Chief IP Counsel

Agenus is building its legal talent and seeking an exceptional IP lawyer with a broad skillset and experience to lead and execute its patent and trademark strategy as the Company progresses an innovative and diverse clinical pipeline of differentiated immune-oncology products and prepares for its first commercial product launch thereafter.  We are seeking a creative, talented Chief IP Counsel who will thrive in a challenging, dynamic environment, support stimulating growth and implementation of innovative IP solutions to support and protect our scientific innovation. The Chief IP Counsel will frame the IP strategy and work closely with our cutting-edge scientific discovery team that to help propel Agenus into the next phase of its 25 year history.  This position reports to the Chief Legal Officer. 

Position Description

• Craft and implement a progressive and creative IP strategy across multiple discovery and clinical programs to protect company’s IP.
• Oversee integration of IP advice in a dynamic environment by devising a strategy that will stimulate growth and implementation of innovative solutions.
• Collaborate with dynamic and collegial legal department.

• Provide strategic counsel to company management on all IP prosecution, diligence and related matters.
• Work closely with and manage outside patent counsel.
• Interface regularly with R&D teams to evaluate and support development of new technologies and to provide IP training and partnership, generate new ideas, and harvest new inventions.
• Oversee and assist with preparation and prosecution of patent applications relating to antibodies, adjuvants, vaccines, cell therapies, and platform innovations, in a manner consistent with the Company’s patent strategy and patent lifecycle management best practices
• Conduct or oversee patentability, non-infringement, invalidity, and freedom-to-operate analyses.
• Collaborate with business development team and external partners on IP-related alliance matters.
• Negotiate IP terms of licensing, collaboration, and other agreements, and advise the company of its rights and obligations under such agreements.
• Conduct IP due diligence for in-licensing and acquisition opportunities.
• Manage oppositions and other contested proceedings as needed.
• Review proposed scientific disclosures and oversee disclosure review systems and policies.
• Review IP portions of SEC filings.
• Manage trademark prosecution and strategy and oversee outside trademark counsel.
• Create new IP policies and collaborate with others across the Company to update existing internal policies as relate to IP.

Requirements

• PhD in Immunology or related life sciences discipline.
• JD and admission in good standing to the bar of at least one state.
• Registration to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
• Experience managing and overseeing IP legal group at biotech company or as partner at nationally recognized law firm.
• At least ten (10) years of experience in patent preparation and prosecution and IP due diligence analyses in the biologics space in both law firm and corporate settings.
• Demonstrated ability to achieve results.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to think strategically and systematically, analyze complex business issues, and utilize sound judgment in deriving conclusions.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills.
• Experience with sophisticated contract negotiation, in particular IP provisions.
• Experience with contested proceedings (e.g., litigation, oppositions, IPRs) is a plus.
• Understanding of key regulatory considerations in biologics drug development is a plus.