As Associate General Counsel IP and IT, your primary role is to provide legal support and expertise in the fields of information technology and intellectual property to the organization and act as Chief Data Protection Officer. You will be responsible for managing IT/IP-related legal matters, contracts, compliance, and risk mitigation to ensure that the company's IT/IP operations align with legal requirements and best practices.
Qualifications & Skills & Requirements:
- Juris Doctor (JD) or Law degree and active bar membership.
- 5 years of legal experience, with a focus on IT law, data privacy, cybersecurity and IP.
- In-depth knowledge of IT/IP regulations, data protection laws, and industry best practices.
- Strong communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively with IT professionals and cross-functional teams.
- Sound judgment and decision-making abilities.
- High ethical standards and integrity.
Responsibilities:
• Legal Advice and Counsel:
o Provide legal advice and strategic counsel to the company's IT department, as well as other relevant departments, on IT-related legal matters.
o Providing legal advice to the company's management and employees on IP matters, including contract negotiations, product development, and branding.
• Contract Management: Draft, review, and negotiate IT contracts and agreements, including software licenses, software development agreements and service level agreements (SLAs), vendor contracts, and technology procurement agreements, open-source licensing, and proprietary software licensing.
• Data Privacy and Security:
o Ensure compliance with data protection and privacy laws, including GDPR, HIPAA, or other applicable regulations.
o Develop and enforce data security and privacy policies and procedures.
• Intellectual Property:
o Protect the company's intellectual property related to IT, such as software, patents, trademarks, and copyrights.
o Address licensing agreements and intellectual property disputes.
• Cybersecurity and Risk Management:
o Identify and mitigate legal risks related to cybersecurity and data breaches.
o Develop incident response plans and work on cybersecurity compliance.
• IT Compliance:
o Monitor and ensure the company's compliance with IT-related laws, regulations, and industry standards.
o Develop and implement IT compliance programs and policies.
• IP Compliance: Ensuring that the company complies with all relevant IP laws and regulations, including staying up to date with changes in IP law.
• Technology Transactions: Advise on technology-related transactions, such as mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and technology partnerships.
· Intellectual Property Strategy: Developing and implementing strategies to protect the company's intellectual property, which may include patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets.
• IP Portfolio Management: Managing the company's IP portfolio, including filing and maintaining patents and trademarks, and conducting IP audits.
• IP Licensing: Negotiating and drafting licensing agreements for the use of the company's intellectual property or acquiring licenses from third parties.
• IP Enforcement: Enforcing the company's IP rights by handling infringement cases, sending cease-and-desist letters, and collaborating with external legal counsel when necessary.
• IP Due Diligence: Conducting IP due diligence during mergers and acquisitions or partnerships to assess the value and risks associated with IP assets.
• Risk Management: Working with the Head of Risk identifying and mitigating potential IT/IP risks that the company may face.
• Training: Educating employees on IT and IP-related issues and best practices.
• Record Keeping: Maintaining records of IP/IT-related activities, including registrations, licenses, and litigation.
• Cost Management: Managing the budget associated with IP-related activities.
• Collaboration: Collaborating with other departments, such as research and development, marketing, and legal, to align IP strategy with the overall business goals.
• Contract Dispute Resolution:
o Handle or coordinate legal actions related to IT contract disputes, including negotiation, mediation, arbitration, or litigation.
o Software Licensing and Development:
• Regulatory Updates:
Stay current with IT/IP-related legal developments and regulations, ensuring the company's practices remain compliant.