Corporate Counsel-Patent

AbbVie; Illinois; Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

AbbVie is seeking an in-house Counsel for its Patent Prosecution group, supporting pharmaceutical products across North America with a hybrid work model (on site 3+ days/week). The role focuses on developing IP strategies, advising cross‑functional teams, and managing patent portfolios worldwide.

Candidates should hold a JD, have at least 2 years of patent law experience, and be registered to practice before the USPTO. Strong technical background in relevant life sciences fields is preferred.

Qualifications

• JD from an accredited law school with USPTO registration.
• 2+ years practicing patent law as an attorney or patent agent.
• Experience in U.S. and foreign patent prosecution; readiness to work in a multi-office environment.

Responsibilities

• Maximize AbbVie's IP position through strategic patent prosecution and portfolio development.
• Provide counsel to R&D and business teams on IP matters.
• Draft, file, and prosecute patent applications worldwide, including management of outside counsel.
• Challenge and defend patents in post‑grant proceedings and oppositions.
• Conduct prior art searches and due diligence to support business development.

Skills

Patent prosecution

Legal analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Tools

Patent databases

Legal research tools

Job 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.

AbbVie is searching for an in-house Counsel for our Patent Prosecution 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, Waltham, MA, South San Francisco, CA, or Irvine, CA with a hybrid work model (on site 3+ days/week).

Acting individually and in cross-functional teams, the Counsel will develop and implement intellectual property strategies for AbbVie’s products and product candidates.

Responsibilities:

• Maximize AbbVie’s competitive position through creation and implementation of intellectual property strategies
• Provide legal advice and counsel to cross-functional R&D and business teams on a variety of IP-related matters
• Draft, file, and prosecute strategically useful patent applications worldwide both directly and through management of outside counsel
• Challenge and defend patents in IPR, opposition, interference, and other post‑grant proceedings
• Conduct prior art searches, analyze third‑party patent positions, and conduct due diligence to support business development activities

Requirements:

• 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
• 2+ 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 prosecution
  • Experience with India, China, and emerging markets a 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

Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law:

• The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.
• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.
• This job is eligible to participate in our long‑term incentive programs.

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 employer 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.

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