Counsel

The ADA Forsyth Institute; Somerville (MA); On-site; USD 108,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

The ADA Forsyth Institute seeks a collaborative Counsel to join its Legal Department in Somerville, MA. The role focuses on providing practical legal guidance across research, clinical, and business operations, including negotiating agreements, supporting IP protection, and ensuring regulatory compliance.

Reporting to the Vice President, Legal, you will draft and negotiate a broad spectrum of agreements and counsel leaders on risk, policy, and governance.

Qualifications

• JD from an accredited law school.
• Undergraduate life science or bioengineering degree preferred.
• Active MA state bar in good standing or admission eligibility.
• 2+ years of legal experience drafting and negotiating agreements.
• Experience with IP matters, tech transfer, or commercialization preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide timely legal advice to faculty, researchers, leadership, and departments.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of agreements (NDAs, MTAs, CRAs, SLAs, licenses).
• Advise on IP protection, technology transfer, and licensing matters.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and support governance initiatives.
• Partner with stakeholders to facilitate contract review and execution.

Skills

Contract law

Intellectual property

Legal drafting

Negotiation

Legal research

Regulatory compliance

Communication

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Undergraduate life science or bioengineering degree

Active Massachusetts bar (admission or eligibility)

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

The ADA Forsyth Institute was founded in 1910 as the Forsyth Dental Infirmary for Children and is the world’s leader in oral health research. In October 2023 it joined the American Dental Association to become the ADA Forsyth Institute, a 501(c)(3) entity dedicated to improving people’s oral and overall health and powering the profession of dentistry through cutting‑edge basic research, translational science, innovative clinical technologies, and global public health outreach. Consistent with its founding mission, the ADA ForsythKids mobile dental program continues to serve children in need.

The ADA Forsyth Institute is seeking a collaborative and solutions‑oriented Counsel to join its Legal Department and support its mission of advancing oral health through research, innovation, education, and patient care. The Counsel reports to the Vice President, Legal and provides legal advice and counsel on a broad range of matters supporting research, clinical, educational, and business operations, including drafting and negotiating research and commercial agreements, advising on intellectual property and technology transfer, supporting regulatory compliance and corporate governance initiatives, and providing practical, business‑oriented legal guidance to faculty, researchers, leadership, and administrative departments.

Essential Responsibilities

• Provide timely, practical legal advice to faculty, researchers, executive leadership, and administrative departments.
• Identify legal risks and recommend practical solutions that align with the Institute’s strategic objectives.
• Conduct legal research and prepare legal memoranda, opinions, and other legal documents.
• Assist in the interpretation, development, and implementation of institutional policies and procedures.
• Monitor changes in applicable laws and regulations affecting the Institute.

Contracts & Transactions

• Draft, review, negotiate, and administer a broad range of agreements, including:
  • Confidentiality Agreements (NDAs/CDAs)
  • Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs)
  • Sponsored Research Agreements
  • Research Collaboration Agreements
  • Clinical Trial Agreements
  • Data Use Agreements
  • Consulting Agreements
  • Vendor and Professional Services Agreements
  • Software and Technology Agreements
  • License Agreements
  • Affiliation Agreements
  • Statements of Work and contract amendments
• Advise internal clients regarding contractual rights, obligations, and legal risk.
• Partner with leadership, faculty and administrative departments to facilitate timely contract review and execution.
• Coordinate negotiations with collaborators, universities, healthcare organizations, industry partners, sponsors, and vendors.
• Support continuous improvement of contract review processes.

Intellectual Property & Technology Transfer

• Provide legal advice and support on intellectual property matters, including patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, and related licensing matters.
• Review invention disclosures and advise on intellectual property protection and commercialization strategies.
• Coordinate with outside patent counsel on patent prosecution, portfolio management, and related intellectual property matters.
• Draft, review, and negotiate intellectual property, licensing, technology transfer, and commercialization agreements.
• Support the Institute’s intellectual property portfolio, including invention disclosures, technology transfer activities, and compliance with federal requirements governing federally funded research.
• Partner with leadership, faculty, researchers, and external collaborators to support innovation, strategic partnerships, and commercialization initiatives.

Corporate & Regulatory Matters

• Assist with legal compliance related to research, healthcare, nonprofit operations, and applicable federal and state laws.
• Support Board of Directors and governance activities.
• Provide legal support on compliance and operational matters.
• Coordinate with outside counsel on litigation and specialized legal issues.

Other Responsibilities

• Build collaborative relationships across the Institute while providing responsive, client‑focused legal services.
• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive legal, business, and research information.
• Perform other duties and special projects assigned by the Vice President, Legal.

Requirements

Education & Experience

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
• Undergraduate life science or bioengineering degree is preferred.
• Active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar. Admission to or eligibility for admission in Massachusetts.
• 2+ years of legal experience in a law firm, corporate legal department, academic institution, healthcare organization, biotechnology company, research institution, or similar environment.
• Experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial, research, or technology‑related agreements.
• Experience with intellectual property matters, including patents, technology transfer, licensing, research collaborations, or commercialization activities.
• Experience supporting nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, or federally funded research environments is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of contract law and commercial transactions.
• Working knowledge of intellectual property law and technology transfer.
• Strong legal drafting, negotiation, analytical, and legal research skills.
• Ability to identify legal issues and provide practical, solution‑oriented advice.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast‑paced environment.
• Demonstrated professionalism, integrity, sound judgment, and discretion.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with colleagues and stakeholders.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).

ADA Forsyth Institute is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, pregnancy‑related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Salary

108,000 - 145,000 gross annual salary hiring range