Senior Intellectual Property Counsel

Latitude Legal Recruitment Limited

Cambridge (MA)

Hybrid

USD 275,000 - 325,000

Full time

47 hours ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

401(k) and leave policies

Job summary

Latitude is seeking a Senior Intellectual Property Counsel in the Cambridge, MA area to drive patent strategy and portfolio management for a biotechnology-focused life sciences company. The role involves translating scientific advances into robust patent strategies, advising management, and coordinating across research teams to protect IP assets.

The position supports permanent, temp-to-perm, or temporary engagements with hybrid work and 2–3 days onsite in Cambridge.

Qualifications

10+ years advising biotechnology or life sciences companies on intellectual property matters, including at least 5 years of hands-on patent drafting and prosecution experience.
Experience evaluating patentability, freedom-to-operate, validity, and other intellectual property issues
Experience developing and managing international patent portfolios, including coordinating patent filings and prosecution across multiple jurisdictions.
Prior in-house and law firm experience strongly preferred
Must be admitted to practice before the USPTO; Ph.D. in relevant scientific discipline is required

Responsibilities

Identify patentable inventions and oversee patent preparation and prosecution.
Evaluate the broader patent landscape and IP risks to development programs.
Manage external counsel and support collaborations and patent disputes.
Develop internal IP policies and provide training on IP matters.

Skills

IP strategy

Patent drafting

Prosecution

In-house experience

Communication skills

Education

J.D. from an accredited law school

Ph.D. in biochemistry or related field

Job description

Senior Intellectual Property Counsel - Biotechnology (Temporary, Temp-to-Perm or Permanent, Hybrid - Cambridge, MA)

Latitude is seeking an experienced biotechnology IP attorney to support the patent strategy and portfolio management of an innovative life sciences company, focused on cell and gene therapies. This counsel will work closely with research teams, translating scientific advances into patent strategies for programs at different stages of development, and advise management on intellectual property matters.

Responsibilities include identifying patentable inventions, overseeing patent preparation and prosecution, evaluating the broader patent landscape, and assessing potential IP risks and barriers to development. The role also involves managing external counsel, supporting collaborations and patent disputes, developing internal IP policies and training, and assisting with other legal priorities. The company is hiring for a permanent position, but it is also considering experienced attorneys for an approximately eight-month contract engagement, with the potential to transition into a permanent role. Candidates interested in temporary-only opportunities will also be considered.

Requirements For The IP Counsel (Biotech)

10+ years of experience advising biotechnology or life sciences companies on intellectual property matters, including at least 5 years of hands-on patent drafting and prosecution experience.
Experience evaluating patentability, freedom-to-operate, validity, and other intellectual property issues
Experience developing and managing international patent portfolios, including coordinating patent filings and prosecution across multiple jurisdictions.
Prior in-house and law firm experience strongly preferred
J.D. from an accredited law school and excellent academic credentials; Ph.D. in biochemistry, molecular biology, immunology, or another scientific discipline relevant to biotechnology is required
Must be admitted to practice before the USPTO
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities
Detail-oriented with solid project management skills
Licensed to practice and in good standing in any U.S. state and ability to register as MA in-house counsel

Position Details Of The IP Counsel (Biotech)

Type of Role: Permanent, Temporary to Permanent, or Temporary Engagement (approximately 8 months)
Schedule: Full-time preferred (40 hours per week), but candidates available for at least 30 hours per week will be considered for the temporary engagement
Location: Hybrid, 2-3 days onsite in Cambridge, MA

Compensation

Pay: The salary range for the permanent position is between $275,000 and $325,000. This position is also eligible for bonuses and equity compensation. Pay is based on multiple factors including but not limited to work experience, qualifications, credentials, and location. The annualized pay for an engagement ranges from $200,000 to $290,000. Pay for contract engagements is on an hourly basis and is formed from multiple factors including but not limited to work experience, qualifications, credentials, location, market supply/demand, and the candidate’s preference.

Benefits: In addition to pay, a competitive benefits package is also provided, including medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance; 401(k) and generous leave policies. For engagements, all Latitude Attorneys working on contract engagements receive complimentary professional liability insurance coverage. All Latitude employees are eligible for full benefits when working 20+ hours per week, including group medical, dental, and vision insurance, and complimentary group life, LTD and AD&D insurance. A qualified 401k plan is also available. Benefits-eligible Latitude Attorneys also receive a CLE and Professional Expense stipend.

Confidentiality

Latitude will not propose you to prospective clients without your prior consent. Candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted.

About Latitude

Latitude is a full-service flexible legal talent company serving corporate legal departments and law firms nationwide. From Fortune Global 100 companies to start-ups and Global 50 law firms to boutiques, clients turn to us for top-tier attorneys and other legal professionals.

Latitude specializes in providing highly skilled former in-house counsel and Big Law attorneys for flexible contract engagements and permanent positions in dozens of practice areas, including commercial contracting, data privacy, M&A, employment, litigation, and more. Founded in 2013, Latitude is a Chambers and Partners globally-ranked flexible legal staffing company.

Latitude Contract Engagements & Secondments

Outstanding attorneys and other legal professionals choose Latitude for contract, consulting, and secondment opportunities because we offer competitive compensation and benefits, sophisticated and engaging work, access to work with top-tier clients and peers, and a refreshing blend of freedom with self-designed boundaries. Our own experience as practicing attorneys and our client relationships enable us to effectively tailor our candidate proposals to the specific practice strengths and interpersonal attributes that matter most to our clients and to match our candidates with the opportunities that will be most fulfilling to them.

Our Specialty: Highly Skilled Contract Attorneys. Latitude Attorneys have the level of skill, experience, and judgment as would be expected of a permanent member of our client’s corporate legal department or law firm and the versatility to step into challenging environments and hit the ground running. Latitude Attorneys serve on a full-or part-time contract basis and work remotely or on-site at the client office.

Permanent Positions

Outstanding legal professionals who are seeking permanent positions choose to work with Latitude because of our deep market knowledge, career advocacy and extensive client base. Our own practice experience and client relationships enable us to effectively tailor our candidate proposals to the specific practice strengths and interpersonal attributes that matter most to our clients and to match our candidates with the opportunities that will be most fulfilling to them.

Faq

Q: What other legal jobs do you have?

A: If you’re interested in working with Latitude but do not think this particular legal job is the right one for you, we encourage you to explore our other open opportunities or fill out a General Application by visiting us at https://jobs.latitudelegal.com/s/

Q: Should I apply for this specific position if I have previously applied for another Latitude position?

A: Yes, it is better to apply to each Latitude job for which you are qualified and interested so that we immediately know of your interest in that specific role. This also enables you to share additional information about your qualifications or interest specific to each role. If you do not meet all of the qualifications for a position but think you would still be highly effective in the role, it can be helpful to include a brief explanation in your application.

Q: How can I reduce the risk of missing Latitude’s email inviting me to interview for this position?

A: Please safe-list Latitude’s URL domain name (latitudelegal.com) in your spam filter so that an email from one of our recruiters does not get caught in your spam folder. Our recruiters will never contact you by email from a URL other than latitudelegal.com

Q: My current legal team needs help. How can I see some Latitude candidates for my legal team?

A: The fastest way is to submit the very short form on our website contact page. A member of the client services team will be back in touch with you very fast to learn more about your need so we can provide you with on point candidates to consider.

For more information about Latitude, please visit us at https://latitudelegal.com.