10+ years of experience in trademark litigation and disputes, particularly in technology sectors.
Proven track record in developing and executing litigation strategies from assessment to resolution.
Experience in managing global trademark portfolios, including clearance and enforcement.
Strong communication skills for conveying complex legal issues to non-legal stakeholders.
Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams and manage multiple urgent matters.
Intellectual curiosity and a proactive approach to problem-solving.
JD and California practice license required.
Responsibilities
Lead global trademark litigation and disputes from initial assessment to resolution.
Develop and execute enforcement strategies, managing outside counsel and advising leadership.
Oversee and mentor the trademark team on clearance, prosecution, and brand protection.
Stay updated on laws and industry trends, providing legal guidance to stakeholders.
Build scalable processes for trademark risk assessment and enforcement prioritization.
Provide strategic advice balancing legal risks with commercial and reputational considerations.
Benefits
Hybrid work model with 3 days in the office per week.
Relocation assistance for new employees.
Full Job Description
About the Role
We're growing our IP team and seek an experienced attorney to lead OpenAI's global trademark litigation and disputes strategy, and oversee our broader trademark and brand protection practice. You will lead complex, high-stakes trademark litigation and enforcement matters around the world, develop strategies to protect OpenAI's brands in a rapidly evolving technological landscape, and provide practical, business-oriented advice on novel trademark and brand-related issues. This role is highly cross-functional across OpenAI, including work across our Legal, Communications, Global Affairs, Marketing, Product and Executive teams
This role is based in San Francisco, CA. We use a hybrid work model of 3 days in the office per week and offer relocation assistance to new employees.
In this role, you will:
Lead global trademark litigation and disputes, including complex infringement, unfair competition, dilution, and other brand-related litigation, from initial assessment through resolution.
Develop and execute global trademark litigation and enforcement strategies, including managing outside counsel, directing litigation strategy, assessing risk, and advising senior leadership on significant disputes.
Lead and develop OpenAI's trademark team, overseeing attorneys and legal professionals responsible for trademark clearance, prosecution, portfolio management, enforcement, dispute resolution, brand protection, and marketing counseling.
Stay current on relevant laws, regulations, and industry trends, and provide updates and legal guidance to company leadership and stakeholders.
Build scalable processes and frameworks for trademark risk assessment, enforcement prioritization, outside counsel management, and cross-functional decision-making.
Provide clear, practical, and strategic advice to senior leadership, balancing legal risks, commercial priorities, reputational considerations, and long-term brand protection.
You might thrive in this role if you:
Have 10+ years of leading complex trademark litigation and disputes, including significant responsibility for litigation strategy, case management, and resolution, including substantial experience at technology companies and law firms.
Have personally developed and executed strategies for complex, high-stakes trademark litigation and disputes, leading matters from initial assessment through resolution, including direct engagement with opposing counsel and other key stakeholders.
Have experience developing and executing global trademark portfolio strategies, including clearance, prosecution, enforcement, and brand protection, aligned with business priorities and growth.
Communicate complex legal and business issues clearly, exercise sound judgment in navigating legal uncertainty, and provide practical, strategic recommendations under pressure.
Work effectively with cross-functional teams, legal operations, outside counsel, and senior stakeholders while managing multiple urgent matters.
Bring intellectual curiosity, sound judgment, a strong sense of ownership, and a willingness to challenge assumptions respectfully and learn from feedback.
Have a JD and a license or qualification to practice in California.
About OpenAI
OpenAI is an artificial intelligence research laboratory consisting of the for-profit corporation OpenAI LP and its parent company, the non-profit OpenAI Inc. The company was founded in 2015 by a group of technology leaders, including Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, Ilya Sutskever, and John Schulman. OpenAI's mission is to develop and promote friendly AI for the betterment of humanity. The company has developed a number of cutting-edge AI technologies, including GPT-3, a language processing system that can generate human-like text. OpenAI has received funding from a number of high-profile investors, including LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and venture capitalist Peter Thiel.
