Role SummaryWe are seeking an experienced, business-oriented Managing Legal Counsel to join the Legal Department's Intellectual Property Group. This role is designed for a seasoned intellectual property lawyer who will support the firm's overall global IP strategy and be accountable for the day-to-day operations and responsibilities of the Intellectual Property Group.
The Managing Legal Counsel will serve as a legal advisor on the development, protection, enforcement, commercialization, and governance of the firm's intellectual property assets globally. The role will include leadership across trademark and copyright matters, brand protection, licensing, trade secret strategy, IP-related contract counseling, third-party IP and data use, and scalable legal enablement for business and legal stakeholders. The role will collaborate closely with the Head of the Intellectual Property Group and other team members to align legal strategy, operational priorities, matter execution, and stakeholder support.
Positioned at the intersection of intellectual property law and innovative marketing and product development, the successful candidate will partner closely with attorneys, analysts, business leaders, technologists, risk professionals, compliance partners, and external counsel. The role requires strong legal judgment, pragmatic business orientation, sound prioritization, and the ability to operate independently in a highly regulated global environment.
ResponsibilitiesPortfolio Management, Enforcement, Transactions and Licensing:- Support the execution of the firm's global intellectual property strategy, including trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, domain names, patents, proprietary content, and other intellectual property assets.
- Lead strategic legal counseling on brand, product, service, and campaign naming initiatives, including trademark clearance, risk assessment, filing strategy, prosecution, maintenance, and launch readiness.
- Oversee intellectual property enforcement and dispute matters, including investigations, cease-and-desist activity, online brand protection, domain name issues, marketplace monitoring, and coordination with internal stakeholders and external counsel.
- Draft, negotiate, review, and advise on intellectual property licenses and related agreements.
- Advise transactional attorneys and business partners on intellectual property provisions in complex commercial agreements with suppliers, partners, distributors, clients, technology providers, data vendors, and other third parties.
- Manage outside counsel relationships and drive accountability for global portfolio strategy, matter execution, deadlines, budgets, reporting, and deliverables.
- Advise on compliance with third-party intellectual property, proprietary data, market data, content, technology, and contractual usage requirements in collaboration with legal, compliance, risk, technology, procurement, and business stakeholders.
IP Group Operations:- Be accountable for the day-to-day operation and responsibilities of the Intellectual Property Group, including matter intake, triage, prioritization, workflow management, stakeholder communications, and service delivery.
- Partner with the Head of the Intellectual Property Group and other team members to coordinate priorities, allocate work effectively, support team execution, and ensure consistent delivery of IP legal services.
- Drive consistency, efficiency, and quality in IP legal advice by maintaining clear processes, escalation paths, matter tracking, playbooks, and practical guidance for recurring issues.
- Coordinate IP priorities across internal legal teams, business stakeholders, regional partners, and external counsel to ensure timely execution of strategic and operational objectives.
- Support IP reporting, metrics, budget discipline, operational controls, and continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen the effectiveness and scalability of the IP legal function.
- Lead IP training and awareness programs that embed "IP by design" into business activities, product and service development, marketing, technology initiatives, vendor engagements, and commercial transactions.
Stakeholder Enablement, Playbooks, Templates, and Self-Service Tools:- Develop, maintain, and enhance legal playbooks, templates, clause libraries, guidance materials, and decision frameworks that enable consistent and practical IP counseling across the enterprise.
- Design and implement risk-based self-service solutions that allow business and legal stakeholders to address routine IP issues efficiently while preserving appropriate escalation for higher-risk matters.
- Standardize and scale IP-related transactional review, portfolio management, enforcement, and advisory processes to improve efficiency, consistency, and risk management.
Process Improvement and Technology Enablement:- Identify and responsibly leverage AI, workflow tools, and other emerging technologies to improve IP portfolio management, IP group operations, intake, tracking, reporting, and service delivery.
- Drive process improvements, controls, and operating models that enhance the scalability, transparency, and effectiveness of the IP function.
QualificationsRequired:- J.D. from an accredited law school and active membership in at least one U.S. state bar.
- 10+ years of relevant intellectual property legal experience, preferably including experience in a corporate legal department, law firm, or both, with demonstrated ability to advise independently on complex IP matters.
- Strong working knowledge of U.S. and global intellectual property laws, with substantial experience in IP portfolio management, clearance, prosecution strategy, licensing, enforcement, brand protection, copyright compliance, and trade secret protection.
- Experience leading legal workstreams, managing competing priorities, coordinating cross-functional stakeholders, and operating with sound judgment and minimal supervision.
Preferred:- Experience advising clients in asset management/financial services sector.
- Experience developing scalable legal frameworks, playbooks, templates, training programs, and stakeholder-facing resources.
- Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally with senior legal, compliance, risk, procurement, product, marketing, data, technology, and business stakeholders.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to provide clear, concise, practical legal advice to sophisticated business and legal stakeholders.
- Demonstrated ability to draft, negotiate, and advise on complex intellectual property, data, technology, content, confidentiality, and commercial contract provisions.
- Strong organizational, leadership, and prioritization skills, with the ability to manage a high-volume IP function and competing strategic and operational demands.
- Familiarity with operational risk, controls, governance frameworks, and technology-enabled legal service delivery in a regulated industry.
FINRA RequirementsFINRA licenses are not required and will not be supported for this role.
Work FlexibilityThis role is eligible for hybrid work, with up to one day per week from home.
Base Salary RangesPlease review the job posting for the location of this specific opportunity.
$174,000.00 - $297,000.00 for the location of: Maryland, Colorado, Washington and remote workers
$191,000.00 - $327,000.00 for the location of: Washington, D.C.
$218,000.00 - $350,000.00 for the location of: New York, California
Placement within the range provided above is based on the individual's relevant experience and skills for the role. Base salary is only one component of our total compensation package. Employees may be eligible for a discretionary bonus, which is determined upon company and individual performance.
BenefitsWe value your goals and needs, at work and in life. As an associate, you'll be supported with resources, benefits, and work-life balance so you can thrive in ways that matter to you.
Featured employee benefits to enrich your life:
- A generous retirement plan
- Health and wellness benefits, including online therapy
- Paid time off for vacation, illness, medical appointments, and volunteering days
- Family care resources, including fertility and adoption benefits
Learn more about our benefits.
