Associate General Counsel - IP

Rite-Hite is the global leader in the manufacture and distribution of industrial loading dock and door equipment. Our innovative products and world class sales organization ensure solid, consistent growth, both for our company and our staff. We are always looking ahead to develop innovative new products and services to improve our customers' safety, security, and productivity.

Rite-Hite provides competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package with medical, dental, and vision coverage along with life and paid medical leave. We also provide a retirement savings plan that combines 401(K) with company match and profit sharing. Paid holidays, vacation, and up to five paid personal/sick days per year round out the package.

Rite-Hite is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer offering a drug free workplace for our customers and employees.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced, strategically minded Associate General Counsel - IP to join our global manufacturing company's legal department. This position will play a critical role in advancing Rite-Hite's commercial and financial interests, and will handle matters such as patents, designs, copyrights, trademarks and trade dress, licensing, franchising, distribution, technology transfers, and trade secret protects. This position will partner with business leaders to advance the organization's goals and support key business objectives, providing timely, proactive, solutions-oriented strategic business counsel to the organization and its leaders in connection with intellectual property-related issues.

The Associate General Counsel - IP will be responsible for addressing and/or managing all of the IP needs of the business, including advising and counseling business leaders on various IP matters on a global basis, with input from local counsel as needed. The role will be responsible for developing and implementing the company's intellectual property strategy, managing the company's IP portfolio, and overseeing all intellectual property-related legal matters. This position will be responsible for differentiating our intellectual property as an offensive and defensive asset by building, protecting, managing, and where appropriate, enforcing, our portfolio, with the goals of maximizing the value of Rite-Hite's IP, identifying and adopting best practices for IP at Rite-Hite.

This position will offer a candidate a collaborative, supportive and inclusive workplace culture, a flexible hybrid work schedule, the opportunity to work closely with senior legal and business leadership, and exposure to global operations and international contracting.

This is a hybrid position requiring three days per week in the office, with the flexibility to work remotely two days per week.

In this Role, You Will

• Build, protect, manage, and enforce the Company's patent portfolio, including proactively identifying and developing patentable intellectual property.
• Evaluate innovation and product developments to determine freedom-to-operate and patentability.
• Work closely with internal clients and/or outside counsel to prepare, file, and prosecute patent applications before the USPTO and foreign counterparts.
• Partner with internal clients, including management and members of the R&D, technical operations, and corporate development teams, to evaluate and advise on IP risks and opportunities.
• Review and assist in the drafting and/or negotiation of nondisclosure, license, and other agreements involving the use, transfer, or ownership of intellectual property.
• Develop and maintain enhanced valuation tools and assessments, leading a regular and ongoing assessment of the value of the company's IP portfolio and how to maximize it.
• Draft, negotiate, interpret and advise clients on IP related agreements, such as non-disclosure agreements and license agreements, and IP provisions in commercial agreements, such as manufacturing agreements, design and development agreements, and supply agreements.
• Support and lead inventor recognition efforts.
• Assess and advise on IP risks and opportunities in complex transactions.
• Support the organization's strategic innovation and new product development efforts.
• Support the company's marketing and brand management initiatives as a business partner, including through trademark and related support.
• Provide IP due diligence support for corporate development activities and manage patentability, freedom-to-operate, infringement, validity, and regulatory exclusivity analysis.
• Lead adversarial proceedings involving company technology or products, including IP litigation, oppositions, and/or post-grant proceedings.
• Train internal client groups on IP fundamentals and strategy, promoting awareness of IP and its implications on various functions within the organization.
• Manage outside IP counsel in all facets of their support for the organization.
• Build and promote talent and engagement within the Legal and Compliance department.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 7 years relevant professional experience in a law firm and/or in-house setting, with experience in the manufacturing industry highly preferred.
• Ability to approach IP creation and protection with a strategic mindset by anticipating future business, competitive and legal risks, and opportunities and offering creative solutions.
• Strong business acumen and ability to creatively resolve business issues.
• Experience in drafting and negotiating IP terms in business transactions required.
• Ability to manage outside counsel and other external resources for quality work product, value, and efficiency.
• Ability to develop relationships, build trust, and communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Flexibility, willingness, and ability to take on diverse tasks.
• Ability to facilitate and contribute to collaborative decision-making processes and work effectively on cross-functional teams.
• Required/Preferred Education and Licenses
  • A Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school.
  • Admission to practice before a state bar.
  • Admission to practice before the US Patent and Trademark Office.

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