Senior IP AttorneyReports to: Global Head of Intellectual PropertyLocation: Global/flexible (to be defined)The Senior IP Attorney will support Aptar's global intellectual property strategy by managing and protecting intellectual property assets across multiple jurisdictions. The Senior IP Attorney will handle a broad range of IP matters, including portfolio management, licensing, enforcement, and IP-related transactions.
This role will also serve as a strategic IP partner to the business, R&D, Innovation, and segment IP teams, helping align IP strategy with commercial objectives and long-term innovation priorities.
Aligned with Aptar's values, the Senior IP Attorney will:
- Enable customer success through practical, IP-informed, and legally sound solutions.
- Foster an inclusive, equitable workplace.
- Uphold Aptar's Core Values in all professional interactions.
As a Senior IP Attorney, You Will:- IP Execution & Advisory Support
- Provide IP analysis and practical guidance on patent and IP matters in support of segment IP leaders.
- Support interpretation and application of Group IP standards, templates, and minimum requirements
- Assist in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex IP-related documents and IP-related commercial contract provisions (e.g., licenses, NDAs, collaboration clauses, technology transfers, joint development agreements).
- Support IP due diligence in M&A, strategic partnerships, and other corporate transactions.
- Mentor junior IP/legal staff and contribute to the development of IP capabilities across the legal team.
- Develop and implement internal IP policies, procedures, and training programs, including conducting IP training for business, R&D, and legal stakeholders.
- Provide litigation, opposition, enforcement, and dispute-support assistance, including coordinating with external counsel, gathering relevant technical and business input, reviewing submissions, and supporting case strategy.
- IP risk management leadership (FTO, litigation, oppositions, and patent challenges)
- Perform or coordinate preliminary IP analyses (prior art, risk framing, issue spotting).
- Support dispute, opposition, litigation, and patent challenge matters under the direction of the Global Head of Intellectual Property, including coordination with external counsel and segment IP leadership.
- Lead enforcement actions against IP infringement, including cease-and-desist letters, administrative proceedings, and litigation.
- Coordinate with external counsel on IP disputes and support internal stakeholders on strategy and resolution.
- Capture and document lessons learned from disputes and risk cases
- Patent quality, claim strategy & prosecution enablement
- Conduct/ Support claim drafting and prosecution strategy to improve quality, enforceability, and alignment with business intent
- Ensure filings meet Group quality gates and documentation expectations
- Act as an IP/patent strategy sounding board for segment IP leaders on prosecution tactics.
- Provide IP support on claim strategy and quality, including breadth, enforceability, and alignment with business objectives.
- Coordinate with segment IP leaders to ensure filings reflect invention intent and business strategy, while being legally robust.
- Support or oversee patent prosecution, office action responses, invention disclosure review, and related patent portfolio activities in coordination with segment IP leadership and external counsel.
- Portfolio strategy & value creation
- Identify and evaluate underutilized IP assets for potential reuse, licensing, or monetization
- Lead and support portfolio review exercises including renewals, pruning, coverage analysis, competitive positioning, and strategic alignment with business priorities.
- Provide legal input and guidance to cross-segment IP reuse, portfolio synergy, product launch, marketing, and vendor-related initiatives.
- Partner with R&D, Engineering, Marketing, and Procurement teams to identify and protect innovations and brand assets.
- Support development of processes to improve portfolio quality, reduce unnecessary spend, and increase the strategic value of Aptar's IP assets.
- External Counsel Coordination
- Manage and oversee day-to-day interaction with external IP counsel under agreed rules-of-engagement.
- Prepare work scopes, briefing materials, and legal context to improve efficiency and cost control
- Review and challenge external counsel work product for quality and strategic alignment, commercial relevance, and cost effectiveness
- Coordinate external counsel strategy, budgets, and deliverables in connection with prosecution, disputes, oppositions, enforcement, and IP transactional matters
Who We are Looking ForEducation & Experience- Patent attorney, patent agent, European Patent Attorney, or equivalent IP/patent professional qualification required.
- U.S. registered patent attorney or patent agent, European Patent Attorney qualification, or equivalent international patent qualification preferred.
- Juris Doctor (JD) or equivalent legal degree from an accredited institution preferred, but not required.
- Technical expertise relevant to Aptar's application fields preferred.
- Typically 10+ years of experience in IP law, patent practice, IP portfolio management, or a comparable IP professional role, whether in-house, at a law firm, patent agency, or comparable professional setting.
- Experience with patents and IP risk topics, including FTO, prosecution, disputes, oppositions, post-grant challenges, and other patent validity proceedings.
- Experience working in matrixed or multi-business organizations preferred
- Proven track record managing IP portfolios and leading complex IP transactions
- Strong understanding of patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret law.
Skills / Abilities - In-house experience managing IP portfolios or supporting IP litigation at product-based companies or with a global law firm.
- Technical background (e.g., engineering, life sciences, software) is a plus.
- Experience with IP litigation and enforcement across multiple jurisdictions.
- Familiarity with USPTO, EPO, WIPO, and other international IP offices and procedures.
- Business-oriented mindset with strong analytical and problem-solving skills
