Dolby Laboratories

Head of Litigation

Dolby Laboratories • $232K — $328K *
San Francisco, CA 94112In-Person
Legal & Accounting
8 - 10 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school and active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar.
  • 10+ years of litigation experience with a strong focus on patent, intellectual property, and complex commercial litigation.
  • Proven ability to lead high-stakes litigation matters involving sophisticated technology and licensing issues.
  • Experience managing outside counsel and litigation budgets for complex matters.

Responsibilities

  • Lead comprehensive litigation strategy and execution from assessment to final resolution.
  • Advise senior leadership on litigation risk and dispute resolution strategies.
  • Manage outside counsel to ensure alignment with business priorities and budget accountability.
  • Evaluate licensing requests and settlement opportunities with strong legal judgment.
  • Oversee key aspects of discovery and document review with attention to detail and risk management.
  • Collaborate with internal teams to gather facts and develop legal positions.
  • Develop practical recommendations for dispute resolution, including various approaches.

Benefits

  • Flexible work options including a 9/80 schedule and every other Friday off for U.S. employees.
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, including HSA contributions.
  • 401(k) plan with a 50% company match up to 6% of eligible pay.
  • Generous paid time off policies including holidays, vacation, and sick leave.
  • Tuition Reimbursement Program and various health and social well-being resources.
Full Job Description
As a senior legal strategist and business partner, the Head of Litigation will play a critical role in developing, leading, and executing Via Licensing Alliance's global litigation strategy. This leader will oversee complex, high-stakes patent and commercial litigation matters, manage outside counsel, and partner closely with senior leadership and cross-functional teams to ensure litigation strategy supports Via's broader business, licensing, and commercial objectives.

To be successful in this role, the ideal candidate will bring exceptional judgment, strategic thinking, negotiation skills, and the ability to translate complex legal issues into clear, practical business guidance. A deep understanding of intellectual property law, patent litigation, licensing practices, and technology-driven business models is essential. This hybrid role is based in San Francisco and requires in-office presence three days per week, Tuesday through Thursday.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Lead end-to-end litigation strategy and execution, including early case assessment, investigation, pleadings, discovery, motion practice, trial preparation, settlement strategy, appeals, and final resolution.
  • Serve as a strategic advisor to senior leadership on litigation risk, dispute resolution strategy, licensing enforcement, and matters that may materially impact Via's commercial objectives.
  • Manage and direct outside counsel to ensure thoughtful strategy, disciplined execution, efficient staffing, budget accountability, and alignment with Via's business priorities.
  • Evaluate licensing requests, infringement allegations, claims, counterclaims, and settlement opportunities with strong legal judgment and business acumen.
  • Oversee discovery strategy, document collection, privilege review, deposition preparation, expert engagement, and review of key legal filings with close attention to detail and risk management.
  • Partner with internal legal, licensing, finance, product, and technical teams to gather facts, assess exposure, develop legal positions, and support successful outcomes.
  • Develop practical, business-oriented recommendations for resolving disputes, including litigation, arbitration, mediation, negotiated settlement, or other dispute resolution approaches.
  • Build and maintain strong processes for litigation management, reporting, matter tracking, budget forecasting, and executive updates.


Qualifications and Skills:

  • Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school and active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar.
  • 10+ years of litigation experience, including meaningful experience in both a top-tier law firm and in-house legal environment, with a strong focus on patent, intellectual property, and complex commercial litigation.
  • Proven ability to lead high-stakes litigation matters involving sophisticated technology, licensing, standards, or intellectual property issues.
  • Experience managing outside counsel, litigation budgets, case strategy, and executive-level reporting for complex matters.


The ideal candidate will also demonstrate a strong track record of success in the following areas:

  • Developing and executing innovative litigation strategies in patent and intellectual property disputes.
  • Applying deep knowledge of patent law, licensing agreements, standards-based technology, and related legal and regulatory frameworks.
  • Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex legal documents, settlement agreements, licensing provisions, and dispute resolution terms with precision and sound judgment.
  • Developing and implementing global litigation strategies, operating models, and matter-management processes across jurisdictions.
  • Negotiating favorable settlements and resolving disputes in a way that balances legal risk, commercial impact, and long-term business objectives.
  • Exercising outstanding judgment, discretion, and professionalism when working on confidential, sensitive, or high-risk matters.
  • Operating effectively in ambiguous, fast-moving environments while maintaining clarity, discipline, and strong attention to detail.
  • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to simplify complex legal and technical issues for executive, business, and technical audiences.
  • Ability to collaborate with internal teams on advanced, novel, and technically complex legal issues.
  • A mature, seasoned perspective on patent litigation risk, enforcement strategy, dispute resolution, and the commercial implications of legal decisions.
  • Excellent academic credentials and a demonstrated commitment to professional excellence.


Benefits & Perks:

  • Flexible work options (9/80 schedule) - employees in the U.S. get every other Friday off. That's 26+ three day weekends a year
  • Competitive compensation (base + bonus)
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with Health Savings Account contribution
  • 401(k) with 50% company match on the first 6% of eligible pay you contribute on a pre-tax or Roth basis
  • Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
  • Generous holiday, vacation and sick leave
  • Supportive maternity, child bonding, and family care leave programs as well as short and long-term disability benefits
  • Programs and resources to support your physical, financial and social well being
  • Social activities including team events and onsites, all-company updates and retreat
  • Catered weekly lunch + snacks and drinks when working in the office
  • Temporary remote work option for qualified positions - employees can temporarily work remote from a location that is different from their designated office and home locations for up to 30 calendar days/20 workdays in any 12-month period with manager and company approval
  • Tuition Reimbursement Program


The San Francisco/Bay Area base salary range for this full-time position is $232,000 - 328,000 and can vary if outside of this location. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, competencies, experience, market demands, internal parity, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range and perks and benefits for your location during the hiring process.

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About Dolby Laboratories

Dolby Laboratories, Inc. creates audio and imaging technologies that transform entertainment and communications at the cinema, at home, at work, and on mobile devices. The company develops and licenses its audio technologies, such as AAC & HE-AAC, a digital audio codec solution used for TVs, set-top boxes (STBs), personal computers (PCs), gaming consoles, mobile devices, and digital radio; AVC, a digital video codec with high bandwidth efficiency used in media devices; Dolby AC-4, an audio coding technology that delivers new audio experiences to a range of playback devices; and Dolby Atmos technology for home theaters, cinemas, device speakers, mobile devices, and headphones. Its audio technologies also comprise Dolby Digital, a digital audio coding technology that provides multichannel sound in the home; Dolby Digital Plus, a digital audio coding technology that delivers audio quality for streaming, downloaded, and broadcast content; Dolby TrueHD, a digital audio coding technology for content providers; Dolby Vision, an imaging technology for cinema, digital TV, and other consumer devices; and HEVC, a digital video codec with high bandwidth efficiency to support delivery of Ultra HD and other video content. In addition, the company designs and manufactures audio and imaging products, such as digital cinema servers, Dolby Cinema audio products, and other products for the film production, cinema, television broadcast, and entertainment industries. Further, it offers services to support theatrical and television production for cinema exhibition, broadcast, and home entertainment. The company serves film studios, content creators, post-production facilities, cinema operators, broadcasters, and video game designers. Dolby Laboratories, Inc. was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.
Learn more about Dolby Laboratories
Size
2,368 employees
Market Cap
$6.5 billion
Industry
Consumer Technology
Net Income
$317.8 million
Founded
1965
5 Year Trend
+3%
Revenue
$1.2 billion
NASDAQ
DLB
* Ladders Estimates

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