Senior Legal Counsel, Intellectual Property

Why you will love this role:

As a dynamic and experienced Senior Legal Counsel, Intellectual Property you will oversee and manage our IP portfolio across the Americas. This role offers the opportunity to work closely with R&D, marketing, commercial, and global legal teams to protect and enhance our company's innovations, brands, and competitive position. The ideal candidate will provide expert legal counsel on patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and other IP matters while ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

What you'll be doing:

• Develop and implement IP strategies to protect the company's innovations and competitive positioning.
• Conduct freedom-to-operate (FTO) assessments, patentability analyses, and provide IP litigation support.
• Collaborate with U.S.-based R&D teams and other departments to identify and protect new inventions.
• Draft, file, and prosecute patent applications before WIPO and the USPTO; manage foreign counterparts.
• Oversee U.S. counterparts of the European-based IP team's patent and trademark portfolios.
• Provide legal guidance on U.S. trademarks, including clearance and enforcement strategies.
• Draft and negotiate R&D, IP license, commercial, distribution, and manufacturing agreements.
• Conduct IP due diligence for mergers, acquisitions, and partnership opportunities.
• Lead IP awareness training and refresh best practices for IP protection and commercialization.
• Present IP strategies and updates to U.S. and Global executive leadership teams.

What you will bring to the team:

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school; member of a State Bar in good standing.
• Registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
• Bachelor's or advanced degree in a scientific or engineering discipline (preferably in AI, Software, endoscopy devices, imaging systems, machine learning, image recognition, or graphics/video processing).
• Minimum 8 years of experience in IP law, preferably within a medical device, life sciences, biotech, or healthcare setting.
• Expertise in patent prosecution, IP due diligence, FTO analysis, and portfolio management.
• Experience drafting and reviewing commercial contracts, including R&D and licensing agreements.
• Strong negotiation, analytical, and problem-solving skills with the ability to work in a matrixed organization.
• Business-oriented mindset with excellent communication skills.
• German language proficiency is a plus.

Who we are:

• KARL STORZ is an independent, family-owned company headquartered in Germany's renowned MedTech manufacturing region. For 80 years, we have pioneered the most groundbreaking innovations in minimally invasive surgery and OR integration to benefit patients and healthcare providers alike. With more than 9,000 associates worldwide and 1,800 in the US, we pride ourselves on harnessing cutting-edge technology, precise workmanship, and unrivaled customer support to help healthcare facilities manage costs, streamline operations, and deliver positive patient outcomes. With onsite locations and field opportunities across the country, we attract a diverse and talented staff, unified by the desire to foster positive change in the world. Because it is not just about the tools we create-it is about the lives we change, together.

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