.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice on trademarks, copyrights, licensing, and brand protection.
• Draft, review, and negotiate licenses, assignments, permissions, and related IP documents.
• Review and negotiate general commercial agreements to support Legal and business teams.
• Advise Marketing, Product, Education, Research, Technology, Publishing on IP risks and requirements.
• Develop guidelines, training, and governance playbooks for IP usage and licensing.
• Coordinate trademark clearance and prosecution matters with outside counsel; advise on registrations.
• Evaluate infringement risks and recommend responses; advise on AI and emerging tech implications.
• Collaborate with IP Paralegal and outside counsel to support IP protection and administration.

Skills

Trademarks

Copyrights

Licensing

Contracts

Outside counsel management

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

Are you an intellectual property lawyer who enjoys turning complex legal questions into practical advice? Would you like to help shape how a global organization protects and uses its content, brands and ideas? Are you interested in the challenges that AI and emerging technologies bring to copyright, licensing and content ownership?

CFA Institute is hiring an Associate Corporate Counsel, Intellectual Property to serve as the primary day-to-day legal advisor on intellectual property matters across our global operations, with a particular emphasis on copyright and content protection. This is an individual contributor role with scope to shape processes and grow your responsibilities over time. You'll work closely with our IP Paralegal and outside counsel, and will play a key role as we build out a new global intellectual property strategy.

What You'll Do

• Provide legal advice on trademarks, copyrights, licensing, brand protection, trade secrets, advertising, publishing, and related commercial matters.
• Draft, review, and negotiate licenses, assignments, permissions, coexistence agreements, settlement agreements, and other documentation involving CFA Institute's intellectual property.
• Review and negotiate general commercial agreements within delegated authority to support the Legal team and business stakeholders.
• Advise Marketing, Product, Education, Research, Technology, Publishing and other teams on intellectual property risks and requirements.
• Develop guidelines, training, and governance playbooks for business partners and licensee related to IP usage, licensing, and permissions.
• Coordinate trademark clearance and routine prosecution and opposition matters with outside counsel, and provide guidance on copyright registrations, licensing, and related protection activities.
• Evaluate potential infringement matters, assess legal and business risk, and recommend potential responses.
• Advise on the intellectual property implications of artificial intelligence, digital content, emerging technologies, and new product development.
• Work collaboratively with the IP Paralegal and outside counsel to support intellectual property protection and administration.

What We're Looking For

• A Juris Doctor (JD) from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school.
• An active license to practice law in at least one US state, with eligibility for admission in Virginia.
• Significant legal experience gained in a law firm, an in-house legal department, or ideally a combination of both, with substantial experience in intellectual property law, particularly copyright.
• Demonstrated experience advising on copyright, content protection, and licensing matters.
• Experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial agreements, in addition to intellectual property related contracts.
• Experience managing outside counsel and coordinating intellectual property prosecution and enforcement activities.
• Strong understanding of U.S. and international intellectual property laws and practices.

Nice to Have

• Trademark advisory or portfolio management experience.
• Experience advising on digital content, technology, artificial intelligence, or emerging intellectual property issues.
• Experience supporting multinational organizations.

You'll Thrive in This Role If...

• You're comfortable being the person who sometimes has to say no and can explain the reasoning behind it clearly and diplomatically.
• You're energized by building something from a fairly blank slate, there's real room to shape how intellectual property is managed here.
• You're genuinely flexible about working hours given a truly global team and global business stakeholders.

Why Join Us

• Help shape our approach to IP. Contribute to a developing global strategy and influence the processes, systems and guidance that put it into practice.
• Work on questions with lasting relevance. Help a global education and membership organization navigate content protection, licensing and the impact of AI on how knowledge is created and used.
• Build breadth and ownership. Work closely with experienced legal colleagues, business leaders and specialist external counsel, with scope to deepen your expertise and grow your responsibilities over time.

At CFA Institute, we are committed to transparency and equity in our hiring process. In compliance with wage transparency laws in many of the jurisdictions in which we recruit, we provide the following information regarding compensation for this position.

Expected salary range: US National Locations: $110,000 - $146,600 per year OR US Metro Locations: $137,500 - $183,300 per year. Actual salary within the stated ranges will depend on the individual's experience, qualifications, skills, location, and other job-related factors. Additional benefits include eligibility for an annual discretionary incentive bonus, a 12% employer contribution to a 401(k) or pension plan, and a comprehensive medical benefits package.

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We offer a comprehensive benefits package to support our employees, including health coverage, generous time off, competitive retirement plans, flexible work options, and wellbeing and development programs. You can learn more on our careers site: Working at CFA Institute | Comprehensive Benefits

About CFA Institute

CFA Institute is the global leader in investment excellence and ethics. With nearly 200,000 charterholders across 160 markets, we promote professional growth, uphold ethical standards, and help advance better financial markets. Join a global organization committed to putting investors first.

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Important Message: Your application must clearly demonstrate how you meet the requirements as CFA Institute cannot make assumptions about your education, experience, or location. We thank all those who apply.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. CFA Institute prohibits both discrimination and harassment with regard to all identifying characteristics: any individual employee, group of employees, or prospective employee on the basis of race, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, religion, creed or belief, age, marital or partnership status, marital or family status, care giver status, pregnancy and maternity, sexual and other reproductive health decisions, physical abilities/qualities, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, predisposing genetic characteristic, military or veteran status, status as a victim or witness of domestic violence or sex offense or stalking, unemployment status, infectious disease carrier status, migrant worker status, educational background, socio-economic status, geographic location and culture or any other basis protected by applicable law. This policy impacts all aspects of employment, including but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, compensation, training, development, promotion, demotion, layoff, recall, furlough, transfer, leave of absence, and dismissal. This is a global policy that applies to all CFA Institute employees, regardless of location.

If, due to a disability or current medical condition, you need an accommodation or assistance to complete a job application, you can request one at any stage of the recruitment process. Please send an email to [e-mail] noting the accommodations or assistance you are requesting. Please do not include any medical or health information in this email. We will review your request and contact you to discuss the possible options and arrangements. We will try our best to provide you with an accommodation or assistance that meets your needs and respects your preferences.