Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience, or high school diploma with extensive relevant experience
Fluency in English, both written and verbal
7 years of relevant experience in intellectual property law
Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school
Admission to at least one U.S. state bar and registration with the USPTO
Experience in patent law, particularly in medical devices or life sciences
Ability to manage patent portfolios and provide practical legal advice
Responsibilities
Manage invention disclosures and conduct inventor interviews
Prepare, prosecute, and manage Alcon's global patent portfolio
Review and manage outside counsel for quality and cost-effectiveness
Conduct due diligence and freedom-to-operate assessments
Collaborate with cross-functional teams and provide legal guidance
Assist in internal training on IP-related issues
Support IP-related agreements and litigation processes
Benefits
Focused growth and development opportunities
Robust benefits package including health and life insurance
Retirement plan options
Flexible time off for exempt associates
Paid time off for hourly associates
Full Job Description
IP Legal Counsel
As IP Counsel supporting our Legal and Compliance team, you will be trusted to work on intellectual property matters related to medical devices and manufacturing technologies in our Fort Worth, TX office.
In this role, a typical day will include:
Manage invention disclosures, including collecting and screening disclosures, conducting inventor interviews, presenting disclosures at patent committee meetings, and making recommendations
Prepare, prosecute, and manage a global patent portfolio, including direct preparation and prosecution of patent applications before the USPTO and managing outside counsel in the US and abroad
Conduct due diligence and freedom-to-operate assessments related to product development, M&A, and licensing activities
Conduct strategic assessments of competitor products and IP portfolios
Collaborate with cross-functional teams and counsel a variety of clients on IP and other legal issues
Draft, negotiate, and review IP-related agreements
Provide support on IP litigation and administrative patent proceedings, including reexaminations and oppositions
Conduct internal training on IP issues and processes
Occasional domestic or foreign travel
WHAT YOU'LL BRING TO ALCON:
Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent years of directly related experience (or high school+15 yrs. Assoc.+11 yrs.; M.S.+4 yrs.; PhD+3 yrs.)
The ability to fluently read, write, understand, and communicate in English
7 Years of Relevant Experience
ADDITIONAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
Undergraduate or post-graduate degree in engineering discipline, with strong academic performance
Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school, with strong academic performance
Admission to at least one U.S. state bar and registration to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
4-7 years' experience practicing patent law at a reputable law firm
Demonstrated ability interact effectively with stakeholders and provide practical, business-oriented legal advice
Preferably, working knowledge of patent law in international jurisdictions and experience with patent conflicts, including reexaminations, EPO oppositions, and/or patent litigation
HOW YOU CAN THRIVE AT ALCON:
See your career like never before with focused growth and development opportunities
Join Alcon's mission to provide outstanding, innovative products and solutions to improve sight, improve lives, and grow your career!
Alcon provides robust benefits package including health, life, retirement, flexible time off for exempt associates, PTO for hourly associates, and much more!
Alcon Careers
See your impact at alcon.com/careers
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If you are currently an active employee/contingent worker at Alcon, please click the appropriate link below to apply on the Internal Career site.
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About Alcon
Alcon is a global medical company specializing in eye care products and services. The company's products include surgical equipment, contact lenses, and eye drops. Alcon was founded in 1945 and is headquartered in Baar, Switzerland. The company operates in over 70 countries and has over 20,000 employees. In 2019, Alcon became an independent publicly traded company after being spun off from Novartis.
