Patent Counsel

Overview

The Patent Counsel plays a key role in supporting the patent prosecution function of the Legal Department and will also help support other areas of the business. The individual has experience either in-house or at a law firm providing advice and guidance to pharmaceutical and/or biotechnology companies.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

·       Draft patent applications, identify patentable subject matter, and work with inventors to protect new inventions

·       Perform/conduct all phases of U.S. patent prosecution, e.g. drafting and filing of all submissions to the USPTO, including responses to office actions, amendments, 132 declarations, appeal briefs, argument at oral hearings before the patent appeals board, etc.

·       Instruct/direct foreign counsel on all filings/submissions in prosecution and appeal of all foreign patent matters

·       Develop and implement strategies for management of the company’s patent estate

·       Advise the company on freedom-to-operate issues

·       Oversee patent infringement litigation, opposition, IPR and PGR matters, and work with the internal team to devise and implement strategy in such matters

·       Works with research and development functions to protect innovations in the fields of cell and gene therapies and biologics

·       Assist with patent licensing and transactional matters, including oversight of licensed patents and applications

·       Work collaboratively with other in-house attorneys and paralegals in the Legal Department as well as with collaborators to quickly achieve goals

·       Create and conduct legal training for employees and provide on-going training to internal clients on patent filing processes and other company policies

·       Research, analyze and make appropriate recommendations to business partners in order to resolve patent-related legal and business issues

·       Supports and enhances Legal Department analytics and reporting capabilities

·       Must adhere to Iovance Biotherapeutics’ core values, policies, procedures, and business ethics.

·       Perform miscellaneous duties as assigned.

Travel

·       Available to travel on a limited basis as needed

Required Education, Skills, and Knowledge

·       Minimum of 4 years of experience at a nationally recognized law firm, or a combination of in-house experience, government experience, and/or experience at a nationally recognized law firm specializing in the specific responsibilities provided above

·       Juris Doctorate from a nationally recognized law school

·       Admitted to the US Patent Bar

·       Admitted to practice in California, Pennsylvania or in the state of residence (for remote candidates), and/or able to obtain in-house counsel registration in California or Pennsylvania

·       Undergraduate and graduate degree in a life sciences field (M.S. or equivalent required; Ph.D. or equivalent preferred) with cell and molecular biology experience preferred

·       Demonstrated understanding of patent-related contractual matters and strong knowledge of key provisions of licensing agreements

·       Able to think creatively

·       Able to build strong relationships with peers and partners both within and across functional teams to engage high performance in a fast-moving environment

·       Able to assimilate information quickly, grasping critical factors and risks, while implementing immediate change where and when needed

·       Excellent written and oral communication skills

·       Proven experience in using negotiating, influencing, and problem-solving skills in order to meet deadlines

·       Exhibits a flexible and dynamic approach to working in a fast-paced biotechnology company

·       Able to multitask efficiently and willing to perform all necessary tasks, regardless of level, to facilitate success at driving a project to completion

·       In depth knowledge of Microsoft Office tools, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Windows, as well as document comparison tools. 

The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made upon request to enable individuals to perform essential functions. Please contact Human Resources to request an accommodation.

Physical Demands and Activities Required

·       Must be able to remain in a stationary position standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time.

·       Must be able to move about inside an office and exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.

·       Must have visual acuity to perform activities such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures, viewing a computer screen, and extensive reading.  

·       This position requires repetitive motion, substantial movements (motions) of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers.

·       Must be able to communicate with others to exchange information.

Mental: Clear and conceptual thinking ability; excellent judgment, troubleshooting, problem-solving, analysis, and discretion; ability to handle work-related stress; ability to handle multiple priorities simultaneously; and ability to meet deadlines

Work Environment

This job operates in a professional workplace or remote office environment and requires standard office equipment and keyboards. Employees who work remotely are expected to maintain their workspace and environment safely and free from safety hazards.

The statements contained in this document are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by a colleague assigned to this description. They are not intended to constitute a comprehensive list of functions, duties, or local variances. Management retains the discretion to add or to change the duties of the position at any time.

Iovance is committed to cultivating and offering a diverse and inclusive work environment. As an equal-opportunity employer, our employees and applicants will be considered without regard to an individual’s race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law. If you need assistance or accommodation to apply to one of our opportunities, please contact careers@iovance.com.

By voluntarily providing information and clicking “Submit Application”, you explicitly consent to the collection and use of your personal information for the purposes described above and in our Candidate Privacy Notice. 

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