Associate General Counsel - IP Strategy

BioSpace; North Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

AbbVie's in‑house team seeks an Associate General Counsel for the IP Strategy group, based in North Chicago, IL with a hybrid work model (on site 3+ days/week). The role supports AbbVie’s pharmaceutical products and collaborates with scientists to maximize intellectual property value.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years of patent law experience, a JD, and USPTO registration, with strong analytical, communication, and project management skills. International patent experience is a plus.

Qualifications

• JD degree from an accredited law school and USPTO registration.
• Bar admission enabling in-house practice (specific state not required).
• 10+ years of patent law experience.
• Technical background relevant for pharmaceutical patent prosecution (e.g., molecular biology, chemistry, biotech).
• Strong legal, analytical, communication, collaboration, and people skills.

Responsibilities

• Generate and implement intellectual property strategies across therapeutic areas and technologies.
• Partner with IP Prosecution to draft, file, and prosecute patent applications worldwide.
• Work directly with scientists to generate novel IP maximizing AbbVie’s competitive position.
• Provide legal advice and counsel to cross‑functional R&D and business teams on IP matters.
• Challenge and defend patents in IPR, opposition, interference, and post‑grant proceedings.

Skills

Patent law experience

Legal analysis

Communication skills

Project management

Collaboration

Education

Juris Doctor (JD) degree

Bar admission enabling in-house practice

USPTO registration

Tools

USPTO registration

Job description

Company Description

About AbbVie
AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

Job Description

AbbVie is searching for an in‑house Associate General Counsel for our IP Strategy group, part of AbbVie’s Intellectual Property, Transactions, and Innovation legal team. This position will support AbbVie’s pharmaceutical products and be based in our offices in North Chicago, IL, South San Francisco, CA or Waltham, MA with a hybrid work model (on site 3+ days/week).

Responsibilities

• Generate and implement intellectual property strategies across a variety of therapeutic areas and technologies, including both large and small molecules


• Partner with IP Prosecution to draft, file, and prosecute strategically useful patent applications worldwide both directly and through management of outside counsel


• Work directly with scientists to generate novel intellectual property maximizing AbbVie’s competitive position


• Provide legal advice and counsel to cross‑functional R&D and business teams on a variety of IP‑related matters


• Challenge and defend patents in IPR, opposition, interference, and other post‑grant proceedings

Qualifications

• JD degree from an accredited law school, state bar admission enabling in‑house practice (specific state not required), and registration to practice before the USPTO


• 10+ years of experience practicing patent law as an attorney or patent agent at a law firm and/or life sciences company, including substantial U.S. and foreign patent prosecutionPatent litigation experience is a significant plus


• Technical background relevant for pharmaceutical patent prosecution, such as:Experience with small molecule and/or biological pharmaceutical discovery & development, and/or


• Technical degree in relevant field, such as molecular biology, biotechnology, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, chemical engineering, or biomedical engineering


• Strong legal, analytical, communication, collaboration, and people skills


• Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects to meet deadlines

Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law.

Additional Information

AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.

US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html

US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:

https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html