Assistant General Counsel - Intellectual Property

Job Overview

TE's Intellectual Property (IP) Law Department globally supports the legal aspects of intellectual property matters throughout the company through activities such as intellectual property procurement and protection; management of TE's IP portfolio which includes more than 15,000 patents, applications, and designs, and approximately 3000 trademarks; legal support for joint development, sales, and purchasing agreements; inventor remuneration and awards; IP license management and support; innovation mining; strategy and counseling; freedom to operate opinions; infringement litigation; anticounterfeiting activities; and tax and transfer pricing support

This role reports to and works closely with the VP and Chief Intellectual Property Counsel.  The successful candidate will be able to collaborate and thrive in a global environment while maintaining integrity, taking accountability, promoting teamwork, innovation, and inclusion.

Preferred work locations for this role are Wilmington, Delaware or Fremont, California (hybrid work model with other IP Counsels); open to other US locations (including remote). 

Key Responsibilities

• Counseling and working as a business partner with engineering and business personnel on important IP issues relating to various TE businesses.
• Collaboratively working with other IP counsels supporting the various TE business units in the high-speed data/power connectivity application space with activities involving IP licensing, other IP-related transactions, and standards organizations.  
• Actively participating in patent committee meetings, helping manage business unit patent portfolios including supervision of counsel/agents for patent filing/prosecution/oppositions, providing IP trainings, supporting development of IP strategies, performing IP infringement analysis as well as searching and invalidity analysis relating to product designs.  
• Being directly involved, in addition to overseeing and coaching others, in US IP litigation and IP disputes, drafting/negotiating IP licenses and other IP related aspects of business transactions and other agreements, and supporting IP due diligence activities for mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures.  
• Serving as Americas Region Lead IP Counsel to manage a team of experienced US-based IP counsels.

Talent Development & Leadership

• Contributing to the Law Department’s culture of engagement and performance in alignment with TE’s core values 
• Leading by example and mentoring/coaching colleagues within the IP practice group

What your background should look like

This role requires strong business acumen and the ability to work as a collaborative business partner across geographies, functions, and product lines to provide proactive IP counseling to TE’s businesses. The successful candidate will have the ability to work independently, while ensuring connectivity with stakeholders and teammates. 

• Must have a technical undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering or Physics.
• Must be a fully qualified and registered United States patent attorney with at least 18 years of experience.
• In-house counsel and managerial experience required; desirable to also have government contract-related experience or exposure.
• Significant experience in successfully negotiating IP transactions/litigations/disputes/conflict matters with third parties including customers, competitors, and others to address TE’s business objectives with successful outcomes.
• Ability to engage and work well in a high-pressure, high-speed business environment with responsiveness and flexibility.
  Significant experience in IP aspects of mergers and acquisitions, including integration experience and/or divesting experience.
• Experience with matters involving trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and confidential information.
• Ability to communicate clearly and persuasively both verbally and in writing.
• Patience, curiosity, tenacity, and a commitment to excellence and collaboration.