Senior Counsel, Intellectual Property for Global BD and M&A

Role Summary

Senior Counsel, Intellectual Property for Global Business Development and Mergers & Acquisitions provides IP support for Sanofi external transactions including licensing, mergers, acquisitions, investments, and divestments. The role collaborates with business development, Sanofi Ventures, Mergers & Acquisitions, Digital Strategic Partnering, legal and IP teams to conduct IP diligence, negotiate and draft IP provisions in complex agreements, and guide post-transaction IP strategy. Based in Cambridge, MA.

Responsibilities

• Provide clear, pragmatic IP advice grounded in sound legal and business judgment regarding Sanofi’s external transactions
• Collaborate closely with BD, SV, M&A, DSP, legal, and IP colleagues, technical due diligence teams, and other key stakeholders to ensure the effective and timely management of external transactions
• Conduct IP diligence, including identification of key IP assets and available exclusivity, evaluation of ownership, patentability, validity and enforceability of IP rights, review of freedom to operate, and analysis of third-party agreements
• Assess relative IP position of key competitors
• Advocate for Sanofi’s interests in negotiation of IP-related matters with counterparties
• Draft IP-related clauses in term sheets and complex agreements
• Instruct and take advice from outside counsel when appropriate, and independently supervise the work of outside counsel
• Recommend post-transaction patent strategy
• Keep informed of new laws, regulations, and trends affecting industry and transaction space, and contribute to continuous improvement of IP-GBDMA team skills and ways of working

Qualifications

• Required: Undergraduate degree in the biological or chemical sciences
• Required: Registered US patent attorney with active membership and good standing in the MA or other state bar
• Required: At least 8 years of patent law experience, in-house and/or at a law firm
• Required: Experience providing IP support for synthetic molecules and/or biologics in the biopharmaceutical space
• Required: Experience with due diligence, agreement drafting, and negotiation
• Preferred: Graduate degree (MS, PhD) in the biological or chemical sciences
• Preferred: Experience providing IP support for both synthetic molecules and biologics
• Preferred: Law firm experience
• Preferred: Experience with litigation or other adversarial proceedings
• Preferred: Experience with digital IP matters

Skills

• Highly motivated, business-minded, and solution-oriented
• Strong legal and scientific background with excellent analytical, verbal, and written communication skills, including the ability to draft and negotiate complex agreements
• Collegial and collaborative, with ability to partner with and influence colleagues and stakeholders in a team-based environment
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team, and to prioritize and manage workload among multiple active matters

Education

• Undergraduate degree in the biological or chemical sciences
• Graduate degree (MS, PhD) in the biological or chemical sciences (Preferred)

Additional Requirements

• Location: Cambridge, MA, US
• Travel: Occasional travel (~15%)