Deputy General Counsel

Korn Ferry; Saint Paul (MN); Remote; USD 207,000 - 276,000; Full time

Job summary

Korn Ferry seeks a Deputy General Counsel to lead the Innovation & Product legal function, overseeing IP strategy, product counseling, and a seven-person team. This remote role involves guiding complex legal and transactional matters and protecting the company’s IP portfolio.

The preferred candidate has deep product/IP experience, strong commercial judgment, and can step into interim leadership with ease. The engagement is contract-based with potential permanent consideration.

Qualifications

• Law degree and current authorization to practice law in a relevant jurisdiction.
• Experience in patent law and product/IP leadership.
• Strong negotiation and contract review experience.
• Ability to lead, coach, and develop legal professionals.
• Excellent strategic thinking and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead Innovation & Product legal team and set priorities.
• Advise Product, Engineering, and Marketing on IP, AI ethics, and regulatory matters.
• Manage outside counsel and budgets while ensuring compliance.
• Provide strategic business counsel and risk mitigation for product initiatives.
• Support licensing, confidentiality, and enterprise agreements.

Skills

IP strategy

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Negotiation

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Juris Doctor / Equivalent

Job description

Deputy General Counsel - Innovation & Product

Confidential Client | Remote | Contract / Contract-to-Hire

Korn Ferry is partnering with a global provider of professional software, technology, and information solutions to identify an experienced Deputy General Counsel to lead its Innovation & Product legal team. This opportunity offers responsibility for intellectual property strategy, product counseling, and leadership of an established legal team.

Engagement Details

• Location: Remote

• Schedule: 40 hours per week, Monday-Friday, standard daytime business hours

• Initial Duration: 3-4 months, with potential extension or consideration for permanent employment

• Start Date: As soon as the selected individual is available

• Target Compensation: $150-$200 per hour W2, with access to medical benefits, PTO, and 401(k) or able to work under individuals own LLC if preferred

• Engagement Structure: Contract through Korn Ferry.

• Reporting Line: Chief Legal Officer & Deputy General Counsel, Corporate & Securities

• Team Leadership: Seven legal professionals

Candidates interested in remaining consultants are welcome; interest in permanent employment is optional.

Position Overview

The Deputy General Counsel will provide senior leadership for the Innovation & Product legal function, oversee complex legal, compliance, and transactional matters, and guide the strategic protection of the company's intellectual property.

The preferred candidate is a seasoned product and intellectual property legal leader with substantive patent experience, sound commercial judgment, and demonstrated success managing legal teams. A former General Counsel with relevant product and IP depth may also be well suited to the position.

Key Responsibilities

Legal Leadership and Business Partnership

• Lead, coach, and develop the Innovation & Product legal team, establishing priorities and supporting effective execution.

• Partner with Product, Engineering, and Marketing teams on innovation, marketing, and product development.

• Collaborate with legal colleagues across business units and functions to provide practical, coordinated advice.

• Contribute to legal leadership initiatives, including diversity, inclusion, corporate responsibility, and improvements to the delivery of legal services.

• Oversee internal and external legal resources, including the selection and supervision of outside counsel, while managing budgets and maintaining compliance with departmental policies and professional standards.

Product and Intellectual Property

• Lead intellectual property portfolio strategy, including identification of potentially patentable inventions, invention review boards, patent application preparation and prosecution, coordination of domestic and foreign prosecution, and portfolio reviews.

• Advise on AI and data ethics regulations affecting product development and maintenance.

• Assess open-source software issues and advise business and legal stakeholders on associated risks.

• Oversee the pursuit and defense of patent demands and litigation, and support public-sector advocacy on strategic intellectual property matters.

• Provide intellectual property due diligence for acquisitions, including evaluation of third-party intellectual property.

• Advise commercial lawyers on intellectual property issues and support the negotiation of licensing, support, confidentiality, and enterprise agreements.

• Identify legal, regulatory, and compliance risks associated with business initiatives and develop practical mitigation strategies.

• Provide strategic business counsel and contribute thought leadership through relevant seminars, external meetings, and industry discussions.

Required Qualifications

• Law degree and current authorization to practice law in a relevant jurisdiction.

• Significant post-qualification experience in private practice and/or in-house, specializing in patent law, with the breadth to oversee complex product and intellectual property matters.

• Experience drafting and prosecuting patent applications and preparing patent opinions.

• Familiarity with intellectual property management and strong commercial experience negotiating relevant agreements.

• Demonstrated success leading, coaching, and developing legal professionals.

• Ability to influence stakeholders, build trust, and collaborate effectively within a matrixed organization.

• Strong strategic thinking, communication, organization, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to balance business and customer priorities with sound legal, financial, and compliance judgment.

• Adaptability and readiness to assume responsibility quickly in an interim leadership capacity.

Preferred Background

• In-house industry experience, particularly in product and intellectual property leadership.

• General Counsel experience supported by relevant product and IP expertise.

• Technical training or a technical background.

Interview Process

Interviews will be conducted with the Deputy General Counsel, Corporate & Securities, and relevant team members.

About Korn Ferry

Korn Ferry unleashes potential in people, teams, and organizations. We work with our clients to design optimal organization structures, roles, and responsibilities. We help them hire the right people and advise them on how to reward and motivate their workforce while developing professionals as they navigate and advance their careers. To learn more, please visit Korn Ferry at www.Kornferry.com