Sr. Director, Global Intellectual Property and Commercial Strategic Partnering Counsel

📋 Description

• • Lead the development and execution of Avantor’s global intellectual property (IP) strategy and commercial partnering initiatives, ensuring alignment with overarching company objectives and long-term vision.
• • Serve as a key strategic advisor to the Vice President, Commercial Legal, the General Counsel, and the Executive Leadership Team, providing critical insights on innovation, market expansion, and enterprise-wide strategic planning.
• • Drive the structuring, review, and negotiation of complex, high-stakes commercial transactions, ensuring favorable terms and mitigating risks for the organization.
• • Foster a proactive and robust IP culture by collaborating closely with R&D and commercial stakeholders to identify patentable innovations and encourage a continuous cycle of invention.
• • Spearhead cross-functional initiatives involving R&D, commercial, sales, and legal teams to accelerate enterprise-wide innovation and cultivate strategic partnerships.
• • Manage Avantor’s comprehensive global intellectual property portfolio, encompassing patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and copyrights, ensuring its strategic alignment and protection.
• • Act as a primary point of contact and representative for Avantor externally, engaging with regulatory bodies, industry groups, and key stakeholders to advocate for the company's interests and shape legal policy and industry standards.
• • Provide expert strategic guidance and counsel on all IP-related matters, including thorough risk assessments, competitive landscape analysis, and portfolio valuation to inform business decisions.
• • Conduct rigorous due diligence and freedom-to-operate analyses for new technologies and product launches, ensuring compliance and minimizing potential legal challenges.
• • Proactively monitor for and address unauthorized use of Avantor’s intellectual property, managing infringement cases effectively and implementing robust strategies to prevent IP misuse.
• • Oversee and manage adversarial proceedings, including intellectual property litigation, ensuring the company's IP rights are vigorously defended.
• • Champion IP awareness and best practices across the organization through targeted education and training programs for legal and business colleagues.
• • Continuously monitor industry trends, emerging technologies, and competitive intelligence to identify strategic opportunities and potential risks related to intellectual property.
• • Exercise significant decision-making authority in shaping operational plans, setting standards, and driving strategic initiatives, with a focus on advising on major transactions, partnerships, and policy evolution.
• • Maintain up-to-date knowledge of IP and contract law principles across all relevant global regions, ensuring these are meticulously integrated into commercial agreements.
• • Drive efficiencies in negotiation processes and ensure comprehensive risk coverage across the global enterprise.
• • Develop and implement tactical and operational plans that translate Avantor’s long-term objectives into actionable IP and commercial partnering strategies.
• • Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships with senior stakeholders, including executive leadership, business leaders, and external partners, influencing long-term business outcomes through strategic counsel and collaboration.
• • Contribute to Avantor's mission of advancing life-changing science by safeguarding and strategically leveraging the company's intellectual assets and fostering key commercial relationships worldwide.
• • Ensure that all legal and IP strategies are executed with impeccable integrity and ethical behavior, reflecting a strong commitment to transparency and sound judgment.
• • Adapt legal and IP strategies in response to evolving business priorities, the dynamic legal climate, and shifting commercial landscapes globally, particularly within the life sciences and chemicals industries.
• • Collaborate with the broader global legal team to ensure cohesive and effective legal support for commercial and R&D activities.
• • Contribute to the continuous improvement of legal processes and the development of best practices within the global legal function.
• • Support the Vice President, Commercial Legal in managing external counsel and other third-party legal service providers.
• • Ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations in the jurisdictions where Avantor operates.
• • Play a pivotal role in shaping Avantor's competitive advantage through strategic IP management and astute commercial partnering.