Senior Counsel Intellectual Property

City of Shakopee, MN; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Emerson is seeking a Senior Counsel, Intellectual Property, to provide strategic IP guidance that protects innovation and mitigates risk across global markets. You will partner with business leaders, engineers, and legal colleagues to develop and execute IP strategies that enable long-term success.

You will manage outside counsel, lead patent prosecution, and perform patent searches and landscapes while keeping leadership informed of significant developments and ensuring alignment with corporate

Qualifications

• Three to five years of relevant commercial and international legal experience, in-house or private practice.
• Admission in good standing to at least one U.S. state bar and the Federal Patent Bar.
• Law degree from an accredited law school.
• Ability to work independently and communicate effectively with senior business and Law Department leaders.
• Excellent written and oral English communication skills.
• Willingness to travel.
• Authorization to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Advise business units on IP and related legal matters, including outside counsel management.
• Manage outside counsel and global patent prosecution.
• Conduct patent searches, landscapes, and competitor monitoring.
• Review invention disclosures and identify protection opportunities.
• Support IP diligence for transactions, acquisitions, and product launches.
• Train technical and business teams on IP processes and best practices.
• Develop business-aligned patent strategies and portfolio priorities.
• Lead FTO analyses and risk mitigation recommendations.
• Draft and negotiate IP agreements, including NDAs, licenses, and JDAs.
• Support patent litigation and outside counsel coordination.
• Keep leadership informed of significant developments.
• Exercise sound judgment and integrity to protect Emerson’s reputation.
• Implement corporate policies across applicable divisions.
• Lead strategic projects involving legislation, directives, and regulations.
• Manage post-acquisition legal integration.

Skills

English communication

Travel willingness

Independent work

Legal writing

Stakeholder communication

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

Join Emerson's legal team as a Senior Counsel, Intellectual Property, where you will provide strategic IP guidance that helps protect innovation, mitigate risk, and support business growth across global markets. In this role, you will partner with business leaders, engineers, and legal colleagues to develop and execute intellectual property strategies that enable long-term success.

In This Role, Your Responsibilities Will Be:

• Advise business units on IP and related legal matters, including:
• Manage outside counsel and global patent prosecution.
• Conduct patent searches, landscapes, and competitor monitoring.
• Review invention disclosures and identify protection opportunities.
• Support IP diligence for transactions, acquisitions, and product launches.
• Train technical and business teams on IP processes and best practices.
• Develop business-aligned patent strategies and portfolio priorities.
• Lead FTO analyses and risk mitigation recommendations.
• Draft and negotiate IP agreements, including NDAs, licenses, and JDAs.
• Support patent litigation and outside counsel coordination.
• Keep business and Law Department leaders informed of significant developments.
• Exercise sound judgment and integrity to protect Emerson’s reputation.
• Implement corporate policies across applicable divisions.
• Lead strategic projects involving legislation, directives, and regulations.
• Manage post-acquisition legal integration.

Who You Are:

You prioritize actions based on business drivers and market needs, quickly distinguishing what matters in complex situations. You create urgency, promote accountability, communicate clearly and concisely, and bring energy and drive to deliver results.

For This Role, You Will Need:

• Three (3) to Five (5) years of relevant commercial and international legal experience, in-house or private practice
• Admission in good standing to at least one U.S. state bar and the Federal Patent Bar
• Law degree from an accredited law school
• Ability to work independently and communicate effectively with senior business and Law Department leaders
• Excellent written and oral English communication skills
• Willingness to travel
• Self-motivation and interest in varied legal matters and business areas
• Authorization to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship
  

Our Culture & Commitment to You:

Our compensation philosophy is simple: we pay a competitive base salary, within the local market in which we operate, and reward performance during our annual merit review process. The starting salary for this role is $150,000 - $200,000 annually commensurate with the skills, talent, capabilities and experience each candidate brings to a role.

At Emerson, we prioritize a workplace where every employee is valued, respected, and empowered to grow. We foster an environment that encourages innovation, collaboration, and diverse perspectives—because we know that great ideas come from great teams. Our commitment to ongoing career development and growing an inclusive culture ensures you have the support to thrive. Whether through mentorship, training, or leadership opportunities, we invest in your success so you can make a lasting impact. We believe diverse teams, working together are key to driving growth and delivering business results.

We recognize the importance of employee wellbeing. We prioritize providing flexible, competitive benefits plans to meet you and your family’s physical, mental, financial, and social needs. We provide a variety of medical insurance plans, with dental and vision coverage, Employee Assistance Program, 401(k), tuition reimbursement, employee resource groups, recognition, and much more. Our culture offers flexible time off plans, including paid parental leave (maternal and paternal), vacation and holiday leave.