VP of Legal

Turtlebox Audio LLC; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Complimentary lunch

Employee discounts

Job summary

Turtlebox is seeking a Senior VP of Legal to lead and scale the in‑house legal function. You will own the intellectual property portfolio, coordinate with outside counsel, and guide corporate governance, compliance, and commercial agreements. This role partners closely with engineering, product, and executive leadership to protect the company while enabling growth.

The position requires a J.D. and 10+ years in IP law, with strong in‑house experience preferred in a consumer hardware environment.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of relevant IP law experience, including patent/trademark prosecution, licensing, or IP litigation.
• In‑house experience at a consumer products, hardware, or technology company is strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to manage an IP portfolio and direct outside counsel and prosecution strategy.
• Excellent negotiation, leadership, and clear guidance for non‑legal stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive IP strategy aligned with product roadmap and brand growth.
• Manage end‑to‑end patent portfolio, including invention capture and outside counsel coordination.
• Oversee trademark, trade dress, and copyright registration and enforcement across markets.
• Lead licensing negotiations and structuring IP terms in manufacturing and distribution agreements.
• Advise on employment, corporate, and regulatory matters; support M&A and investor relations as needed.
• Partner with engineering, product, and marketing to embed IP risk awareness throughout development lifecycle.
• Manage outside counsel relationships and legal spend; oversee corporate governance and board support.
• Build and scale the legal function in a lean organization, hiring as needed.

Skills

IP Strategy

Leadership

Negotiation

Strategic advisory

Policy awareness

Education

J.D. degree

Tools

Patent Prosecution

Trademark Law

Licensing

Job description

The first Turtlebox was born out of necessity. After breaking every “loud” product on the market through routine outdoor use, the idea of the Turtlebox was born in our garage, not as a business but just for personal use. Nothing else could get the job done.

Most portable speakers aren’t actually meant for the outdoors and can’t withstand the elements, the ones that can aren’t loud enough to be heard. When you’re at the beach or on an ATV, you need sound to carry in order to hear it over the wind, waves, and boat engines, you need a Turtlebox.

We soon realized that there was a huge need for the Turtlebox among likeminded adventurers and our journey began to set out to make the world’s loudest most rugged outdoor portable speaker.

The VP of Legal lead the entire legal function, reporting directly to the CEO and working closely with the executive team. This role has primary responsibility for the company's intellectual property portfolio (patents, trademarks, trade dress, copyrights, and trade secrets) while also overseeing corporate, commercial, employment, litigation, and compliance matters. The VP of Legal will work in close partnership with the company's outside law firm, serving as the primary point of contact to direct patent prosecution, litigation, and specialized matters, while managing that relationship to ensure efficient use of outside counsel spend. The ideal candidate combines deep IP expertise with the practical judgment to serve as a trusted business advisor to a lean, fast-moving organization.

Key Responsibilities:

Intellectual Property Strategy & Protection

• Develop and execute a comprehensive IP strategy aligned with product roadmap, R&D investment, and brand growth.
• Manage the end-to-end patent portfolio, including invention capture, prosecution strategy, filing decisions, and outside counsel coordination.
• Oversee trademark, trade dress, and copyright registration, maintenance, and enforcement across all markets where the company sells product.
• Lead freedom-to-operate and clearance analyses for new products, features, and packaging prior to launch.
• Monitor the competitive landscape for infringement and counterfeiting; direct enforcement actions, cease-and-desist efforts, and litigation strategy.
• Negotiate and manage IP licensing agreements, both inbound and outbound, and structure IP terms in manufacturing, supply, and channel partner agreements.
• Implement trade secret protection programs, including confidentiality policies and employee/contractor IP assignment practices.
• Advise engineering, product, and marketing teams on IP risk as an embedded partner throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements: supply and manufacturing agreements, distribution and retail agreements, licensing deals, and vendor contracts.
• Serve as the primary in-house liaison to the company's outside law firm, working closely with external counsel on patent prosecution, litigation, and other specialized matters requiring outside expertise.
• Manage outside counsel relationships and legal spend across all practice areas, with particular oversight of IP litigation and prosecution costs.
• Oversee corporate governance matters, entity maintenance, and support for the Board of Directors and any investor relationships.
• Lead or support litigation and dispute resolution across commercial, employment, product liability, and IP matters.
• Advise on employment law matters, workplace policies, and HR partnership on sensitive personnel issues.
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, including product safety, advertising, data privacy, and consumer protection laws.
• Support M&A, strategic partnership, and investment activity, including diligence on target IP portfolios.
• Build, mentor, and manage the legal function as the company scales, including hiring additional in‑house counsel or paralegal support as needed.

Qualifications:

• J.D. from an accredited law school and active bar membership in good standing (state to be determined by company headquarters).
• 10+ years of relevant legal experience, with substantial focus on intellectual property law (patent and/or trademark prosecution, licensing, or IP litigation).
• In‑house experience at a consumer products, hardware, or technology company strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing a patent portfolio and directing outside patent counsel and prosecution strategy.
• Working knowledge of trademark, trade dress, copyright, and trade secret law as applied to consumer products and branding.
• Experience negotiating commercial, licensing, manufacturing, and distribution agreements.
• Sound business judgment and the ability to translate complex legal issues into clear, actionable guidance for non-legal stakeholders.
• Comfort operating as a hands‑on, generalist legal leader in a lean organization, balancing strategic IP work with day‑to‑day corporate needs.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and leadership skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Registered Patent Attorney (USPTO registration) or technical background (engineering, physics, or related field) supporting patent work.
• Experience in the audio, electronics, or consumer products industry.
• Prior experience building or scaling a legal function within a growth‑stage or private equity–backed company.
• Familiarity with international IP protection and enforcement in key manufacturing and sales markets.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements:

• This position involves working in a traditional work environment, 5 days a week

Why JoinTurtlebox?:

• Be part of a fast‑growing premium outdoor audio brand with strong momentum in wholesale and D2C.
• Coworkers who are as passionate about music and adventure as you are.
• Thrive in an entrepreneurial culture with room for creativity, ownership, and innovation.
• Complimentary lunch every day.
• Awesome discounts to complete your Turtlebox collection!