Intellectual Property Counsel

First Quality; Georgia; On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary and bonus

Paid time off

Medical, dental and vision insurance

401(k) with employer match

Paid parental leave

Dependent care FSA with employer match

Tuition assistance

Wellness program

Job summary

First Quality seeks an IP Counsel to provide a full range of IP counseling for its family of companies. The role focuses on strategic patent development, risk assessment, and management of complex IP issues across multiple business units.

The ideal candidate has 6+ years in IP law, a J.D. and USPTO registration, with an engineering/technical undergrad preferred. You will work with Product Development groups, manage outside counsel, and travel ~15–20%.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of IP legal matters experience including patent prep and prosecution, opinions, and trade secrets.
• Exposure to IP litigation and regulatory issues is a plus.
• Must have J.D., bar membership, and USPTO registration.
• Undergraduate degree in engineering, chemistry, microbiology or similar.

Responsibilities

• Provide full IP counseling across First Quality businesses.
• Develop and execute patent strategies to strengthen market position.
• Collaborate with Product Development and business partners to secure IP rights.
• Review third-party patents and provide freedom-to-operate opinions.
• Train internal teams on IP topics and best practices.
• Manage outside counsel for drafting, filing, and prosecution of patents.
• Prepare and review confidentiality agreements, joint development agreements and IP clauses.
• Maintain knowledge of commercial/tech strategies and monitor competitor positions.

Skills

IP law

Patent strategy

Communication

Project management

Education

J.D. degree; bar admission; USPTO registration

Engineering/Chemistry/Science undergrad

Job description

Founded over 35 years ago, First Quality is a family-owned company that has grown from a small business in McElhattan, Pennsylvania into a group of companies, employing over 5,000 team members, while maintaining our family values and entrepreneurial spirit. With corporate offices in New York and Pennsylvania and 8 manufacturing campuses across the U.S. and Canada, the companies within the First Quality group produce high-quality personal care and household products for large retailers and healthcare organizations. Our personal care and household product portfolio includes baby diapers, wipes, feminine pads, paper towels, bath tissue, adult incontinence products, laundry detergents, fabric finishers, and dishwash solutions. In addition, we manufacture certain raw materials and components used in the manufacturing of these products, including flexible print and packaging solutions.

Guided by our values of humility, unity, and integrity, we leverage advanced technology and innovation to drive growth and create new opportunities. At First Quality, you’ll find a collaborative environment focused on continuous learning, professional development, and our mission to Make Things Better®.

This role will generally provide a full range of IP counseling services to the First Quality family of companies, with specific emphasis on strategic patent development and execution, as well as risk assessment and management of complex IP legal issues.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide a full range of counseling and expertise to a variety of First Quality businesses in the area of IP law.
• Develop and execute business-focused patent strategies to enhance First Quality’s marketplace positions.
• Work with multiple Product Development groups and other business partners on the procurement of IP rights that support their development and commercial plans.
• Review and analyze third-party patents and prepare, or oversee the preparation of, freedom-to-operate opinions and advise the business on any associated risks.
• Conduct IP training for internal Product Development and business associates.
• Manage outside counsel activities with regard to drafting, filing and prosecuting patent applications.
• Prepare and review confidentiality agreements, joint development agreements and IP clauses contained in commercial contracts.
• Establish and maintain a detailed knowledge of the commercial and technology development strategies of the various First Quality businesses.
• Stay abreast of the patent positions being established by key competitors.

QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of 6 years’ experience working on a wide range of IP legal matters in a law firm or corporate setting, including patent preparation and prosecution, opinion work and handling trade secret matters.
• Exposure to IP litigation, agreement work and regulatory issues a plus.
• J.D. degree, a member in good standing of at least one state bar and registered to practice before the USPTO.
• An undergraduate degree in engineering, chemistry, microbiology or similar discipline is preferred.
• Experience creating and adding value through the development and execution of strategic IP initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and explain risks or impediments to the business brought about by IP-related issues and in developing and clearly articulating strategies for overcoming these issues.
• Must be able to effectively communicate with people at all levels in the company and explain complex technical and legal issues in a succinct and clear manner.
• Must possess exceptional interpersonal, problem solving and work-load management skills, along with the ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment and consistently meet deadlines.
• Able to travel approximately 15-20%

What We Offer You

We believe that by continuously improving the quality of our benefits, we can help to raise the quality of life for our team members and their families. At First Quality you will receive:

• Competitive base salary and bonus opportunities
• Paid time off (three-week minimum)
• Medical, dental and vision starting day one
• 401(k) with employer match
• Paid parental leave
• Child and family care assistance (dependent care FSA with employer match up to $3750)
• Bundle of joy benefit (years’ worth of free diapers to all team members with a new baby)
• Tuition assistance
• Wellness program with savings of up to $4,000 per year on insurance premiums
• ...and more!

First Quality is committed to protecting information under the care of First Quality Enterprises commensurate with leading industry standards and applicable regulations. As such, First Quality provides at least annual training regarding data privacy and security to employees who, as a result of their role specifications, may come in to contact with sensitive data.

First Quality is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identification, or protected Veteran status.