AbbVie

Associate General Counsel-IP Due Diligence

AbbVie$150K — $200K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • JD degree from an accredited law school, active state bar admission, and USPTO registration as a patent attorney
  • ~8 years of experience in patent law, particularly in pharmaceutical or biotechnology contexts
  • Substantial experience in conducting IP due diligence on biologics, peptides, and small molecules
  • Technical background in molecular biology, biotechnology, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, chemical engineering, or biomedical engineering
  • Strong communication and collaboration skills with a proven ability to manage complex projects

Responsibilities

  • Lead and execute IP due diligence for M&A and licensing transactions
  • Provide legal counsel on IP matters to business development and R&D teams
  • Analyze third-party patent portfolios and competitive landscapes
  • Prepare and present comprehensive due diligence reports to stakeholders
  • Collaborate with external counsel for prior art and validity assessments
  • Support negotiations for licensing and venture transactions
  • Build relationships with scientific and business teams to integrate IP considerations

Benefits

  • Paid time off including vacation, holidays, and sick leave
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • 401(k) retirement plan for eligible employees
  • Participation in long-term incentive programs
Full Job Description
AbbVie is searching for an in-house Associate General Counsel for our IP Due Diligence group, part of AbbVie's Intellectual Property, Transactions, and Innovation legal team. This position will support AbbVie's business development activities, including mergers and acquisitions, licensing deals, option agreements, and venture transactions, and will be based in our offices in North Chicago, IL, Waltham, MA, South San Francisco, CA, or Irvine, CA with a hybrid work model (on site 3+ days/week). Acting individually and in cross-functional teams, the Associate General Counsel will lead and execute IP due diligence for business development transactions, assess intellectual property risk and opportunity across AbbVie's pipeline and target portfolios, and provide strategic IP counsel in support of AbbVie's M&A, licensing, option, and venture activities. Responsibilities: • Lead and execute comprehensive IP due diligence for M&A, licensing, option, and venture transactions, assessing patent coverage, freedom-to-operate, validity, enforceability, and competitive landscape • Provide legal advice and counsel to cross-functional business development, R&D, and commercial teams on IP matters arising in the context of transactions and strategic partnerships • Analyze and assess third-party patent portfolios and competitive landscapes, including claim scope, prosecution history, litigation exposure, and conduct patent landscaping across counterparty portfolios or various mechanisms-of-action to identify strategic risks, white-space opportunities, and competitive intelligence insights in support of transaction structuring and risk mitigation • Prepare and present clear, actionable due diligence reports and risk assessments to senior legal, business, and scientific stakeholders • Partner with external counsel and internal scientific teams to conduct prior art searches, validity assessments, and freedom-to-operate analyses in support of transaction due diligence • Lead and support negotiations in connection with licensing, M&A, option, and venture transactions, working closely with business development and legal colleagues • Build and manage productive relationships with science, evaluation, and business development teams to ensure IP considerations are integrated throughout the deal lifecycle • Interact regularly with IP team leadership to provide updates on transaction diligence activities, escalate key risks, and align on IP strategy • Participate in technology assessment and cross-functional teams supporting R&D external opportunity diligence, evaluating the IP implications of in-licensing, co-development, and acquisition targets • Support and, where appropriate, manage patent prosecution activities across a range of modalities, including complex and simple biologics, peptides, small molecule pharmaceuticals, or device-related inventions, coordinating with outside counsel and internal R&D teams to develop and execute prosecution strategies aligned with business objectives Qualifications • JD degree from an accredited law school, active state bar admission enabling in-house practice (specific state not required), and registration to practice before the USPTO as a patent attorney • ~8 years of experience practicing patent law as a patent attorney at a law firm and/or life sciences company, with substantial experience conducting IP due diligence in a pharmaceutical or biotechnology context • Prior due diligence experience in simple biologics, complex biologics, peptides, and other small molecule pharmaceuticals • Experience with biosimilars or generics portfolios • Technical background relevant for pharmaceutical IP due diligence, such as: • Experience with small molecule and/or biological pharmaceutical discovery & development, and/or • Technical degree in a relevant field, such as molecular biology, biotechnology, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, chemical engineering, or biomedical engineering • Strong legal, analytical, communication, collaboration, and people skills • Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects to meet deadlines Preferred Qualifications: • Prior pharma or biotech due diligence experience in M&A, licensing, or option deal transactions • Experience with biosimilars or generic pharmaceutical patent portfolios • Experience advising on venture transactions or strategic collaborations with IP components Additional Information Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law: • The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of thisposting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location,and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future. • We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees. • This job is eligible to participate in our long-term incentive programs. Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission,incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless anduntil paid and may be modified at the Company's sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law.

About AbbVie

AbbVie develops pharmaceuticals and medical devices. They provide products and services to therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology, neuroscience, eye care, virology, women's health, and gastroenterology.

AbbVie Careers

Joining AbbVie means becoming part of a global team dedicated to making a remarkable impact on patients' lives. At AbbVie, our employees are united in the pursuit of groundbreaking innovation and are committed to transforming the future of healthcare with leading-edge science.

Work You’ll Do

At AbbVie, you’ll collaborate with some of the brightest minds in the industry to solve challenging problems that have a high impact on society. Our culture fosters growth and embraces leadership and diversity training, ensuring that every team member can thrive.

Explore Job Opportunities

AbbVie offers a wide range of job opportunities and career paths, providing a platform where professionals can propel their careers forward. From research and development to marketing and sales, the potential to make a significant impact is limitless.

Internship Programs

Kickstart your career with an AbbVie internship. Our programs provide invaluable industry experience and a chance to develop essential skills in a real-world setting. Interns at AbbVie are considered integral members of the team and are given tasks that are both challenging and rewarding.

Professional Growth and Development

We believe in nurturing our team's professional growth through comprehensive training programs, leadership development opportunities, and continuous learning. Our commitment to your career growth is reflected in our robust offerings that enhance your skills and knowledge.

Benefits and Culture

AbbVie is dedicated to supporting our employees' well-being both inside and outside of work. Our benefits package includes health, financial, and social benefits that are designed to support the diverse needs of our employees. Our inclusive culture encourages collaboration and innovation, fostering a workplace where all can excel.

Hiring Process

Our hiring process is designed to ensure a match that will be beneficial both for the company and for your career aspirations. From resume submission to interview, each step is an opportunity to showcase your skills and fit with the AbbVie team.

Networking and Career Advancement

At AbbVie, networking doesn’t just enhance your career; it propels it. We encourage our employees to engage internally and externally to build relationships that foster personal and professional growth.

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Whether you’re seeking to advance your career in a dynamic and empowering environment, or looking for a place where you can innovate, lead, and contribute to something bigger, AbbVie is the place for you. Join us in our mission to discover and deliver innovative medicines that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow.
Learn more about AbbVie
Size
50,000 employees
Market Cap
$288.5 billion
Industry
Net Income
$4.6 billion
Founded
2013
5 Year Trend
+17%
Revenue
$45.8 billion
NASDAQ

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