Executive Director & Executive Counsel, IP

We are seeking a seasoned legal professional to join our Legal Department as Executive Director & Executive Counsel – Intellectual Property. This role provides strategic legal counsel to senior leadership (VP, EVP, CMC, and Level 1 executives), with a focus on intellectual property (IP) acquisition, due diligence, and global legal strategy. The successful candidate will lead a team of attorneys and IP professionals, manage complex legal matters, and influence business decisions at the highest levels.

As an employee of Boehringer Ingelheim, you will actively contribute to the discovery, development and delivery of our products to our patients and customers. Our global presence provides opportunity for all employees to collaborate internationally, offering visibility and opportunity to directly contribute to the companies´ success. We realize that our strength and competitive advantage lie with our people. We support our employees in a number of ways to foster a healthy working environment, meaningful work, mobility, networking and work-life balance. Our competitive compensation and benefit programs reflect Boehringer Ingelheim´s high regard for our employees.

This role is based in our Ridgefield, CT office. 

This position offers a base salary typically between $250,000 and $394,000.  This position may be eligible for a role specific variable or performance based bonus and or other compensation elements.  For an overview of our benefits please click here. ​

• Develop and implement IP strategies for protecting innovations across several therapeutic modalities with a strong understanding and background in large molecule pharmaceutical IP law.
• Assist in assessing and guiding patent portfolio development for assets in development with an understanding of potential future litigation (i.e., Hatch-Waxman and Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act  (BPCIA)).
• Manage and grow the company’s global patent portfolio, by working with outside counsel and direct reports, including advising, drafting and prosecution.
• Conduct and supervise freedom-to-operate (FTO), patentability, and landscape analyses in collaboration with R&D, Business Development, and corporate strategy.
• Advise senior executives in discovery research on legal risks and strategic decisions on platform technologies by providing IP analysis and input into potential molecule design.
• Advise on legal risks and strategic decisions by providing strategic IP input into clinical and regulatory activities, including assessing potential third-party IP risks.
• Provide strategic direction for actions before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), including inter partes reviews (IPRs), post-grant reviews (PGRs).
• Manage and mentor a team of attorneys and paraprofessionals.
• Partner with internal, including internal global attorneys, and external counsel to support business objectives.

• Advise on IP provisions of high-stakes agreements in collaboration with Business Development and other senior leaders, including IP licensing, collaborations, and sponsored research agreements.

• Stay current with national and international legal and business developments, and advise on changes that may impact business objectives.
• Promote corporate policies and ensure legal compliance across business units.

• Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school.
• Admission to at least one State Bar and registered to practice in front of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
• Minimum 10 years of relevant legal experience, with at least 5 years of relevant experience in patent and intellectual property law in the pharmaceutical industry, with experience building patent portfolios for large molecule pharmaceuticals.
• Proven leadership in managing legal teams and mentoring professionals.
• Exceptional communication, analytical thinking, and negotiation skills.
• Strong organizational skills and discretion in handling confidential information.
• Must have the ability to work seamlessly in a cross-functional business environment, be highly innovative and be well-versed in pharmaceutical new product development processes, patent procurement, enforcement and monetization while staying aligned with the overall business strategy.
• Must have a sound background and education (preferably graduate degree) in a biotech-life science field such as chemistry, molecular biology, microbiology, biochemistry and/or immunology or the like.
• Working knowledge of Hatch-Waxman and BPCIA  law.
• Strong knowledge of patent prosecution and at least one other competency (FDA regulations, IP litigation and/or IP transactional work).
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and analytical skills.

Eligibility Requirements
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without restriction.
Must be willing to take a drug test and post-offer physical (if required).
Must be 18 years of age or older.