Patent Litigation Attorney

Whirlpool Corporation; Benton Harbor (MI); On-site; USD 130,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous benefits

Employee discount

Education reimbursement

Office amenities

Job summary

Whirlpool Corporation in Benton Harbor, MI seeks an experienced Patent Counsel to lead patents, trade secrets, and innovation protection across its business units. You will report to the Legal Director, Patents & Intellectual Property Litigation, and influence product leadership and strategic negotiations.

Role requires JD with Bar admission, 3+ years in IP law, and ability to collaborate with engineering and business teams.

Qualifications

• JD from an accredited law school and Bar Admission are required.
• Bachelor’s Degree in a technical field is preferred.
• 3+ years of IP law experience, including patents, litigation, IP transactions, and portfolio management.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement intellectual property protection strategies for Whirlpool innovations.
• Advise on patent strategy, manage filing, prosecution, and maintenance of Whirlpool’s global patent portfolio.
• Negotiate IP-related contracts, including M&A, confidentiality, development, and license agreements, and assist with general commercial agreements.
• Investigate and pursue opportunities to enforce Whirlpool’s IP and monetize IP assets.
• Establish product clearance plans and review freedom-to-operate risks.
• Provide IP advice and training to engineering and business teams.
• Improve processes and systems to deliver a sophisticated IP strategy within the law department.

Skills

Patent strategy

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Clear communication

Legal drafting

Education

JD from accredited law school

Bachelor’s Degree

Tools

Patent databases

Job description

Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is a leading home appliance company, in constant

pursuit of improving life at home. As the only major U.S.-based manufacturer of kitchen

and laundry appliances, the company is driving meaningful innovation to meet the evolving

needs of consumers through its iconic brand portfolio, including Whirlpool, KitchenAid,

JennAir, Maytag, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, and InSinkErator. In 2025, the company reported

approximately $16 billion in annual net sales - close to 90% of which were in the Americas -

41,000 employees, and 35 manufacturing and technology research centers. Additional

About

information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com.

The team you will be a part of

The Legal General team performs a variety of legal activities in accordance with the established standards of the legal profession to protect the organization's reputation and business interests and help ensure it complies with all relevant laws and regulations. Prepares legal contracts, letters of agreement, and other documents related to a variety of trade, commercial, financial, and operational matters (e.g., loans, leases, purchase agreements, acquisitions, divestitures, employment contracts). Represents the organization in legal proceedings before courts, government agencies, or other authorities.

This Role In Summary

This position will be responsible for implementing the legal strategy and providing legal advice to ensure that Whirlpool’s current and future innovations are protected. This position reports through the law department to the Legal Director, Patents & Intellectual Property Litigation. At Whirlpool, the Patent Counsel role is expected to bring leadership and expertise in the area of patents, trade secrets, and innovation protection to Whirlpool’s business units, the law department, and in administrative and judicial proceedings. You will help ensure Whirlpool’s unique and compelling innovations are a core driver of Whirlpool’s success in product leadership and improving life at home.

This role is located at our Global Headquarters in Benton Harbor, Michigan and requires full onsite attendance, Monday through Friday. A comprehensive relocation package is available for eligible candidates.

Your Responsibilities Will Include

Specific responsibilities include:

• Developing and executing intellectual property protection strategies related to assigned Whirlpool innovation and technology areas
• Advising on patent strategy, and managing the filing, prosecution, and maintenance of Whirlpool’s global patent portfolio
• Negotiating intellectual property-related contracts, including M&A, confidentiality, development, and license agreements, and assisting in negotiation of more general commercial agreements, including procurement and service agreements
• Investigating and pursuing opportunities to enforce Whirlpool’s intellectual property and monetize its intellectual property assets
• Establishing product clearance plans and reviewing and advising on freedom-to-operate risks
• Providing intellectual property advice and training to the engineering and business teams
• Developing and improving the processes and systems that enable the patent function within the law department to efficiently deliver a sophisticated intellectual property strategy

A Patent Counsel At Whirlpool Should Be Able To

• Provide thought leadership in advancing Whirlpool’s business strategy through intellectual property
• Drive strategic legal projects forward, including building relationships and inspiring cross-functional collaboration
• Design and implement efficient and effective processes for meeting the business’s need for legal strategies and support
• Recognize and cut to the core of legal issues and then provide a practical, business-oriented approach to problem solving
• Be relied upon to effectively and independently manage projects
• Communicate clearly and concisely with technical and non-technical audiences, both in writing and verbally
• JD from an accredited law school, with strong academic credentials and Bar Admission
• Bachelor’s Degree
• 3+ years of legal experience as an attorney in the field of intellectual property, including patents. Experience in patent or trade secret litigation, IP transactions, patent monetization, and global patent portfolio management are highly desirable

Preferred Skills And Experiences

• Bachelor’s Degree in a math, physics, engineering or other technology-focused field
• Ability to prioritize and manage a large volume of concurrent projects
• Strong analytical, organization, communication, and project management skills
• Preferably admitted to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

What We Offer

Generous benefits package, Whirlpool employee discount, fitness & educational reimbursement programs, kitchenettes, and more! Saint Joseph/Benton Harbor locations: Beautiful, recently renovated office space, Barista Bar, biking/walking trails, and access to The Eddy - Early Childhood Center (depending upon availability - additional costs required).

Additional Considerations

Whirlpool’s Ways of Working

Our goal is to provide an environment that helps you bring your best to Whirlpool every day. While employees in this role work in-person Monday through Friday. We offer flexibility and industry-leading time-off benefits that will help you balance what’s important at work and at home, including:

• Always On Flexibility - You will have the autonomy to manage personal, family, and outside-of-work commitments as needed.
• Two-Week Work from Anywhere - Minimum of one-week increments for a total of two weeks per year.
• Sabbatical - Four weeks paid leave after every five years of service.

Connect with us and learn more about Whirlpool Corporation

See what it's like to work at Whirlpool by visiting Whirlpool Careers. Additional information about the company can be found on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

Whirlpool Corporation is committed to equal employment opportunity and prohibits any discrimination on the basis of race or ethnicity, religion, sex, pregnancy, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, or any other category protected by applicable law.