Intellectual Property Attorney

About Midea America Corp

Midea America Corp. is a U.S. subsidiary within Midea Group the Fortune 500 giant known for making life easier for millions around the globe. As the worlds top maker of home appliances Midea is proud of its 166000 employees and presence in 200 countries including here in the U.S.

Headquartered in Parsippany N.J. with an innovation hub in Louisville Kentucky Midea America provides practical innovations that surprise and delight creating moments to cherish at home.

Mideas lineup of appliances - from refrigerators to air conditioners laundry solutions and floor care - are high quality reliable and affordable. By thoughtfully engineering performance convenience and design into every product Midea delivers on the promise of every appliance.

Job Summary

As we expand our footprint in the United States we seek a US IP Attorney to strengthen our intellectual property protection and strategy. This position will oversee Mideas intellectual property matters in the United States including patent prosecution IP litigation licensing and enforcement. The role involves collaborating with global R&D teams outside counsel and business units to ensure the companys innovations are adequately protected and aligned with business objectives. This position is preferred to be based in Louisville KY but we may also open to Parsippany NJ.

Key Responsibilities

Patent Strategy & Prosecution

• Develop and execute a US patent strategy aligned with Mideas global IP portfolio.
• Manage the preparation filing and prosecution of US patent applications in collaboration with outside counsel.
• Conduct freedom-to-operate (FTO) analysis patentability assessments and prior art searches for new product developments.
• Provide guidance to engineering R&D and product teams on patent strategies and IP risk mitigation.

IP Litigation & Enforcement

• Oversee IP litigation and disputes in the US including patent infringement lawsuits and ITC Section 337 investigations.
• Coordinate with external counsel on legal proceedings and pre-litigation strategies.
• Develop enforcement programs against counterfeit products unauthorized use of Mideas IP and trade secret misappropriation.
• Monitor competitors IP activities and provide risk assessments to leadership.

Licensing & IP Transactions

• Lead and negotiate IP licensing agreements technology transfer deals and strategic partnerships.
• Review and draft joint development agreements NDAs and collaboration contracts involving IP rights.
• Conduct IP due diligence in M&A transactions and business partnerships.

Trademark & Brand Protection

• Work with the branding and marketing teams to register enforce and protect Mideas trademarks in the US.
• Address trademark oppositions domain name disputes and brand misuse cases.

Compliance & Training

• Ensure compliance with US patent copyright and trade secret laws as well as industry regulations.
• Develop and deliver IP training programs for R&D engineering and business teams.
• Stay updated on legal developments in US IP law and advise the company on regulatory changes.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited US law school.
• Admission to a state bar (preferably California Texas or New York).
• USPTO registration required.
• 5 years of IP experience in a law firm or in-house legal department with a focus on patents trademarks and IP litigation.
• Strong understanding of US patent laws USPTO procedures and IP litigation strategies.
• Experience working with engineering and R&D teams particularly in consumer electronics appliances or manufacturing industries.
• Proven ability to manage outside counsel and legal budgets.
• Excellent negotiation analytical and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating with global teams.
• Mandarin proficiency is a plus but not required.

Midea America Corp. is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race religion color national origin gender (including pregnancy childbirth or related medical conditions) sexual orientation gender identity gender expression age status as a protected veteran status as an individual with a disability or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

Featured benefits

Medical insurance

Vision insurance

Dental insurance

401(k)