Sr. Counsel, Intellectual Property

About Azenta

At Azenta new ideas new technologies and new ways of thinking are driving our future. Our customer-focused culture encourages employees to embrace innovation and challenge the status quo with novel thinking and collaborative work relationships.

Azenta Life Sciences is a global leader in the life sciences space with headquarters in Burlington MA and offices and operations worldwide. We are a market leader in automated bio sample management solutions and genomic services across areas such as drug development clinical and advanced cell therapies for the industrys top pharmaceutical biotech academic and healthcare institutions globally. We provide unparalleled capabilities with our lab analysis sample management and storage services informatics software and consumables with the largest installed base managing millions of samples globally.

Position Summary

The Sr. Counsel Intellectual Property is a senior individual contributor responsible for the strategic management protection and enforcement of Azentas global intellectual property portfolio. This role encompasses the full spectrum of IP disciplines (utility and design patents trade secrets trademarks and copyrights) spans the complete IP lifecycle from procurement through enforcement and monetization and collaborates cross-functionally to ensure our freedom to operate and secure contractually sound positions with suppliers customers and technology partners.

Reporting to the Senior Vice President General Counsel & Corporate Secretary the Sr. Counsel IP will serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership R&D product management and business development teams on all IP matters. The successful candidate will be a proactive strategic thinker who combines deep technical IP expertise with strong business acumen excellent communication skills and the ability to manage a high volume of work with efficiency and sound judgment.

Key Responsibilities

Patent Portfolio Strategy & Management

• Manage Azentas global patent portfolio including developing and maintaining an in-depth understanding of the portfolios strengths gaps and strategic opportunities relative to the companys current and future product roadmap and business trajectory.
• Develop and implement near-term and long-term patent strategies to optimize portfolio coverage in technology areas critical to the companys growth including automated sample management cryogenic storage systems biorepository operations genomic sequencing and synthesis LIMS/informatics and related hardware and software innovations.
• Oversee and lead the companys IP Steering Committee facilitating cross-functional patent review meetings to evaluate invention disclosures prioritize filings and align IP investment with strategic business direction.
• Drive patent harvesting and invention mining activities by engaging proactively with R&D and engineering teams to identify patentable innovations solicit invention disclosures and conduct inventor interviews.
• Select retain and manage outside patent counsel for global prosecution activities maintaining focus on quality strategic alignment cost control and timely execution.
• Oversee the preparation filing prosecution and maintenance of patent and trademark applications worldwide both through direct oversight and through management of outside counsel.

Freedom to Operate & Risk Management

• Conduct and oversee freedom-to-operate (FTO) analyses in support of new product launches technology development initiatives and commercial activities to ensure Azenta can operate without infringing third-party IP rights.
• Develop coordinate and review IP search and analysis projects including patentability validity landscape FTO and product clearance analyses.
• Monitor the competitive patent landscape in Azentas key technology and market areas identifying potential risks and opportunities and advising leadership accordingly.

IP Enforcement & Litigation

• Identify and assess potential infringement of Azentas IP rights by competitors and other third parties; develop and execute enforcement strategies including cease-and-desist actions licensing negotiations and litigation when appropriate.
• Support and manage IP-related litigation including patent infringement actions inter partes reviews (IPRs) post-grant proceedings and foreign oppositions in coordination with outside litigation counsel.
• Provide IP litigation support including claim construction analysis infringement and invalidity assessments and technical guidance to litigation teams.

M&A Partnerships & Transactions

• Support IP due diligence for acquisitions investments partnerships license and other strategic transactions including evaluating target IP portfolios and identifying risks opportunities and integration considerations.
• Support IP integration activities following completed acquisitions including portfolio assessment harmonization of prosecution strategies and alignment with Azentas overall IP program.
• Negotiate draft and review IP-related agreements including licenses research and development collaborations joint development agreements and IP clauses for complex sales and supply agreements.

Training Counseling & Communication

• Develop and deliver training programs for Azenta personnel on critical IP topics including trade secret identification and protection proper handling of confidential information careful communications regarding IP-sensitive matters invention disclosure processes and general IP awareness.
• Serve as a trusted advisor and thought partner to executive leadership R&D product management and business development on IP strategy and risk matters tailoring communications to the audience and keeping stakeholders appropriately informed.
• Provide clear timely and actionable reports to senior management on the status of the IP portfolio key risks enforcement activities and strategic recommendations.

Key Success Criteria

• Proactive & Strategic: Anticipates IP issues before they become problems; identifies emerging risks and opportunities and stays ahead of the competitive landscape regulatory developments and evolving case law.
• Executive Communication: Understands what matters to senior leadership; tailors communications to the audience distilling complex IP matters into clear actionable business recommendations.
• High-Volume Efficiency & AI Proficiency: Manages a high volume of diverse IP matters effectively and efficiently; leverages AI-powered tools (e.g. patent analytics prior art search and drafting tools) to accelerate workflows and improve output quality.
• Collaboration & Influence: Builds strong trusted relationships across R&D product management business development and commercial teams; able to command the respect of and influence business leaders peers and outside counsel.
• Full-Spectrum IP Expertise: Demonstrates deep knowledge across all attributes of IP from FTO to protection to enforcement and litigation across utility and design patents trade secrets trademarks and copyrights.
• Results Orientation: Committed to delivering measurable results; strong process orientation and a sense of urgency in a fast-paced performance-driven environment.
• Passion for What We Do: Inspired by Azentas mission of enabling life sciences organizations around the world to bring impactful breakthroughs and therapies to market faster.

Qualifications

Required

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar.
• Registration to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
• 10 years of progressive experience in intellectual property law with top tier law firm experience preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing a global patent portfolio including patent strategy development prosecution oversight and outside counsel management.
• Substantive experience conducting or overseeing freedom-to-operate patentability validity and landscape analyses.
• Transactional IP experience including in and out-licensing strategic transactions and IP diligence in M&A.
• Experience with IP enforcement including infringement analysis and management of IP litigation or post-grant proceedings.
• Bachelors degree or advanced degree in a scientific or engineering discipline (e.g. biology biochemistry molecular biology chemistry biomedical engineering mechanical engineering computer science or a related field).
• Familiarity with AI-powered IP tools and a demonstrated commitment to leveraging technology to improve efficiency and quality of IP work product.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present complex IP concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally in a global organization.

Preferred

• Demonstrable experience with IP in the life sciences tools diagnostics or biotechnology space including technologies such as genomics sample management/automation cryogenics laboratory instrumentation LIMS/software or related fields.
• Experience with trademark portfolio management and brand protection strategies.
• Experience with trade secret programs including development and implementation of trade secret identification protection and audit frameworks.

Working Conditions/Schedule

• 4 days/week onsite in Burlington MA; S. Plainfield NJ; or Indianapolis
• Travel up to 10% domestic and international as needed to support patent prosecution litigation M&A diligence outside counsel management and internal stakeholder engagement across Azentas global operations.

EOE M/F/Disabled/VET

Azenta is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This company considers candidates regardless of race color age religion gender sexual orientation gender identity national origin disability or veteran status.

The posted pay range for this position is an estimate based on current market data and internal pay structure. Final compensation may vary above or below this range depending on factors such as experience education (including licensure and certifications) qualifications performance and geographic location among other relevant business or organizational needs.